The research fair is walk-in style and open to all students, staff, faculty and members of the community. The fair showcases the research labs affiliated with the Center for Children and Families and the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, such as the Think Lab.
The annual Center for Children and Families Research Fair will showcase UT Dallas research Nov. 7.
The research fair allows potential volunteers to learn about labs that are recruiting participants. It also presents undergraduate students with opportunities to join labs as research assistants.
This free event will include research from across the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, including the Center for Vital Longevity and Arts and Humanities’ partner – the Center for Values in Medicine, Science and Technology. At least 13 labs will participate this year.
“Many opportunities to explore activities and findings from a large array of BBS research teams and our friends will be available at the Research Fair – now in its fourth year,” said Dr. Margaret Tresch Owen, director of the Center for Children and Families and Robinson Family Professor. “This year’s fair will also include a toy drive benefiting Juega Conmigo, an outreach program of the CCF that provides weekly playful learning classes for young children and their parents in high-need areas of Dallas.”
Dr. Margaret Tresch Owen
CCF is expanding Juega Conmigo into additional neighborhoods this year, according to Owen. The UT Dallas Psi Chi chapter and the Psychology Coalition are sponsoring the toy drive to help gather developmentally appropriate toys needed for the new programs.
Here’s a sample of two labs participating in this year’s fair:
The Family Research Lab: Dr. Jackie Nelson and her lab work to understand relationships within the family. They are particularly interested in emotions, stress, conflict and closeness with the goal of better supporting the child’s social-emotional well-being. The Family Research Lab will soon be recruiting mothers and fathers of early school-aged children for a study examining family stress and parent-child conflict.
The Personality and Interpersonal Relationships (PAIR) Laboratory: Dr. Robert Ackerman and his colleagues investigate how early family experiences and personality traits shape the course of interpersonal relationships. Their focus is on how all sorts of relationships – romantic, familial and friendships – are impacted by the individual differences of the people involved. The PAIR lab is currently seeking adult participants to investigate how personality impacts the development of platonic, same-sex relationships.
The research fair is scheduled to take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms B and C. Registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. For more information about the fair or participating in research, contact Adrienne Gidley at afg072000@utdallas.edu or visit the Research Fair website. For more information about donating to the toy drive, contact Dr. Joanna Gentsch at jgentsch@utdallas.edu.