The Lamar Bruni Vergara & Guillermo Benavides Academic Conference 2014 will be held the 27th and 28th of March at the Student Center. The conference is a two-day gathering and competition meant for TAMIU students to showcase their research projects to administrators and fellow students. However, the term “research” merely takes on a purpose of generalizing what is seen in this conference.
Associate Dean of Research Dr. John C. Kilburn described the conference as consisting of projects from all academic subjects and colleges on campus. “We have some students that may show-off a sculpture, paintings, short films… It’s creative scholarly activity. Unfortunately, to put that so it fits in a billboard or small email, we have gone with the more traditional term of ‘research’.” In short, the entry possibilities are not limited to safety goggles and clay volcanos.
The conference got its start 9 years ago in the College of Arts & Sciences due to the efforts of Dr. David Beck, professor of biology, and Dr. Kevin Lindberg, professor of English. The success of the conference eventually gained the attention of other programs and schools in the campus.
“They got a lot of talent in the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business. We certainly got talent in the Canseco School of Nursing, and absolutely in the College of Education,” Dr. Kilburn explained. “You push yourself; and you get to find out about yourself. Every once in a while we get comfortable with our own work…so, sometimes students may get humbled by seeing something that is just outstanding work.”
In the long run, this conference may not only act as filler for that empty space in your resume, but offer insight through advisors and development in character. And if that doesn’t motivate you, there’s a cash prize involved.
To register for the conference, you can visit www.tamiu.edu/gradschool/lbvconference. The registration deadline will be February 28th.
For more information about the Lamar Bruni Vergera & Guillermo Benavides Z. Academic Conference, please visit Associate Dean of Research Dr. John C. Kilburn at KL 326
(Dago Carmona may be reached at dagoalbertocarmona@dusty.tamiu.edu)