CREATE (Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern), the premier undergraduate research and art conference at Eastern Connecticut State University, held its inaugural event on April 17 and 18. By providing exemplary students of all majors an on-campus venue to present their research and creative work, CREATE was the culmination of the 2014–15 academic year, as well as the beginning of a new era.  “This is a very dynamic and action-packed event, balanced in subject matter, presentation type and departments represented,” said Professor Dickson Cunningham, co-chair of CREATE, during the opening remarks. “It’s an interdisciplinary forum where we can all learn from each other, so we encourage everyone to attend multiple presentations and see what your classmates and colleagues have been up to.”

The two-day event showcased approximately 170 student projects, including oral and poster presentations, art and photography exhibits, video and documentary viewings, and live music and dance performances.

“Why is CREATE important?” asked Cunningham. In addition to contributing to the intellectual richness of campus and raising external perceptions of Eastern, he pointed out that for some students, CREATE is “the culmination of their undergraduate career,” and that they should “feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.”“Hopefully this will inspire other students to present and to develop mentor relationships with faculty,” Cunningham concluded.

Attendees peruse the undergraduate art exhibition at recent CREATE conference.

The CREATE conference marked the merging of Eastern’s two previous end-of-year academic conferences: the Excellence Expo and the Arts and Sciences Research Conference and Exhibition. “The merging of these two separate conferences took a lot vision, time and work,” said Provost Rhona Free, pointing out the campus-wide efforts that led to the creation of CREATE, and the hard work of the conference’s organizational committee. “It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it’s important for other students to see this output,” said Free. “It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display.”

Free concluded the opening remarks with presentations of this year’s two Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Mentor Awards. Meredith Metcalf, environmental earth science professor and mentor to graduating senior Laura Markley, was the first recipient. In her nomination, Markley mentioned how Metcalf provides guidance that makes her students’ research valid, while still allowing them to maintain ownership over their project.

Miriam Chirico, English professor and mentor to graduating senior Renee Drouin, received the second award. “A good mentor teaches others to mentor as well,” said Chirico. “Another aspect of mentoring is pushing students to be their best.”

For the following two days, students, family and members of the Eastern community at large browsed the conference’s many presentations in the Science Building and Student Center, and enjoyed a reception and catered breakfast and lunch. From presentations on forensic accounting and cyber security, to West African dance and opera performances, to eclectic artwork and photography exhibits, all sectors of Eastern academics were on display.