Eastern Student Erin Strickland of Gales Ferry 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.

Erin Strickland '16 of Gales Ferry, who majors in History and Social Science and Spanish, presented a research poster at the event. Strickland's poster presentation was titled "Preliminary Results from Two Late Woodland Trash Pits from Block Island, RI."

"In the summer of 2015 an archaeological dig was conducted, as part of a salvage project due to new construction, at RI?2451 on Block Island, RI," said Strickland. "A pre?Columbian Native American habitation area was identified near the shoreline of the Great Salt Pond, a large and almost enclosed body of water separating the north and south regions of Block Island. The pond has a small channel, artificially dug in the late 1800s, on its northwest shore to connect it with the Block Island Sound. The shores of the pond have a long history of human use and occupation evidenced by Native American habitation sites prior to and after contact with European settlers. RI?2451 adds to this occupation, dating to the Late Woodland period. This poster presents data recovered from two middens excavated at this habitation site. Marine shells, clam and oyster, were collected and analyzed to determine midden depositional practice. Through an examination of food trash, I will discuss food consumption practices of Late Woodland Native American communities on Block Island, Rhode Island."

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.