Research Symposium

The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University held its 22nd annual Scholarly and Creative Research Symposium on April 12 at the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter.

The event set new records with more than 170 student presentations. The day opened with 15-minute oral presentations by 62 students. They covered a wide range of research topics including, deep learning networks, corals and marine sponges, solar energy, religion and politics in Central America, academic freedom and stem cell therapy.

A keynote address by Julio J. Ramirez, Ph.D. followed. Ramirez is the R. Stuart Dickson Professor and Director of the Neuroscience Program at Davidson College. He spoke on the topic “Are Broken Brains Doomed to Disfunction? Lessons from Hippocampal Formation.” Ramirez and his team have spent decades studying the brain’s ability to heal after trauma. He explained that “the brain is a highly malleable organ,” thanks to neuroplasticity. Their findings indicate that “sprouting from neurons that survive injury and that are similar to injured neurons may compensate for the loss of cells occurring after a brain injury.” This means it’s possible to regain some lost function after a brain injury event.

Ramirez ended his talk with words of encouragement, particularly for the graduating seniors.

“You belong as part of a global community, making a difference, making the world a better place,” he said. “Focus on your work” but also take time to “step back and enjoy the journey of discovery and making contributions that benefit humanity.”

The final portion of the day was dedicated poster presentations. The halls of the Honors College were lined from end to end with research posters and packed with students, faculty and attendees discussing their findings. The posters spilled into the Student Resource Center along with creative projects that included paintings, detailed scientific drawings, conceptual art and original video games.

Research and hands-on learning are cornerstones of the Honors College curriculum. The annual symposium is a celebration of students’ high-caliber, original scholarship and creativity, their intellectual curiosity, and their many hours spent in pursuit of knowledge and inspiration.