Reinhardt University students presented their work to their peers and collegiate faculty members at a regional conference recently, something student Amy Williams says is monumental for students of a teaching university.
“For a non-research institution to have five students presenting at a major annual meeting is a huge deal,” Williams said. “It shows that we receive great support from our school and have professors who are willing to go to great lengths to build us up academically and professionally.”
Williams, along with Yanely Bibiano Baltazar, Aubrie Harding, Austin Garlinghouse and Rebecca Braswell, presented their work at the Annual Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, March 29-April 1.
“Collaboration between students and faculty members is the best of higher education. It is the turning point for students as they literally become true scientists and teachers at conferences to other faculty and student colleagues,” said Dr. Jacob Harney, dean of the School of Mathematics and Sciences. “We have outstanding faculty in our school that know how to mentor students. Our goal at Reinhardt is to provide our students with unique, life-changing experiences that help enrich their lives and provide direction along their educational journey.”
ASB is the largest scientific professional organization in the Southeastern region of the U.S. Their goal is to promote Biology through research and education. An annual meeting is held each spring, where faculty and students (both graduate and undergraduate) may share their research and present work from all disciplines of biological sciences.
Williams presented her work, “The Undergraduate Teaching Experience,” which focused on Biology majors as lab teaching assistant. Williams analyzed the academic and professional success of the students, as well as the program itself.
“This work is important because programs like this help to prepare upperclassmen Biology majors for their next step, decrease the workload for professors and save money for the institution,” she said.
Bibiano Baltazar presented her work on the “Mutagenesis of Yellow Dye #5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae,” while Aubrie Harding discussed her work entitled “A floristic inventory of the land behind the Funk Heritage Center.”
Austin Garlinghouse and Rebecca Braswell presented their work on the “Effects of Aromatherapy Using Essential Oils on Circulating Cortisol Levels.”
