The Graduate School hosted its annual Graduate Research Poster Session last month with an unprecedented turnout of research posters. Jennifer Saunders, an MES graduate student has shared her experience as a presenter.
The Graduate Research Poster session last month was a great experience for me. Working on a thesis or an internship report can be a daunting and isolating task in its final stages, and it helps to have a forum where one can communicate their research and gain feedback. It was wonderful to have my research poster, “Growing Connections: Understanding the Role of Higher Education in Charleston’s Urban Agriculture Movement” be a part of such a wonderful session with so many worthy topics. My only regret is that I was unable to look at many of my peers’ posters. The ones I did see, however, were of high caliber and were very interesting. If my poster session had not demanded my attention, I would have loved to talk to everyone about their research.
Working on the poster itself was a very helpful experience. By narrowing down my research to a poster format, not only did I create a nice visual display, it helped me to focus my efforts on the writing stage of my project. I oftentimes find it hard staying focused on my research, as I try to encompass too much, but this had really helped me to hone my work. Now I find it much easier to write after having the experience of talking about my research to a variety of interested individuals. As it was the first time I have formally presented my research, it helped me gain confidence for my defense later this semester, a requirement in order to graduate with an MES degree. I would like to thank the Graduate School for hosting this great event!
