Kean Research Days spotlight the research done by faculty and students. Researchers showcase their ongoing or finished projects to the Kean community. Sponsored by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, this year’s celebration occurred from Monday, April 24, to Wednesday, April 26.
To start the festivities, Research Days opened with the President’s Distinguished Lecture with Dr. Michio Kaku, who spoke in the STEM Auditorium on Monday, at 4:30 p.m. Kaku is a physicist, futurist, and author of “The Future of Humanity” and “The God Equation.”
Tuesday marked the beginning of research presentations. The day consisted of oral presentations, special in-person panels, and the launch of the website. The last activity was the Research Awards Ceremony in the STEM Auditorium at 3:30 p.m.
Within Harwood Arena and the Liberty Hall Academic Center Exhibition Hall, visitors had the opportunity to visit the undergraduate and graduate poster presentations. Students showcased their projects and research to the community while interacting with their peers.
The arena was filled with an array of bulletin boards on various research topics. Some topics included:
- Family Conversations Impacting Political Views
- The Impact of Video Games on Youth Development with Disabilities
- Heritage Bilingualism
- Prioritizing Mental Health Support for Black Women in Trenton, NJ
- Color Association in Brand Identification
- Music’s Psychological Effect on the Brain
Jessica Bober, a junior student studying bio-forensic science, researched CBD oil products. Bober determined if the CBD levels in oil products are depicted accurately.
“This is out of my field, doing research on a chemistry department,” Bober said. “It’s important to know what we’re putting into our bodies.”
Eric Alves-Ponte discussed automatic parking segmentation and protection. This project was a gateway to creating an app for parking detection in a given lot. The idea came about as many students struggle to park during rush hour and traffic.
“Over the summer, I’m going to make an app and eventually it will be given to the students to use to make parking easier,” Alves-Ponte said. “There are so many small details that you can make a research topic out of.”
Music’s psychological effect on the brain is another topic that has interested students during Research Days. This topic was researched by Cheyenne Smart, a senior biology major.
“I used different types of genres and gave people a scale of how it made them feel,” Smart said. “My main question was do you believe music can be used therapeutically.”
Kean Research Days are significant because it allows students and faculty to present their interests through research. This celebration allows the campus community to learn new things while supporting their peers. Research Days demonstrate the collaborative efforts of students and faculty and their connection to the Kean community.
