Undergraduate researchers from UNC Pembroke were among the largest group of students to participate in the 115th Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science.   Students from UNCP presented thirteen posters and four oral presentations during the two-day meeting at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh.  Three UNCP faculty members also gave oral presentations. 

The total lineup included 54 posters and 19 oral presentations, workshops, and a keynote address by Dr. Michael A. Palladino, Professor of Biology and Vice Provost for Graduate Studies at Monmouth University.  Kaitlan Smith (Chemistry) received a Derieux Award for her oral presentation, entitled "Reducing Alzheimer-type protein accumulation pathology and associated synaptopathogenesis to treat early dementia in a mouse model."  Dr. Palladino picked Kaitlan and a second student to demonstrate, during his keynote address, the value of communicating science with family. 

The Research Initiative for Science Enhancement (RISE) Program sponsored many of the UNCP research projects, and both Dr. Rachel Smith (RISE Program Director) and Gloria Gray (RISE Program Coordinator) were on hand to support and encourage students in their presentations.  Several other people from the University also attended the meeting, which concluded with an awards ceremony for undergraduate researchers.