Hundreds of Students Present Research at SRC/IF

On Friday, February 24, HGSE hosted the 11th annual Student Research Conference and International Forum (SRC/IF), which featured research presentations from over 150 students and alumni.

"This is the longest running research conference as a platform for future presentations," said Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez, SRC/IF steering committee trichair.

Through the conference, presenters learn how to prepare paper proposals to submit to national research conferences and journals. According to participants, such as Athena Lentini, a first-year doctorate student at the University of Connecticut, it can also boost the confidence of presenters, who have opportunities to present their research for the first time.

The SRC/IF is planned and administered by HGSE master's and doctoral candidates with the support of HGSE faculty, administrators, and staff. In its planning and administration, the SRC/IF is designed as a learning environment for presenters, organizers, and attendees. An estimated one-third of SRC/IF participants come from schools other than HGSE. Between 400 and 800 attendees were anticipated at the event throughout the day.

HGSE master's student Deryl Hatch participated in the poster portion of the conference by highlighting his research on dynamic systems modeling for strategic distance education planning.

"I'm impressed with the people coming from so many areas and institutions," Hatch said noting he was equally impressed with the amount of involvement in reaching out and letting people know about the event.

The International Forum focused on this year's theme of "Rebuilding Lives: Education in Humanitarian Crises" and featured panelists such as Daniel Toole, director of the Office of Emergency Programs at UNICEF NY; Allison Anderson from the Inter-Agency Network on Education in Emergencies; Myron Belfar, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; Dana Burde, associate research scholar at the Saltzmann Institute of War and Peace Studies; and Karim Thomas, an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. The panel discussed the role of education and psychosocial programming in response to humanitarian emergencies.

"We know of no other graduate school of education in the country that holds a student-centered research conference of this kind," Lesser Professor and Dean Kathleen McCartney said. "I am proud of this annual tradition."