During the 2017 ACC Meeting of the Minds conference, Evan Weiss ’19 describes his research on how various brands of basketballs have an impact on the outcome of a college basketball game.
Evan Weiss ’19 would highly encourage other students who are involved in research or creative work to try out for a distinctive academic event for a select group of students from only 15 universities: the ACC Meeting of the Minds (M.o.M.) Conference.
The conference showcases the research and creative work of undergraduates from the ACC’s 15 schools. This year’s conference will be held April 6-8 at Boston College.
Weiss, a sport analytics major in the , presented at last year’s conference at Duke University on his research on how various brands of basketballs (Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, etc.) have an impact on the outcome of the game in college basketball. The conference was a memorable event for him.
“My biggest take-away from the Meeting of the Minds Conference was that there is some really great research being done from schools across the country, and I was blessed to be able to learn from other students and try to get a better understanding of work that is being done outside of my normal area of study,” says Weiss, who worked with faculty mentor Rodney Paul, professor of sport management.
The networking also added to the experience. “I was able to make extremely valuable connections at the conference, and it was an experience that I will truly never forget,” he says.
Each of the ACC’s schools selects six undergraduates to present at the conference. Students of all disciplines can apply to present their original research or creative project, which needs to be under the mentorship of a faculty member.
ϲ students can apply by completing a brief application at . The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 9.
“Students passionate about their research or creative work—like a script, architectural model, musical composition—should seriously consider this awesome opportunity for participating in the Meeting of the Minds conference,” says Provost Faculty Fellow Rochelle Ford, professor and chair of the Department of Public Relations in the . “Students will experience presenting their own work in preparation for the future, meet with other scholars and faculty members from across the ACC and learn about research and creative work in other fields.”
The event is also a way to showcase ϲ’s students and the important contributions in research and creative work they bring to their classrooms, labs, studios and fields of interest, she says.
A panel of ϲ faculty members select the winners based on the academic quality of the project, clarity of expression in the proposal, completeness of research/creative project, independence of project and relevance of project to program of study.
For more information about the 2018 M.o.M. Conference, contact Melissa Lowry at malowry@syr.edu.
About ϲ
Founded in 1870, ϲ is a private international research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching excellence, rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11 academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence in the liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines that prepares students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main campus and extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three continents. ϲ’s student body is among the most diverse for an institution of its kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries. ϲ also has a long legacy of supporting veterans and is home to the nationally recognized Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their families. To learn more about ϲ, visit .
