An Arkansas State University student earned first place in the undergraduate paper category at the recent Southwestern Division of the American Association of Geographers (SWAAG) conference.
Jessica Harvey, a senior environmental science major and Honors College student from Lawton, Oklahoma, presented research she conducted over the summer in Dominica. Her winning project, titled "Mapping the Coral-Algae Transition Along Coconut Beach, Dominica," was recognized as the top undergraduate paper at the regional event.
“It was a huge accomplishment for not only me, but for the four other students who were part of the project,” Harvey said. “I take a lot of pride in being able to get our research recognized by professionals in the field, especially because we all worked so hard to get this research done.”
The SWAAG conference serves as a regional gathering for geographers from Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico.
Dr. Jason Post, assistant research professor of geography at A-State, described the recognition as a significant milestone for the university's Dominica study abroad program.
“I think it is a tremendous achievement to have our students see their projects through the entire research process, from research design to fieldwork in Dominica, and finally the analysis and presentation upon return,” Post said.
According to Post, the research trip to Dominica, a first for the university, highlights the program's innovative approach and attracted attention from departments, students, and scholars throughout the region.
Other A-State students also showcased their research at the conference. Zhoe Davis, a senior animal science major from Marion, Arkansas, presented a poster detailing her Dominica-based study.
“This conference was a great opportunity to showcase our new Dominica study abroad program as well as the hard work of our students,” Post added. “It was also meaningful to me as a professor, as this was the first academic conference for both Zhoe and Jessica to attend and present at. I was truly blessed to have the opportunity to support and guide them through this process.”
Harvey encouraged other students to consider participating in similar research trips.
“I learned a lot of valuable things about myself, which helped me gain a lot of confidence as both a student and researcher,” Harvey said. “I believe that is one of the most important skills you can have. I will never forget all the fun memories I made and the unique opportunities I got to experience abroad.”
This year’s conference, Post concluded, demonstrated the success of A-State’s program and set a high standard for future academic initiatives.
“This conference really demonstrated the success of the program as a proof-of-concept and sets the bar very high for future iterations of the program,” Post said.