Several Hope College students and professors led sessions or presented research during the annual meetings of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, held at Ferris State University on Friday, March 9.

In the Education section, research on "Why Parents Choose Charter Schools for Their Children with Disabilities" was presented by Jane Finn, who is an assistant professor of education; and seniors Kate Caldwell of Streamwood, Ill., and Tara Raub of Carmel, Ind.

A professor and three students played roles in the section on French and Italian Language and Literature. Isabelle Chapuis-Alvarez, assistant professor of French, organized and chaired the session on Topics in Literature titled "Écritures de soi de l'aube du XXème siècle à nos jours" ("Life Writings from the 20th Century until today"), during which the three students gave presentations. Senior Kyle Smith of Grand Rapids presented "Le récit de vie en images: le Photographe d'Emmanuel Guibert et Didier Lefèvre" ("An Autobiographical Account in Pictures: Le Photographe by Emmanuel Guibert and Didier Lefèvre"). Senior Elizabeth Coen of Deerfield, Ill., presented "Le processus du deuil dans Le Livre de ma mère d'Albert Cohen" ("The mourning process in Le Livre de ma mère by Albert Cohen"). Junior Stélios Alvarez of
Grand Rapids presented "La lecture d'une autobiographie gagne-t-elle être complétée par celle d'une biographie ?: Les mots de Sartre et Sartre d'Annie Cohen-Solal" ("Is an Autobiography Complemented by a Biographical Study? 'Les Mots' by Sartre and 'Sartre' by Annie Cohen-Solal"). Isabelle Chapuis-Alvarez also made a presentation, "Liberté, Inégalité, Fraternité: état des lieux de la condition des femmes à l'aube du XXIème siècle en France" ("Freedom, Inequality, Fraternity: the women's situation in the 21st Century France") during the session on Culture and Pedagogy.

Hope researchers made six presentations in the Geological Sciences section. Senior Carrie Thomason of Boyne City presented "Mineralogy and Chemistry of Sediments from a Small Coastal Dune Lake." Senior Emily Timmons of Kalamazoo presented "A Ground-Penetrating Radar Study of an Interdune Depression near Holland, Michigan." Junior Trevor Daly from San Fernando, Trinidad, presented "Paleo-Environmental Changes Recorded in Diatom Assemblages from a Small Coastal Dune Lake near Holland, Michigan." Junior Amanda Brisbin of Grant presented "The Relationship between Silt and Clay Mineralogy and Insect Occurrence in a Shallow Aquifer," which she co-authored with Dr. Jonathan W. Peterson, who is an associate professor of environmental science and chairperson of the department. Sophomore Sarah Dean of Nashville, Tenn., presented "Geomorphic History of the Saugatuck Dunes: Clues from an Inland Dune Lake." Senior Eric Johnson of Grand Rapids presented "The Effects of Glacial and Post-Glacial Transport on Lake Michigan Coastal Sands."

In the Philosophy section, senior Laura Johnson of Grand Rapids presented "Sexual Ethics in Light of the Lived Body."

In the Rhetoric and Composition section, David James, who is an adjunct associate professor of English and director of the college's Writing Center, presented "Reducing Coercion in the Teaching of Writing: Adapting the Practice of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for Empathic Response to Student Writing."

Founded in 1894, the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters is a regional professional organization that facilitates scholarly exchange through its annual meetings and a quarterly journal featuring papers and news about research at Michigan colleges and universities. The academy encompasses a broad spectrum of scholarly disciplines, grouped in 27 sections ranging from administration; to biochemistry/molecular biology; to economics; to health and human services; to medieval studies; to psychology; to Spanish language, literature and culture; to zoology.

More than half of the academy's current members are faculty and graduate students of supporting Michigan colleges and universities. Other members include independent scholars, scholars from other states, and people engaged in relevant research in business and government. A total of 27 colleges and universities are institutional members of the Michigan Academy, which is based at Alma College.

In addition to Hope, the institutional members of the academy are: Adrian College, Albion College, Alma College, Andrews University, Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Cornerstone University, Davenport University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Henry Ford Community College, Kalamazoo College, Lake Superior State University, Macomb Community College, Madonna University, Marygrove College, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, Schoolcraft College, the University of Detroit Mercy, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.