University of Maryland graduate students presented their research at Stamp Student Union on Thursday, covering a range of topics such as transportation accessibility and educational obstacles.
The Graduate Student Government at the university organizes the annual Graduate Research Appreciation Day, where graduate and doctoral students from all departments can participate. This event offers networking opportunities for students at various stages of their research journey, fostering connections among newcomers and more experienced researchers.
Linda Macri, the academic and professional development director of the graduate school, emphasized the value of this event as a platform for students, even those without fully developed results, to gain experience in a supportive setting before presenting at larger academic conferences.
One of the participants, Tayo Taiwo, a community planning graduate student, shared his research on the correlation between transportation accessibility and social well-being among students, particularly those with disabilities.
Taiwo expressed his appreciation for the networking aspect of the event, highlighting the opportunity to engage with peers and witness groundbreaking research within the university community.
Jay Thomas, an alumnus of the university’s graduate school and a judge at the event, underscored the importance of such gatherings in supporting the mental well-being of graduate students by providing a platform for sharing research experiences.
Anna Lytkina, a TESOL education graduate student, discussed the challenges faced by bilingual students with disabilities in educational settings during her presentation. She emphasized the significance of incorporating insights from bilingual and special education fields to enhance the identification and support systems for these students.
Organized by Ankur Mahesh, the operations director of the Graduate Student Government, this year’s event aimed to empower students in effectively communicating their research outcomes in a comprehensible manner, suitable for a diverse audience representing various disciplines.
Looking ahead, Taiwo expressed his enthusiasm for showcasing his research progress at the next year’s event, eager to demonstrate the advancements in his work to the panelists.