A wide array of research projects was displayed at the annual Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR) Poster Symposium on May 1 in the Physical Sciences Building. This year, the symposium was open to graduate students and other institutions outside Cornell.
“This symposium is a highly anticipated event for students to showcase the research they’ve been working on throughout the year,” said Anthony Burrow, BCTR director. “They’re eager to share what they’ve learned and discovered, and the breadth of the research topics they’re involved in is remarkable.”
The symposium showcased nearly 50 interdisciplinary research presentations on health, education, youth development, and community well-being. Studies addressed issues like Parkinson’s disease, caregiver support, and maternal and child health, often emphasizing the role of social and environmental factors. Youth empowerment and participatory research were also prominent, focusing on community engagement. Other studies highlighted children’s spatial development and the impact of digital tools on learning and health. Overall, the presentations reflected a strong commitment to applied, community-focused research.
BCTR Poster Symposium award winners (l-r): Omeed Moini ’25, Wells Lee ’26 and Emma Luthi ’25 for Best Presentation; Rachel Friedland ’25 for Best Poster; and Reagan Allvin ’26 for High Impact Project. (Photo credit: Juan Vazquez-Leddon)
The symposium was also an opportunity for students to answer questions and present their work, in an academic conference format; nearly 100 people attended the session.
“This is my third time participating, and it continues to be a deeply inspiring experience. I am always impressed by how peers from diverse majors and disciplines come together to present research with a strong translational focus,” said Jiayi Guo ’26. She presented research on enhancing children’s engagement with botanic gardens which she worked on with Janet Loebach, the Evalyn Edwards Milman Assistant Professor in Child Development at Cornell Human Ecology and collaborated on research on children’s understanding of climate change with Gary Evans, the Elizabeth Lee Vincent Professor of Human Ecology.
“I received thoughtful feedback on my project and poster, along with several new ideas that I’m excited to explore in future research.”
Three awards were presented for best poster, best presentation, and high-impact project. The award winners were:
Best Presentation: Omeed Moini ‘25, Emma Luthi ‘ 25 and Wells Lee ‘26
Best Poster: Rachel Friedland ‘25
High Impact Project: Reagan Allvin ‘26
