The Annual Science Conference

The Science Students’ Society proudly presents its first edition of the Annual Science Conference to be held on the 30th of April 2015. This conference aims to instigate discussions regarding an ongoing issue that is being faced by Science students. S-Cubed believes that so as to make education more effective, undergraduates should experience authentic research early in their academic carrier. Therefore, the student organisation is encouraging discussions regarding this aspect, illustrating the importance of such, together with possible negative implications and solutions to them. 

A clear example of “Empowering Undergraduates through Research”, Dr. Bethany M. Usher is the director of ‘Students as Scholars’ at the George Mason University, Virginia. Through her work, the University receives numerous and wide opportunities for undergraduate research and research-orientated classes for all students, together with Research and Scholarship intensive courses. Dr. Usher emphasizes that her life was shaped on opportunities she had when she was an undergraduate student. She says that “students should be part of the new knowledge” which is being produced in the University. 

The Amsterdam Treaty (1997) describes Research and Technological Development (RTD) as an “essential element in the functioning of industrialized countries, such as EU Member States” and that employment and competitiveness depends greatly on RTD. Hence, the collective well-being of the citizens of these countries depend on the relevance and quality of RTD. Keeping in mind that high level of research is complex and increasingly costly, these discussions can be healthy for a holistic policy which incorporates also undergraduates, and their preparation for their contribution to RTD. 

To present such a holistic policy, S-Cubed will be forming an ‘ad hoc’ policy team which will be working on a draft policy (Apply here:goo.gl/alnwhT). Their position will then be supported with the ideas presented after discussions in a Policy Forum, which will be open to all Science students. The final policy document will then be presented to relevant sectors during the first edition of the Annual Science Conference, in such a way that the ideas of the science student can be implemented. 

Save the date! Further details will be out soon.