Sharing Summer Research

12 November 2009 Sharing Summer Research

The 2009 Summer Science Research Program, just finishing its 21st year, placed more than 50 students from variety of majors in various research positions both on and off campus this summer. Students had the opportunity to show off their intensive projects on Friday, Oct. 23, sharing their work with classmates, professors, and visiting parents.

Every human being thinks about the universe, and this is one way of visualizing it, explained Associate Professor of Physics Steven Penn, pointing to Jing Luo 12s summer research on gravity waves and black holes. By measuring the rate at which star systems lose energy, we can get a sense of this universe we inhabit.

Its fulfilling to see these students engage in such diverse research, concurred Laboratory Coordinator William Zuk.

Proud parents Paul and Julie Langenbacher P12 applauded the research opportunities for their daughter, Rachel, who studied carbon bonds in indium this summer. She was able to present her research with Professor of Chemistry Walter Bowyer in Kentucky in October, and will again in Florida this spring.

Peter Vairo P12, P13 admired his daughter Logans work with Assistant Professor of Biology Meghan Brown. Its amazing that someone can partake in this kind of research at the undergraduate level, he said. His daughters research convinced her to apply for an abroad program in Australia to continue to pursue her academic passions. Vairo is just one of many students who affirmed a passion for a certain vocation, received a credit-bearing internship, and prepared a resume for admission into top graduate programs by partaking in intensive research projects.

Each summer since 1987, Hobart and William Smith have been bringing students together for the Summer Science Research Program that partners students with faculty mentors to engage in original research.This summer, the Brenda and David Rickey Foundation approved a three year, $45,000 grant to support students in the Program who will undertake research projects in Geneva at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES), a division of Cornell University.

In the photo above Jing Luo 12 explains to Peter Vairo P12,P13 the research she undertook as part of the HWS Summer Science Program.