Students from the St. Cloud State University’s College of Science and Engineering (COSE) have been actively presenting their research at events across the region this semester, demonstrating their dedication and expertise in the field of geosciences.
In March, COSE students participated in the Association of American Geographers (AAG) conference in Detroit, Michigan, the largest geography conference globally. Four undergraduate students (Katelyn Mason, Sean Dilley, Elaina Stockholm and Jack Kimbler), one graduate student (Ben Hillesheim) and three faculty members (Drs. Gareth John, Jeff Torguson, and Mikhail Blinnikov) presented their research at the meeting.
During the conference, students also went on field trips to nearby locations like Dearborn, Michigan to explore the geography of housing and the Ford assembly plant’s effect on the community. Another trip focused on the waterways of Detroit, such as the Detroit River and canals, examining their connection to the Great Lakes.
Earlier in March, a selection of SCSU students also presented at Posters in St. Paul with Katelyn Mason representing SCSU’s geography program and COSE. Held in the rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol, this event was attended by Minnesota legislators and administrators from Minnesota State colleges and universities. Mason’s presentation focused on spatially predicting the ecological future of the Blanding’s Turtle in Minnesota and Wisconsin in light of climate change scenarios.
Then in April, four COSE students showcased their research at the Midwest Undergraduate Geography Symposium (MUGS), held this year in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The student participants included Elaina Stockholm, Gavin Groth, Katelyn Mason, and Spenser Norling. This symposium provided an excellent platform for geography students to share their findings and engage with peers from other institutions.
These opportunities are part of the professionalization process for geography students, preparing them for graduate school or careers in the geospatial sciences. The geography capstone course at COSE requires students to present their research in a public venue, whether through travel or locally at the COSE Student Research Colloquium.
Student travel expenses were funded using generous alumni donations to geography-dedicated SCSU Foundation accounts, including the Dale Trippler Fund, Louis E. Leipold Fund and the Geography Fund.
The active participation of COSE geography students and their faculty mentors in these professional and academic conferences and symposiums underscores their commitment to advancing knowledge in the field and their readiness to contribute to the broader geospatial science community.
