The 14th annual Spring Research Conference for COLFA allowed high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students to present their research.

“The conference was a great experience for undergraduates since it was first developed for graduate students. It gives both undergraduates and graduates good experience to showcase their research,” said undergraduate English presenter Christine Durke.

Undergraduate Christine Durke, undergraduate Brandon Trevino and graduate student Carlos Ivan Hernandez discussed their topics on modern society in the category titled, “Work, Technology, and the Modern Society.”

Durke presented her research paper on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

Her paper, “The Demise of Professionalism: ‘Hyding’ Dr. Jekyll’s Identity,” details how Dr. Jekyll’s deteriorating professionalism reflects the changing late Victorian professionalism.

She stated that it was Dr. Jekyll who disrupted the societal norms by developing Mr. Hyde. Durke’s research also included information about Victorian psychology and the advancement of medicine in the late 19th century.

Trevino’s research focused on the modern effects of “The Brain Drain” in his presentation. He defined brain drain as “the departure of educated and professional people to another country for better wages or lifestyle.”

Trevino stated the positive effects of brain drain for receiving countries, such as the United States. His research showed that the professional and educated migrants could bolster the economy and productivity through their high-earning jobs. Because of these effects, many U.S. higher education institutions are recruiting skilled international students for their graduate programs. He also found in his research that many of these skilled migrants are returning to their home countries after a period of time.

Durke and Trevino both focused on how modern workers are integral to modern society. Hernandez’s research added to the category’s focus of “Work, Technology, and the Modern Society,” because he analyzed the growing advancement in translating languages.

Hernandez defined translating as “more than the process of translating written documents but as the process of transmitting ideas and concepts.”

He then discussed how technology allows people to exchange ideas easily between different countries, but it is difficult to convey meanings. An example Hernandez used was his explanation of what a translator does and how they have to consider what one concept means compared to a modern-day concept.

Hernandez emphasized that language translation is important to the modern society because of the rapid globalization movement.

For example, businesses that operate in different countries establish a strong communication system to ensure positive productivity.

“The awards were presented to students by classification and not by category. Also, the students who did win had different types of papers that focused on creative writing or fiction compared to ours,” said Durke