Eastern Student Robert Zielinski of Bethany 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.

Robert Zielinski '17 of Bethany, who majors in Mathematics, presented a research poster at the event. Zielinski's research, conducted alongside three other classmates, was titled "Space Travel and Interdisciplinary Strategies."

"Is commercial space travel possible in the future?" said the students in a joint statement. "Over the past century, technology has advanced incredibly, most notably in the world's space programs. New advancements and discoveries are being documented daily and new options are becoming possible. However, how many people actually understand the factors that need to be considered in order to make these space advancements happen? How does our understanding of space influence our lives today? Will it soon be possible to colonize Mars? Our presentation outlines interdisciplinary mini?units exploring questions of space travel. Collaboration among school teachers is important to make content meaningful, and it's vital to focus on all content areas in order to provide a cohesive educational experience. As future educators, we chose the topic of space travel in hopes that it would not only benefit high school students, but would also help shed light on the importance of interdisciplinary, problem?based learning. Over the course of this unit, students will examine the evolution of spacecraft and space programs, the dangers of space travel, and the costs of space travel in order to determine and argue whether they believe if future commercial space travel will be an option in society. Using Space X as a contemporary example, students will begin unraveling the answers to this unit's overarching questions. Through the content areas of English, mathematics and history, students will also learn of the effects and impact space travel had and will have on the world, especially in our constantly advancing society. At the end of our mini?units, students will be able to formulate their own opinions of commercial space travel and whether it's possible, efficient, or ethical."

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.