Virgin Islanders can get a look at the kind of science and research being done at the University of the Virgin Islands by attending the 14th Annual Fall Student Research Symposium.

The event will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the St. Thomas campus Administration and Conference Center.

The symposium showcases UVI student research and increases awareness of student research opportunities. During the summer, UVI students conduct research on both campuses along with off-island institutions including Boston University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Western Michigan University, the University of Puerto Rico, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Johns Hopkins University, Michigan State University and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

More than 40 undergraduate and graduate students will make poster presentations to display the results of their research experiences. Titles to be presented include:

- Threats to Our Reefs: Lionfish Invasion in St. Croix, USVI and GIS Mapping of Distribution;

- Preliminary Studies on Water Quality Parameters in Bioluminescent Mangrove Lagoon, St. Croix, USVI;
- Investigation in the Use of Optical Spectroscopy to Determine Metal-Ligand Binding Constants;
- Utilizing Eye-Tracking to Determine Students' Comprehension of Chemistry While They Read;
- Data Mining: Exploring the Association between Semantic Categories and Attributes in Large Databases;
- Developing a PCR protocol for the Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus) in the Northern U.S. Virgin Islands.

A panel of judges will evaluate the presentations based on visual materials, clarity and scientific content. Winners receive certificates of recognition and become eligible for travel awards.

Marisha Perkins is among past symposium winners. Perkins, currently a UVI senior majoring in chemistry, received the UNCF/Merck Science Initiative Scholarship award this year, granted to under-represented students seeking careers in biomedical research. Undergraduate recipients receive up to $25,000 in scholarships and summer research internships at the Merck Research Laboratories.

The symposium is sponsored by the Emerging Caribbean Scientists program and the College of Science and Mathematics. The mission of the ECS program is to increase research training and promote excellence for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, psychology and nursing at UVI.

Further information is available online at http://ecs.uvi.edu.