Undergraduates Encouraged to Apply to Present at ACC Meeting of the Minds

Every year, a group of five undergraduates from Syracuse joins students from the 14 other institutions in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at the Meeting of the Minds (MoM) conference. There, the students showcase their work, network among scholars and other students, and learn from their peers.

The 16th annual MoM conference will be held April 1-3, 2022, at the University of Virginia. Students from all disciplines can apply to present their original research or creative project, which must be under the mentorship of a faculty member.

Syracuse University students can apply by completing a brief application. The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 31. Faculty mentor recommendations are due Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The conference offers a distinctive academic experience and the opportunity to connect with other student researchers across the ACC.

“I’m thrilled that the Meeting of the Minds Conference returns to an in-person event this year,” says Kate Hanson, director of the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (The SOURCE). “It’s an amazing opportunity for bright and curious students from ACC schools to learn from each other’s innovative research and creative work across all disciplines.”

“Our students have an incredible experience each year at the Meeting of the Minds Conference. It’s a dynamic event featuring the best of undergraduate student research in all disciplines from the ACC institutions,” Hanson says. “Students have the opportunity to present their work, get valuable feedback, and meet students and faculty from across the ACC universities.”

A panel of Syracuse University faculty members select the presenters based on the academic quality of the project, clarity of expression in the proposal, completeness of research/creative project, independence of the project and potential impact of the conference participation to help the student achieve their goals.

Five Syracuse students participated in last year’s conference, which was held virtually. Their research and presentations included “Russian Caviar: A Delicacy in Jeopardy;” “Roles of Routine, Flexibility and Gender in Online Freelancing;” “Evaluating the Functional Consequences of Novel Mutations in the Pantothenate Kinase 2 Gene;” “Understanding the Correlation Between Stressors and Academic Performance of Puerto Rican College Students in the United States During Hurricane María” and “Differential Reactions to African-American and Caucasian Women’s Postnatal Maternal Stress.”

For more information about the 2022 MoM Conference, contact Hanson at khanso01@syr.edu or visit the SOURCE website.