College of Arts and Sciences students to present at URCA Symposium April 18

ASHLAND, Ohio – About 40 students and a couple of alumni from Ashland University’s College of Arts and Sciences will present their scholarly work at the 14th annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium on Tuesday, April 18. The public is welcome to attend this 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 (9 a.m.-4:15 p.m.) on the upper level of the John C. Myers Convocation Center (820 Claremont Ave.).

With about a dozen academic programs represented, there are topics to satisfy anyone’s interest. “Birth Order, Family Size and Anxiety in Adolescents” (psychology), “An Anti-Myth for Immigration: Revelation, Embrace, Love” (religion), “Application to Assist the Visually Impaired and Hearing Impaired” (computer science), “The Utility of NATO as an Instrument of Peace” (political science), “Spin to Win – A Statistical Approach to Roulette Wheels” (computer science), “Predatory Mites: Eco-Friend or Foe?” (biology), “Brand Identity and Product Package Design” (art) and “Substituted Imidazoles as Potential Anti-Cancer Agents” (chemistry) are among the enticing project titles.

Established in 2009, the URCA Symposium was 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.

“The URCA Symposium is a celebration among students and faculty who share a mutual joy of learning, encounters that often lead to life-long professional relationships. Alongside our faculty, I am delighted to host and highlight the outstanding academic achievements of students across disciplines in the College of Arts & Sciences,” stated Katherine Brown, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

This year’s URCA Symposium is being directed by Christopher Swanson, chair of the mathematics and computer science department at AU. For more information on URCA, visit ashlandurca.blogspot.com.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.