Beach, Pozderac, and Shuman
Undergraduate students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) competed in two undergraduate research forums at The Ohio State University. The University’s Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Undergraduate Research Forum were both held virtually during the first week of April.
Schelby Beach, a senior studying agricultural communication from Findlay, Ohio, participated in both undergraduate research forums with her research project “Consumers’ Perception of Ethics and Lab-Cultured Proteins.” She was mentored by Dr. Annie Specht, associate professor of agricultural communication.
Jacob Shuman, a senior studying community leadership from Chillicothe, Ohio, presented his research at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. For his project, “Quantifying Attributes of Drone Congregation Areas,” he was mentored by Dr. Reed Johnson, associate professor of entomology in the Department of Entomology at Ohio State.
Milan Pozderac, a senior studying agriscience education from Fredericktown, Ohio, presented his research at the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum. He was awarded second place in the social science category for his project, “Career Choice and Beliefs: Insights from Second Generation Agriculture Teachers.” He was mentored by Dr. Tracy Kitchel, professor of agriscience education and senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs for CFAES.
“I’m proud of our students who completed these research projects during an unusual time of both virtual learning and research,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of ACEL. “The research they completed will help them in their future careers to improve the communities, programs and people they will work with each day.”
The CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the OSU community; recognizes the significant contributions to research by OSU undergraduates; and facilitates exchange between students, faculty, and the public. Students enrolled in any undergraduate degree program in College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the School of Environment and Natural Resources are invited to participate, provided they have a CGPA of 2.5 or higher and are engaged in supervised research projects in the area of their major.
Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, currently in its 26th year, is a University-wide research forum that provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with members and friends of the Ohio State community; recognizes the significant contributions to research by Ohio State undergraduates; and facilitates exchange between students, faculty, and the public.
Undergraduate students in ACEL study agricultural communication, agriscience education or community leadership. These three bachelor of science degrees prepare students working with youth and adults of age to promote agriculture and positive change in communities. For additional information on undergraduate in the areas of agricultural communication, education and leadership visit acel.osu.edu.
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