A record 120 students presented at the 11th Annual Research Conference and Exhibition at Eastern on April 14. More than 40 faculty members served as mentors for the students' projects. More than 40 oral presentations covered such topics as the geology of Andover Lake; the anatomy and physiology of coral competition; the media's influence on public opinion of war; an analysis of the Harry Potter books; sustainable energy and the workforce; ancient Greek history; the history of Irish-American women in Willimantic; and Alzheimer's Disease. Music students and faculty presented an experimental music performance in Science 104, and several short plays were performed by theatre students. Other students presented their research findings using tabletop display posters. Visual art students exhibited two-dimensional and digital art as well as a range of sculpture art.
"This is no longer just an event," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez, "it is part of our culture." The president declared that undergraduate research is flourishing at Eastern and noted that is one of the cornerstones of the University's emphasis on experiential learning.
