Student research featured during Cuesta College week-long celebration
Public invited to poster session on April 25
– Cuesta College will host its inaugural Undergraduate Research Week from April 21 to April 25, showcasing student and faculty research across a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.
The week will conclude with a live student research poster session on Friday, April 25, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the STEM Courtyard, located between the 2300 and 2400 Buildings at the San Luis Obispo campus. The public is invited to attend.
“This inaugural undergraduate research week and live poster session on April 25 is an exciting opportunity to celebrate novel research and excellence in STEM on campus,” said Dr. Laurie McConnico, biology instructor and undergraduate research mentor at Cuesta College.
Over the past seven years, Cuesta College has developed an undergraduate research program involving more than 300 students in the 2023–24 academic year. These students participated in over 15 faculty-led research projects in disciplines including biology, mathematics, anthropology, astronomy, engineering and oceanography. This is the first campus-wide event dedicated to recognizing those efforts.
“This is a significant achievement, and the community should be aware of the remarkable research taking place right here at Cuesta College,” said McConnico.
Cuesta College’s undergraduate research programs receive partial support from grants provided by the National Science Foundation’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program. These grants have contributed to the development and institutionalization of student research opportunities on campus.
“These grants support faculty developing research programs and the students who participate,” said Dr. Jason Curtis, assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction. “Our programs empower students to explore real-world challenges and develop critical thinking skills through hands-on learning in fields such as anthropology, astronomy, biology, engineering, geology, mathematics, oceanography and robotics.”
