Student Research Explores Music, Physics, and Everything in Between

To see the wide range of student and faculty interests at Buffalo State, check out the schedule for the fifteenth annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration. The celebration opens with a reception on Friday, May 3, at 5:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library lobby, and it runs all day Saturday, May 4. Students will present their original research and creative projects during the all-day event.

Students will discuss papers at oral presentations that begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and run until about 5:30 p.m. Poster presentations will take place all day. And it’s hard to imagine a topic that isn’t covered.

The oral presentations are divided into five major categories: business, computer information systems, and technology; education; humanities; science, mathematics, and health; and social sciences. A sample the topics: "Safety in the NFL"; "Mathematical Modeling of Tuberculosis"; "Efficient Verification of Medical Device Software"; "An All-American City: Building Buffalo with Pride."

Many of the students conducted their research in conjunction with a class. Other students are presenting their senior or master’s theses, or research conducted as independent study.

Long before the celebration, students learned how to conduct scholarly research, build on the work of other scholars, and critically evaluate evidence and arguments. Behind each student-project is a faculty member who provided direction, guidance, encouragement, and expertise.

Daniel Potts, assistant professor of biology, served as a mentor to several students who are participating in this year’s celebration. “Giving students one-on-one time with faculty is a strength here at Buffalo State,” Potts said. “This celebration shows that. It also gives students and faculty members the opportunity to share their experiences with one another across disciplines. Another important aspect is that it gives students a genuine opportunity to practice communicating their ideas to people outside their own areas of study.”