KCC FIG – Undergraduate Research as a High Impact Practice
Minutes of the Meeting of Wed, 9/27/2023, 10:00am via Zoom
Mary Theresa Ortiz – Facilitator
Present: Dmitry Brogun (KCC BIO Faculty), Christina Colon (KCC BIO Faculty), K), Carrie Jedlicka (KCC Library), Lilja Nielsen (KCC BIO Faculty), Mary Theresa Ortiz (KCC BIO Faculty), Stephanie Palumbo (New Dorp High School College Now Science Research Instructor), Mike Rosson (KCC Library), Laura Spinu (KCC faculty), Farshad Tamari (KCC BIO Faculty)
The meeting began at 10:00am.
- Mary welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming.
- Mary shared the obstacle she had getting permission for her BIO21 Comparative Anatomy class to access the KCC Beach, because it is closed. The outcome was that she must chaperone the students when they are on the beach on Wednesdays, 12:40-12:55pm. Mary suggested that if anyone wants their students to access anything on campus, they ask for permission well before the semester starts. Discussion followed as CRSP, CSTEP, etc., students may face the same issue.
- Farshad shared info and updates about CRSP and the projects students have been engaged with. KCC CRSP students will attend and present their work at ABRCMS in Phoenix, AZ in Nov 2023 (Botanical Gardens are nearby to explore). ABRCMS is the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. He had two students with whom he was working. Farshad shared that he asked VP Rios for permission to use small samples from plants on the KCC campus and was given permission to do so.
- Farshad shared that this year CRSP recruited on the app and got many students and faculty. There is a waiting list for both students and faculty. The 19 available slots for KCC students are full (this is the max we are funded for). Laura has several students. Farshad encouraged reaching out to students anyway because they could do projects next year.
- Lilja shared that she has two CSTEP students currently assembling posters for MACUB and ABRCMS.
- Publicity for research might be available from Dean Gordon Alley-Young.
- Christina currently has one CSTEP student (she had another who did work and graduated) who is a rock star – the poster is done already. Originally, the student was working on studying coyotes on Long Island, but there were challenges with that project, so the student studied bird acoustic biodiversity. AI and Merlin were used to identify birds. Field work was involved. S248 Research Lab is too hot, so the project has morphed.
- Mary spoke about ABRCMS and the wonderful experience it is for the students.
- Christina shared that the AMNH has a 3-day conference on conservation science for high school to post doc students. It is in a hybrid format and costs $75 per attendee. This year the conference is Wed, Thu, Fri, Oct. 4, 5, 6. It is good for high school students.
- Christina shared that there is a 2-day outdoor marine event at Pier 84 in NYC on Fri 9/29 for schools and Sat 9/30 for families. It is good to bring children. There will be many science-based organizations there. The students/the public can rub elbows with researchers at these events.
- Christina shared that Kathy Nolan (MACUB President) will be a speaker at Columbia Teachers College on Tue 10/3/2023 at 6pm. The event is free. Students are welcome.
- Mary will send out the minutes from this meeting.
- The next meeting of our FIG will be via Zoom on Wed Oct 11, 2023, at 10am. Zoom info to follow.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40am.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mary Theresa Ortiz
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