KSU Students Selected to Present Research at Georgia State Capitol

KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 24, 2021

Three undergraduate researchers will represent 肉肉传媒 at the Posters at the Georgia State Capitol, a showcase of the state鈥檚 best undergraduate research, on Feb. 24 from 1-5 p.m.

The event gives selected participants from Georgia鈥檚 colleges and universities an opportunity to present their research to state leaders. Sponsored by the Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective, the 2021 poster session will take place as a synchronous online virtual conference.

鈥淲e are so pleased to see KSU students accepted to this event, which began in 2019,鈥� said Amy Buddie, director of undergraduate research at KSU. 鈥淭his is such an important opportunity for our students to connect both with Georgia legislators as well as other undergraduate researchers around the state. This event helps show our state鈥檚 decision-makers that students at KSU and elsewhere are conducting meaningful, relevant research that makes a difference.鈥�

The selected KSU undergraduates are Lawren Cumberbatch of Grayson, Artis Trice of Ellenwood, and Alexandra Walsh of Lawrenceville. Although their projects span from the sciences to the arts, each student鈥檚 research project began in a similar fashion.

Food Deserts

Cumberbatch, a senior major with a minor, is conducting research on food deserts, areas which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as neighborhoods that have limited access to affordable and healthy food sources. Using her background in applied statistics, her research explores the causes of food deserts by analyzing the demographics of the affected communities. She presented this research at the fall Symposium of Student Scholars at KSU.

鈥淚 always understood the process of research and found it to be interesting, but actually conducting research has been more important to me than I could have imagined,鈥� she said.

Cumberbatch was drawn into the world of undergraduate research through her degree requirements. Her journey began with a biostatistics course, in which a student guest speaker presented a research project and encouraged the class to take additional statistics courses. Cumberbatch heeded the speaker鈥檚 advice, which led her to meeting her current faculty mentor, Susan Mathews Hardy, senior lecturer of mathematics.

鈥淐onducting research shows you that you can actually have an impact on the world,鈥� said Cumberbatch, who wants to become a medical doctor. 鈥淵our research findings matter in people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

Community Gardens

Senior major and Honors student Trice is also conducting food insecurity research, which he also presented at the fall Symposium of Student Scholars. His research involves planning community gardens in DeKalb County in hopes that the produce grown will help sustain parts of the county that do not have access to healthy food options.

鈥淚 am interested in pursuing this type of research as a career,鈥� Trice said. 鈥淭his experience of studying and planning urban gardens has been very helpful to my future goals, whether that is in community organizing, urban agriculture, or natural resource management as a whole.鈥�

Prior to his research, Trice already had experience volunteering at various community gardens, such as the North Marietta Neighborhood Community Garden and a Seattle-based community garden during a summer internship. His idea for the project was a result of a research methods class that he took with Paul McDaniel, associate professor of geography. With McDaniel鈥檚 help as his mentor, Trice was able to incorporate his experiences into a research project.

鈥淩esearch allows you to do new and cool things,鈥� Trice said. 鈥淵ou can explore things that people may not have done before, and if it鈥檚 something that you鈥檙e passionate about studying, you may as well try to find the answer.鈥�

A Ballet鈥檚 Popularity

Walsh, a junior student in , is presenting her first undergraduate research project. Her research explores the history of the renowned Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky-penned ballet, The Nutcracker, and the various factors that have contributed to its long-standing success.

鈥淭hrough analysis of existing scholarship, I investigated the history of The Nutcracker ballet within the broader context of the history, politics, culture, economics, and technology of the United States in the mid-20th century, when the ballet was first introduced to the U.S.,鈥� she said.

Walsh鈥檚 research began as a final class project for a dance history course taught by her faculty mentor, Caroline Clark, assistant professor of dance history and theory. The project has since blossomed into a full-fledged academic research presentation.

鈥淚 have thoroughly enjoyed doing this research, and am very appreciative to Dr. Clark for sharing the various possibilities of dance research with me,鈥� Walsh said. 鈥淚 have gained not only a deeper understanding of the topic, but also of how to analyze information and convey ideas to an audience, which will serve me well in my future endeavors.鈥�

鈥� Jacob Segura

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