16th annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium taking place April 8

ASHLAND, Ohio – About 100 students from Ashland University’s College of Arts and Sciences will present their scholarly work at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium Tuesday, April 8. The public is welcome to attend the 16th annual event, in which presenters will display original research, read original creative writing or exhibit new works in design and fine art. The presentations are scheduled throughout the day (8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) on the upper level of the John C. Myers Convocation Center (820 Claremont Ave.).

With more than a dozen programs represented, there are topics to satisfy a variety of interests, such as “Why Are Red Cedars Invasive” (chemistry), “A Public Relations Campaign for Ashland Main Street” (communication studies), “Real-Time Gaming Hub: Building a Seamless User Experience” (computer science), “Using Policy to Ensure Ethical Usability of Blockchain” (cybersecurity), “Assassin’s Secret” (digital media production), “Keeping Anne Alive: A Unit Plan for Teaching the Significance of ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’” (English), “Family Dynamics and Perception of Stimuli” (psychology) and “Musical Midrash: The Passion Narrative and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’” (religion).

“Mentored research and creative projects foster students’ intellectual inquiry and promote sustained engagement within their fields of study under the guidance of dedicated faculty,” stated Katherine T. Brown, dean of AU’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Students who participate in research in any discipline are well prepared for graduate studies or professional careers.”

Established in 2009, the URCA Symposium is designed to give AU students an opportunity to enhance their educational experience. It prepares them to present at professional conferences, author and/or co-author publications in journals, compete and perform at state, regional and national levels and exhibit work in a variety of venues.

This year’s URCA Symposium is being directed by Wendy Schaller, associate professor of art at AU. For more information on URCA, visit ashland.edu/urca.