“I Feel Like I’m at Harvard”

When walking around the BMCC campus, you’ll find students talking and laughing together, heading to class, grabbing a quick bite to eat in the cafeteria or studying in the library.

What you won’t see oftentimes happens “behind the scenes”—students engaged in intense research projects under the guidance of a BMCC faculty member, who acts as their advisor and mentor while overseeing the student’s final project—a three-fold descriptive poster.

BMCC’s annual Student Research Poster Presentation was held in Richard Harris Terrace. The event is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs.

More than 40 posters were lined up in rows on long tables, allowing guests to easily view the displayed subject matter while the scholars proudly discussed their work.

“We are so proud of all of you,” said Dr. Sadie Bragg, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, who spoke at the event. “And we know you’re all going to make us prouder as you leave BMCC.”

The research programs at BMCC

Most of the students who presented a poster were active members of the following on-campus programs: CSTEP, Cleo and Zack Project, Honors, LSAMP and S-STEM.

CSTEP, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, is designed to foster a student’s success in preparing for professional licensure and careers in medicine, law, business, education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health.

Cleo and Zack Project is a scholarship endowed by former BMCC Professor Sylvia Saunders, created to raise an awareness of scientific or health-oriented issues.

The BMCC Honors Program is designed for students seeking academic challenges above and beyond the ones they face in class each day. To be eligible for Honors work, a student must maintain a 3.2 GPA and have completed at least 12 BMCC – i.e., non-transfer – credits with no remediation pending.

The LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is federally-funded and University- supported. 

S-STEM (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is intended to address the critical shortage of a technically trained workforce that is essential to the well being of this country and economy.

Posters are “a labor of love”

Most of the posters on display were mathematical or science-oriented, although some students presented other topics.

“We’re here to celebrate those students who have done major research with their faculty mentors,” said Dr. Sadie Bragg.  “This is a labor of love for you students, and the faculty has spent countless hours with you. I know what it’s like when you help a student achieve their dreams.”

Throughout the afternoon, students at the event had their name and picture flash across a large screen.

College research is more “in-depth”

Assistant Professors Barry McKernan and Saavik Ford of the science department mentored two students who presented posters, including Liberal Arts major Edina Celjaj, who researched active galactic nuceli (AGNs).

“My mentors were so cool and the greatest people to work with,” said Celjaj, who plans to study physics at CUNY Hunter. “They answered all my questions even when I felt nervous asking, and it was a wonderful experience.”

McKernan said that if students are involved in a research project, they “really learn how science works.” Plus, it’s much more in-depth than any research they may have done in high school. 

“BMCC students are an amazing bunch. They have families, obligations, even kids…but they can still come along and surprise you and do amazing things,” said McKernan. “And, hopefully, they’ll go on and do more amazing things.”

Math major Dana Pardi, a member of S-STEM, made a poster on sound intensity levels. Her faculty mentor was Dr. Abdramane Serme of the math department.  “Dr. Serme is the best—extremely patient,” she said.

Dr. Serme believes it’s important for BMCC students to work with a faculty mentor so they’ll be knowledgeable about a particular subject when they move on to a four-year school. 

“When the students finish this type of project, as a mentor, you see they really want to do the work, and they’re very proud of it,” said Dr. Serme. “We [the faculty] really enjoy mentoring students at BMCC.”

Potential for Nobel prizes

Certificates were distributed at the end of the afternoon, with a special award going to science major Kimberly Thompson, who recently won First Place in the 2009 CUNY Nobel Science Challenge.

Thoroughly impressed by the caliber of the posters, Dr. Bragg said she believed all the scholars at the event “have the potential to be Nobel prize winners.”

Michael Gillespie, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, paid the scholars a glowing compliment. “Looking at these posters, I truly feel like I’m at Harvard,” he said. “This could be the work of students from Harvard, Yale and Princeton combined. It’s very, very impressive.”