KCC FIG – Undergraduate Research as a High Impact Practice

Minutes of the Meeting of Wed, 11/29/2023, 10:00am via Zoom

Mary Theresa Ortiz – Facilitator

Present:  Dmitry Brogun (KCC BIO Faculty), Lilja Nielsen (KCC BIO Faculty), Mary Theresa Ortiz (KCC BIO Faculty), Kristin Polizzotto (KCC BIO Faculty)

The meeting began at 10:05am.

1. Mary welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming.
2. Mary gave an update on the Bird Research Project her BIO2100 class did this semester. The project is almost over.  Data collection ended and the students submitted their reports.  Initially, only 3 of the 5 groups submitted their reports.  This is unusual.  All groups usually submit on time.  The two groups finally submitted, but the quality of the work was below par.  The students will present their work with PowerPoint presentations on 12/6/2023 (last day of lab).
3. Lilja reported on ABRCMS 2023 (Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students) in Phoenix, AZ. A small group of students (about 7) from KCC attended.  All but one was presenting at a conference for the first time.  It was a great experience for the students.  There were several keynote speakers.  One spoke on sleep research.  One was in a wheelchair and advocated for individuals with disabilities.  Our students did poster presentations.  None of them won this year, but they presented well.  The students attended the exhibitions and saw many internship opportunities.  Lilja took the students around to the various exhibitors.
4. Mary will send out the minutes from this meeting and post them to the Commons.
5. When this FIG will meet again is to be determined (Spring or Fall 2024), and there will be a new facilitator.

Meeting adjourned at 10:39am.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Mary Theresa Ortiz

KCC FIG – Undergraduate Research as a High Impact Practice

Minutes of the Meeting of Wed, 10/11/2023, 10:00am via Zoom

Mary Theresa Ortiz – Facilitator

Present:  Homar Barcena (KCC PHYS SCI Faculty), Dmitry Brogun (KCC BIO Faculty), Christina Colon (KCC BIO Faculty), Lilja Nielsen (KCC BIO Faculty), Mary Theresa Ortiz (KCC BIO Faculty), Kristin Polizzotto (KCC BIO Faculty)

The meeting began at 10:00am.

1. Mary welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming.
2. Mary apologized for forgetting to include in the minutes from the last meeting the following link Christina provided. Here it is:

https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/convening-and-connecting/sccs-ny

3. Mary gave an update on her BIO2100 Comparative Anatomy students using the beach for the Bird Research Project. One week no officers came to the beach.  Last week an officer tried to call her students off the beach and Mary explained to him that her class had permission to be there.  She had to show her ID and the email giving the class permission to be there.  Discussion followed.
4. Christina asked if the teaching labs are wired for Wi-Fi, and if technology can be used in the labs. According to the safety sheets, technology (cell phones, laptops, notebooks, etc.) is not to be used in the labs.  Discussion followed.  Are chargers a fire risk?  We could let students know the risks (ex. spillage of fluids on keyboards) before they use the technology.  Kristin suggested that a meeting could be set up with Ed Rios/Celeste Creegan/Kenneth Green to discuss the rules on campus for using facilities and how doing research with students could be more accessible.  Kristin/Mary will contact Mary Dawson about setting up this type of meeting.
5. Christina discussed the Jamaica Bay/Floyd Bennett Field research undertaking by CUNY with other partners. CUNY would want us to use this facility (a building), but what about the rules there? There was a meeting last week where CUNY signed on with Floyd Bennett Field, but it is not clear what this would mean for KCC.  Brooklyn College is involved.  $12.5M was allocated to CUNY.  This is not enough for the building, staff and maintenance.  Discussion followed.
6. Dmitry shared that his students won first prize at the CRSP conference this summer. At the CUNY-wide Research Day the same students won first prize in the Molecular and Cell Division.
7. Mary shared that the results of the research project her BIO/MAT9100 – Biostatistics class did last semester on usage of the garbage bins on campus will be presented by her at the KCC Sustainability Meeting on 10/19/2023.
8. Christina and Dmitry discussed encouraging the decrease of waste as opposed to recycling. Dmitry has his BIO1400 class do presentations on microplastics/plastics.  Christina said recycling is a myth and spoke about this.
9. Mary will send out the minutes from this meeting and post them to the Commons.
10. The next meeting of our FIG will be via Zoom on Wed Nov 29, 2023, at 10am. Zoom info to follow.

Meeting adjourned at 10:39am.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Mary Theresa Ortiz

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.

1. Mary welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Lilja shared that she has two CSTEP students currently assembling posters for MACUB and ABRCMS.
6. Publicity for research might be available from Dean Gordon Alley-Young.
7. 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.
8. Mary spoke about ABRCMS and the wonderful experience it is for the students.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Mary will send out the minutes from this meeting.
13. 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