Georgia Southern students present at Harvard, view research as way to improve the world
Three students in the University Honors Program presented their research at Harvard University’s National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they were able to share their passion for staying curious and improving the world.
Katie Kennedy, Samantha Estep and Natalie Woodward presented research they worked on under the mentorship of Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology Professor Daniel Czech, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Ron Snarr, Ph.D.
Kennedy presented her research titled, “The Experience of Disposition Optimism among Female African Americans, Latinas/Hispanics, and Caucasian’s in the Generation Z - An Existential Phenomenological Investigation.”
The junior exercise science and Spanish major sees research as an opportunity to help seek out new knowledge that can change the way the world learns or views a topic.
“Everything in our society is advancing and progressing so quickly, and I feel as though being a part of this constant quest for new knowledge, with the ultimate goal of being able to improve the lives of others, is such an amazing opportunity,” said Kennedy.
Samantha Estep presented her research titled, “A Comparison of Laboratory Measures for Estimation of Body Fat Percentage Against Criterion Multi-Compartment Models.”
“Research is important because it allows us to always stay curious and never become static in our learning,” said Estep. “I believe humans always have ways to improve in all aspects of life, and research allows us to improve our knowledge and improve the world around us.”
Natalie Woodward also presented her research, “An Examination of the Relationship between Perceived Health and Optimism in Generation Z - A Generational Analysis.”
“Our program believes in the EPIC of student engagement, an acronym that stands for experiential, participatory, image-rich and connected, and the NCRC is the epitome of an EPIC type experience for our students,” stated Czech. “Our students travel to Boston and learn the ins and outs of large metropolitan areas while meeting and interacting with students from all over the world and learning from some of the best experts and professors in the health science arena. I believe this experience is invaluable for our students.”
To be selected to present at the conference, students had to go through a competitive process which included submitting a research abstract, résumé and essay. Students received funding from the University Honors Program to attend the conference.