Mechanical engineering and technology major Paulo Mateo (left) talks to someone about his research project that focused on designing wind powered light poles for university use.
Texas A&M University-Central Texas hosted its annual Student Research Symposium on April 8, where undergraduate and graduate students across multiple disciplines presented original research in an open-format poster session.
Organized by the Division of Research and Innovation, with support from the University Center for Applied Research and Engagement (UCARE), the event invited attendees to circulate freely through the venue, engage with presenters, and explore the real-world applications of their work.
The symposium featured research from fields such as engineering, cybersecurity, psychology, and organizational studies. Event organizer, Dr. Walter Murphy, deputy chief research officer and director of UCARE, said eight faculty members volunteered to judge the students’ research posters.
“One one of the most valuable takeaways for students was learning to present their research without relying on technical jargon,” Murphy said. “At this event, they’re communicating with external audiences- people who may not be familiar with their subject matter, and that teaches them how to translate research into something broadly meaningful.”
Mechanical engineering and technology majors, Jacquelyn Leonard and Paulo Mateo presented a project focused on improving campus sustainability and infrastructure. Their work involved designing a vertical axis wind turbine that could power light poles and reduce maintenance issues with existing banners, following feedback from university Facilities, Safety, and Support Services Manager, Shawn Kelley.
“Shawn said he was working to make the campus more eco-friendly. Wind is a free and renewable resource, so it made sense to work with that,” said Leonard.
“It taught us how important it is to have reliable sources. We were very lucky to find exactly what we needed.” Mateo added, “It taught us time management, team building, and communication.”
During the session, Leonard and Mateo fielded questions from several attendees, including university president Dr. Richard M. Rhodes.
“President Rhodes asked us questions. He was concerned about cost, while we were focused on the science,” said Mateo.Likhitha Annapurna Kavuri, a newly enrolled graduate student in computer information systems-cybersecurity presented research related to privacy, preserving machine learning and securing smart homes.
“This was my first-ever presentation in the U.S. and it was a great learning experience,” she said. “It helped me understand how cybersecurity can help protect people and their devices.”
Attendee, Shaina Spence, a full-time graduate student in applied psychology and active member of UCARE, described the atmosphere as “scientific,” adding that “everyone really did a good job making their topics come to life.”
Her colleague, graduate research assistant, Stacie Gilyard, noted, “The amount of work that was put in, and the in-dept research the students conducted—it was magnificent and amazing.”
Among the event’s attendees was Brent Schultz, a multimedia specialist for the universtiy, who noted the real-world applicability of a student-led project focused on replicating expensive replacement parts through scanning and 3D-printing.
“That kind of innovation stuck with me. It’s practical and could save the school a lot of money,” he said.
“I’m excited to watch students grasp not just what their research is, but what it means,” Murphy said. “To recognize how their findings extend beyond the narrow scope of a single project. Research shows up in our everyday lives and we encourage students to see that their work has relevance far beyond the classroom.”
For more information or to participate in future symposiums, contact Division of Research and Innovation Assistant Vice President Walter Murphy at murphyw@tamuct.edu.