STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE ON TAP

Student presenters are preparing to take center stage at the 1998 Student Research Conference at Southeast Missouri State University.

The Sixth Annual Student Research Conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the University Center, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students are scheduled to present 67 papers and 15 poster submissions during the conference. A wide array of majors are represented by the presenters, including biology, chemistry, dance, industrial technology, mass communication, psychology and theatre education. Both graduate and undergraduate students will compete for the "Best Paper" and "Best Poster Presentation" awards.

On Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., as part of the Common Hour observance, the keynote address will be an interactive talk presented by Dr. Dee Dee Ige on the topic, "Research: What's In It For Me?"

Ige graduated from Southeast in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in speech communication and last fall received the university's Alumni Merit Award. She received a doctorate in 1980 from Ohio State University. Ige is a professor of speech communication and chairman of the communication department at Indiana University Northwest.

On Thursday, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast president, will serve as moderator for a round-table discussion between student researchers and their faculty mentors. Several students who have presented their research at past conferences will participate.

"This conference provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable experience for both job-related speaking engagements and participation in other regional or national conferences," said Dr. Martha Zlokovich, Southeast assistant professor of psychology and conference committee faculty chairman.

The conference is being supported by Nitzschke; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, which provided funding of $50 each for both graduate and undergraduate "Best Paper" and "Best Poster Presentation" awards; and the Public Relations Student Society of America, which designed flyers, posters and bookmarks.

Sponsors of the conference are Psi Chi, the Psychology Club and the Department of Psychology. Tri Beta, the Biology Club and the biology department are this year's co-sponsors.