Eastern Student Elise Petersen of Salem Presents Research Poster at CREATE Conference

2016 May 3

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Elise Petersen '16 of Salem, who majors in Mathematics, presented a research poster at the event. Petersen's research, conducted alongside three other classmates, was titled "The Fate of Pluto: What Will It Become?"

"Learning about our solar system is crucial when learning about where we came from and how Earth was created," said the students in a joint statement. "Within the last decade, astronomers have declared Pluto as a dwarf planet due to its size and force of gravity. Taking this idea, "Should Pluto become a planet or stay as a dwarf planet?" is a great problem?based question for 9th?10th grade students, as it brings together and shows to students the myriad connections among four contents areas (math, science, history, and English). In math, students can examine and compare diameters, volume, and differences between Pluto and the other planets. In science, students can examine the different environment Pluto has compared to other planets such as our own. In history, students can read current events and create diagrams of contrasting opinions on Pluto's status as a dwarf planet. As for English, students will use the "close reading" method demonstrated by their teacher on an article concerning Pluto and then write a persuasive article arguing whether Pluto should become a planet. With this topic, students will be able to learn more about our planets while also making connections to other subject areas beyond science."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.

In celebration of students' exemplary research, experiential learning and creative activity, CREATE serves to reinforce high-impact practices such as mentored research; increases the number of students presenting their work in a professional forum; raises public awareness of Eastern's liberal arts mission and student accomplishments; and contributes to the intellectual richness of the campus community.