The Alcorn State University Department of Agriculture and Applied Sciences hosted its 5th Annual Center for Research Excellence Symposium (CRES) on Thursday, February 7, 2019 in the Biotechnology Building.
The CRES provides undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to gain real life experience presenting research conducted at Alcorn State University (ASU). According to Dr. Edmund Buckner, Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs, “The student research that is presented at the Symposium is a key component of the scientific process and is critical to the student training mission which is taken very seriously at Alcorn State University. The Symposium also showcases the outstanding accomplishments of our students.”
The program began at 8:00 am with registration and set-ups for Poster Sessions. Throughout the program, there were Professional Speaker Presentations including but not limited to “Parental Factors and Household Routines Associated with Childhood Obesity”, “Repurposing of Quinacrine as an Anticancer Therapy”, and “Imparted Feature of Soil Moisture Storage for Surface Energy Prediction”. There were also Undergraduate Speaker Presentations, Graduate Speaker Presentations, and Defense Presentations. Kaelin Travis, a Junior Agriculture Plant and Soil Science major, explained her experience as a presenter by stating, “I had an amazing time at the CRES. I gained a great amount of knowledge from both the resume and mock interview workshop. I was able to network and explore the different table set-ups, and I was also able to learn from not only the staff and judges but also my peers.” Travis added, “My project was entitled, “Biochemical modification of sweet potato soymeal mixture under bacillus subtilis fermentation: A potential animal feed.” The presentation was about how adding the bacillus subtilis probiotic into sweet potato feed could increase gut health for live stock. Some of bacillus subtilis health benefits are that it reduces salmonella, E. coli, it is very nutritious to animals, and it is very inexpensive.”
Resume and Mock Interview Sessions were held from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm where each student attended 20 minute sessions with interviewers and resume trainers.
The program concluded with the first Annual Ice Cream Social in the Ecology Building Auditorium. During the Social, participants were able to mix and mingle with other students, faculty, and staff while enjoying ice cream. Awards were presented by Dr. Melissa Mason, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, which included cash prizes. Dr. Edmund Buckner, Dr. Keith McGee, Associate Dean for Research and Administration, and Dr. Babu Patlolla, Dean of Arts and Sciences, and CRES Committee Members, provided the closing remarks.