Abigail Caselli Presents at 2017 CREATE Conference

2017 May 2

The Third Annual CREATE Conference at Eastern Connecticut State University took place on April 21. CREATE stands for "Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern," and is the University's premier conference showcasing student research and creative activity.

Abigail Caselli '17 of Woodbury presented an oral presentation titled "Relationship Between Attitudes Towards Casual Sex, Gender Roles and Condom Advocacy." Caselli majors in Psychology.

"My study looked at condom advocacy, gender role beliefs, attitudes towards casual sex and gender," said Caselli.

The one-day conference featured more than 300 Eastern undergraduates who presented talks, professional posters, live music, dance performances, art and photography exhibits, documentary films and panel discussions.

"I think being involved in undergraduate research was the best decision I have made while at Eastern," added Caselli. "As a senior I have had the opportunity to participate in different conferences, which I believe has assisted in me being accepted into graduate school. I was very excited to be able to present at and attend the CREATE conference! CREATE allows the audience to ask questions, which can help enhance a student's research or inspire follow-up study on the topic. The conference provides the opportunity to share research and gain new knowledge, which can influence my own future research."

"CREATE is a reaffirmation of Eastern's commitment to undergraduate research as Connecticut's only public liberal arts university," said Niti Pandey, business administration professor and conference co-chair. Reflecting on this year's record number of participants, she added, "There is a wonderful variety of presentations and performances for people to see. CREATE 2017 showcases the hard work and talent of our students and demonstrates the dedication of their faculty mentors. We look forward to an excellent event!"

From art to zoology, Shakespeare to social media, tax law to terrorism, Eastern students of all majors explore important concepts and produce exemplary research and creative work; the culmination of their work for the 2016-17 academic year was on display at CREATE.

Patricia Szczys, biology professor and conference co-chair, added: "CREATE is a superb learning experience for all who participate and a true celebration of our student's achievements."