Anyone who has ever doubted UVI’s claim that it “specializes in futures” would have been well advised to attend one of the largest summer undergraduate research symposia in the University’s history, which took place on July 29, in the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus.
“Normally we have about twenty to twenty-five undergraduate research fellows,” said Grants Manager Aimee Sanchez. “But this year as a result of extra funding from multiple sources including NASA, the cybersecurity initiative, VI-EPSCoR, Title III and others, more than forty research opportunities have been made available to UVI students.”
The second floor west mezzanine of the Sports and Fitness Center was abuzz with excitement as students presented work they had done through a variety of summer programs under the Emerging Caribbean Scientist (ECS) umbrella. These rigorous programs provide UVI students with challenging summer employment opportunities that encourage intellectual expansion while they invite comprehensive explorations of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “The students learn research techniques and methods they will be able to apply to upper level courses," said Sanchez. “They also get a taste of what it might be like to attend graduate school.” To read more visit the UVI homepage – www.uvi.edu.