Academic research conference set
—Avelino Maestas, The Silver City Daily Press
College and high school students will participate in an academic research conference at Western New Mexico University next week.
The brainchild of a group of professors at WNMU, the conference is designed to give students an opportunity to showcase their academic work, according to associate professor Magdaleno Manzanarez. “The conference gives students a forum to present research papers, senior projects, and other works,” he said. “Rather than take students to a conference, we ’re bringing the conference to them.” He said budgetary concerns prevent professors from organiz ing trips to academic conferences. Rather than see students miss out on those opportunities, the profes sors came together to put one on at Weste rn.
Bill Norris, assistant professor of biology, said the conference has a cross-disciplinary aspect, and is a chance for faculty and students to see what their peers in other departments are studying.
“I ’m a botanist here in the sci ence department,” he said, “and I ’m looking forward to seeing what students are doing in political science, in education.” Students will present works on a range of subjects, beyond general research. Creative works, includ ing traditional artistic projects or those from graphi c artists, may be showcased. Students may also present public service projects, teaching portfolios and Web sites.
Manzanarez said the event is also part of a broader push as part of the American Democracy Project, a nationwide effort to increase students’ civic engagement. WNMU joined the project three years ago, and, Manzanarez said, the conference is a natural fit.
“We already have civic engagement programs which incorporate art, and some focused on political action,” he said. “The conference gives students who are not necessarily interested in those fields a chance to interact with other students and the community.” According to Norris, students responded to the call with enthusiasm.
“The spark for this may have started with faculty,” he said, “but we’ve given ownership to the students.” Norris said the Psychology and Natural Sciences clubs were heavily involved in the conference steering committee, along with education students and Victor Carbajal, the student body president.
“There are about three times as many students providing input on the steering committee as there are professors,” Norris said.
Students will be able to participate in other activities, including a career fair sponsored by WNMU Career Services, at the conference.
“This is the first time we have planned a career fair in the spring,” said Marie Leck, career services director. “It’s still not too late for businesses to register!” The U.S. Army, New Mexico Army National Guard, The Wellness Coalition, AmeriCorps, Fort Bayard Medical Center, Internal Revenue Service, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services, U.S. Customs & Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol have signed up.
In addition, Border Area Mental Health Services, New Mexico Human Services Department, Teleperformance, Arizona Department of Corrections, New Mexico Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Parks, Harris Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank and James Hamilton Construction are to attend.
Student clubs, many offering information booths highlighting activities and accomplishments, will have space at the conference. Howie Morales, Grant County clerk, will be on hand to accept voter registration cards.
The public is invited to attend the daylong conference, which begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 25. The career fair will start at 10 that morning, and continue through 2 p.m.
For more information on the conference, contact Norris, at 538-6625; Manzanarez, at 538-6229; Manny Bustamante, at 538-6291; or Jennifer Coleman, at 538-6257. Employers that wish to register for the career fair should contact Leck, at 538-6109.