Bluffton University’s Musselman Library hosted its first Research Symposium on April 21.
The event consisted of 19 five-minute speeches prepared by undergraduate students. The speeches were about research, professional experience or creative pieces conducted during the past year. The students were nominated by professors to present.
Director of Musselman Library Carrie Phillips. Photo by Olivia Daugherty.
“We went one right after the other,” said Carrie Phillips, the director of Musselman Library. “At the end, every presenter had a small table at the back of the library where people in the audience could ask questions about the research.”
Michael Lindhorst, a junior mathematics major, presented “Codes & Encryptions, Past & Present,” a research project about the history of encryption. He did his research for Abstract Algebra, a class taught by Steve Harnish, but the project consisted of applications of Discrete Mathematics and Linear Algebra.
“Encryption is using matrices to shift the spots of certain numbers and letters to make a code,” said Lindhorst. “You can also use it for conformational computer programs to make code.”
Olivia Hattery, a senior art and writing major, presented an apocalyptic movie script titled “Atlantis.” She created the piece for Jackie Wyse-Rhodes’ From Apocalypse to Zombie class.
“I borrowed from different ideas and put them together,” said Hattery on her script. “I chose Greek mythology, and then I did Atlantis as the city with the Muses. The Muses do not have many stories written about them so I thought it would be interesting.”
Before the Research Symposium was the Research Fair, which dated back to 2015.
“It was the whole afternoon,” said Phillips. “People came and went through the library, meeting with different presenters.”
Senior art and writing major, Olivia Hattery after her presentation at the Research Symposium 2022. Photo by Olivia Daugherty.
Hattery had presented in the Research Fair before, saying her project was a story similar to what she presented.
“We did not have to do a speech,” said Hattery. “I just sat at a table with a big poster board and had to explain everything.”
The COVID-19 pandemic created issues with the concept of the Research Fair. The last one was held in 2020, right before the campus was shut down for the pandemic.
“We adjusted things slightly for the Symposium,” said Phillips. “We tried to think of ways to bring back the event while keeping it more COVID precaution-friendly if needed.”
Lindhorst thought the Research Symposium was a good opportunity after Harnish nominated him.
“I found that as I advance in my college career, more opportunities like this are engaged with you,” said Lindhorst. “It’s a good opportunity to speak in front of an audience.”
