Students Showcase Research and Build Career Ready Skills at the 12th Annual CARS Symposium
Student researchers from ½ûÂþÌìÌà and neighboring community colleges shared their discoveries, connected with fellow scholars and strengthened their professional skills at the 12th Annual Creative Activities & Research Symposium (CARS).
Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research, the symposium on Aug. 6 featured 120 student presenters and welcomed 281 attendees. Students presented original research and creative projects across a range of disciplines through poster and oral presentations. The event gave students an opportunity to communicate their work to faculty, peers and members of the university community.
Among the presenters were 40 students participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program representing six community colleges. Participating institutions included Mt. SAC, Citrus College, Rio Hondo College, Santiago Canyon College, and Fullerton College.
Through SURE, students conducted faculty-mentored research and developed skills that would support their transition to four-year institutions, graduate education and future careers.
Beyond showcasing research findings, the Creative Activities & Research Symposium featured how students Become by Doing at ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. Students developed research questions, analyzed information, collaborated with mentors and communicated findings. At the symposium, students practiced explaining complex ideas clearly, responding to questions and demonstrating the significance of their work to audiences outside their disciplines.
Gender, Ethnic, and Multicultural Studies student Ruby Hsu researched how activists in Southern California engage in resistance to fascism and domination in the current political moment.
Inspired by the book “All About Love” by bell hooks, a Black Feminist scholar, Hsu applied concepts from her coursework to her research project, titled “Queering Liberatory Movements: Willful Cross-Solidarity Action in the Face of Fascism and Domination.” Her project explores how communication can create and sustain change through “love ethic,” a term popularized by the author.
Faculty mentors Shayda Kafai and Jennette Ramirez supported Hsu throughout the process by meeting with her regularly to provide feedback and encouraging her to take greater ownership of the research process. Their mentorship helped guide her as she developed her approach to conducting interviews, analyzing participant responses and identifying themes in the research.
“Dr. Kafai and Jennette have been instrumental in my growth as a researcher through their constant encouragement verbally and in action,” Hsu said.
At the Symposium, Hsu said she enjoyed talking to other people about her work.
“This opportunity allowed me to showcase the research and start important conversations about the importance of ethnic studies and the issues we examine,” Hsu said. “It empowered me to have a voice.”
Biology student Lucas Perez discovered that conducting hands-on research transformed his perspective on learning and becoming a scientist.
Working with faculty mentor Janel Ortiz, Perez contributed to a camera trap network throughout the San Gabriel Valley, monitoring research sites and reviewing images captured by motion-activated cameras. The project examines how environmental changes, including smoke pollution from the Eaton Fire, may affect wildlife that uses habitat edges, or areas where two different types of habitats meet.
Perez analyzed camera trap data to identify wildlife captured in the images, documented patterns in species presence and activity, and helped researchers better understand how animals may be responding to environmental changes.
“Conducting research has given me a new perspective when it comes to reading papers for classes and interpreting results from studies,” Perez said.
Perez strengthened his skills in observation, data interpretation and evidence-based decision-making, which are much needed for becoming a professional researcher in the field.
The summer symposium further strengthened his interest in research opportunities.
“Presenting research at CARS was deeply meaningful to me and makes me want to keep working toward more opportunities to learn and expand my knowledge,” Perez said.
For more information about the CARS event or undergraduate research opportunities, visit the Office of Undergraduate Research website or email our@cpp.edu.