Daemen University Natural Science majors presented their senior research posters to a bustling room of faculty, staff, and peers last month. The posters, which are the culmination of four semesters of work, represent findings from their capstone research sequence.
While everyone on the path to obtaining a science degree takes the same coursework, the research sequence helps each student to stand out. Throughout the two years, each student works closely with a faculty mentor and chooses a question unique to them and the research they want to pursue.
“The capstone research sequence is the opportunity that I am most excited about for our students,” said Dr. Laura Edsberg, director of the Natural and Health Sciences Research Center and professor of biology. “As you develop a hypothesis, you don’t know where it is going to end up. Students learn failures, successes, and get first hand experience in the process from the initial question all the way to the final presentation.”
Sophomore science majors, who are waiting in the wings to begin their own research, get a broad glimpse into the depth of research needed to complete the project, which helps them prepare for their own presentations.
“Students learn to take ownership of their own work,” continued Edsberg. “They gain confidence which makes all the difference during job interviews.”
Daemen’s Natural Science Department prides itself on the true culture of science that is built within the classroom. Students pursue research that fills in the gaps of scientific knowledge which is true to life how professional scientists work and share information. By niching down on what they want to study, students get a sense of what they love at an undergraduate level instead of waiting until they pursue a masters level program.
“I love watching them present,” Edsberg added. “It is cathartic for students to realize that science is not always smooth sailing, and that a big part of it is trial and error, which sometimes leads to failure. Watching them present the final product of all their hard work is incredibly rewarding not only for the students but the faculty as well.”