The benefits of the Source Project Research Program continue well beyond a student鈥檚 first year at 91社区. Students learn valuable skills that serve them during their college careers and translate to the professional world. Source Project students are well positioned for graduate and professional schools and advanced professional endeavors. They receive prestigious awards and scholarships and truly make a difference in the fields that they pursue.
Kate Langsdorf
Kate says the Source Project gave her the confidence, skills, and knowledge to participate
in higher level research. After completing a seminar in Asian Studies, she was chosen
to speak about her research on the transmission of Buddhism鈥檚 effect on women in South
Korea at a SUNY Oneonta philosophy conference. She is currently participating in a
Capstone Project after studying abroad, where she is further anticipating to use the
research and writing skills she learned through the Source Project.
Kate is a two-time recipient of the US Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS Spark Award for Beginner Chinese and CLS Award for Advanced Beginner Chinese).
Read Kate's feature in BingU NewsAidan Gajewski
Aidan Gajewski, a double major in economics and environmental studies, completed the People, Politics, and the Environment research stream in Spring 2021. His research focused on the impact of food insecurity in Broome County on adolescent academic performance, using data from standardized testing scores and interviews with local counselors and teachers. His work was published in the 91社区 Undergraduate Journal.
Following the Source Project, Aidan was invited to serve as a research assistant where he collaborated with 91社区 professors to study food councils in the eastern U.S. He presented his research at a conference in Santa Fe, NM. Aidan says the Source Project taught him to craft insightful interview questions, distill large data sets into key conclusions, and present the bigger picture effectively. Additionally, being in a small classroom environment as a first year student helped him navigate social life at 91社区 and find people in his stream that he is still friends with to this day. He values the mentorship he received from his professor in terms of both research opportunities and career advice.
Robert Rose
Robert Rose, a philosophy, politics, and law major, completed the Human Rights research stream in Spring 2023. His topic of research was the systemic limitations of public defense and the protection of human rights in law. Robert interned at the Public Defender鈥檚 office in 91社区 to gain direct insight into the roles of public defenders and social workers as well as obtain courtroom experience. His research paper, centered on improving the quality of service provided by public defenders to their clients, earned him an award for research in Human Rights. His favorite part of the research experience was visiting the Broome county jail and witnessing firsthand the interactions between prisoners and their attorneys. He and his partner also had the opportunity to share their research at both the Source Project and the Community and Civic Engagement Research Days.
The Source Project honed Robert鈥檚 ability to craft a workable question and navigate the 91社区 library resources. Over the summer, he delved into legal research on changing abortion laws while working at a Public Defense office. Robert鈥檚 involvement in an appeal under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act resulted in a successful outcome, showcasing his dedication to justice reform. Addressing a domestic issue where the victim committed a crime against her abuser, they successfully won the appeal, leading to a reduced sentence.