University-wide showcase celebrates the best of undergraduate work
Eastern presents annual CREATE conference, live and in-person April 21
Willimantic, CT (04/14/2023) — The best of undergraduate creativity and research will be on display at Eastern Connecticut State University's annual CREATE conference on April 21 in the Student Center. Standing for "Celebrating Research and Creative Activity at Eastern," CREATE is the university's premiere undergraduate showcase, featuring more than 200 submissions of student work, from posters and oral presentations to musical performances and artwork.
Seven panels organized by faculty will feature readings by Eastern poets and fiction writers, works of literary criticism, a cannabis business session, and a showcase of Eastern students who won awards at the recent Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
More than 25 pieces of student art will be exhibited in the Wood Student Art gallery.
Oral presentations throughout the day will cover topics such as sustainability, data science, disability studies, social media and business.
The 70-plus posters on display will cover topics ranging from political extremism and the effects of social media to banned books, the genetics of cannabis and artificial intelligence.
CREATE has been held for more than 20 years, including virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are thrilled to have CREATE as an in-person event again this year and to celebrate research excellence and artistic talent at Eastern," said Emily Todd, dean of arts and sciences. "The whole event is a testament to the strengths in undergraduate research and creative work at Eastern and the educational opportunities our talented faculty make available to our students through their careful mentoring and commitment to our mission to provide a 'transformative liberal arts learning experience.'"
In addition to presentations, awards will be given to students and faculty. The President's Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity will go to two students who have demonstrated excellence in their scholarly work in any field. The Mentor Award will go to faculty who have helped advance undergraduate research and scholarship at Eastern.
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,100 students annually on its Willimantic campus. In addition to attracting students from 160 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 32 states and eight countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 20 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022-23 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 13 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.