Florida International University welcomed students, faculty, and visiting institutions on April 7 and 8 for the annual FIU Undergraduate Research Conference (URFIU), a lively two-day event focused on student research, ideas, and innovation.
The conference included both oral and poster presentations, giving students the opportunity to share their work in different formats. A special highlight for CARTA’s Landscape Architecture and Environmental and Urban Design (LAEUD) program was first year student Leyla Morris, who was selected as an oral presenter and panelist. Her participation reflects the strong foundation and support LAEUD students receive from the very beginning of their studies. Her presentation focused on a real-world issue, food waste in K-12 schools, and explored practical ideas for prevention through composting.
Throughout the event, students from different universities presented their research and received thoughtful feedback from faculty serving as evaluators. LAEUD program hosted a table where student work was shared with visitors and prospective students were introduced to LAEUD’s focus on design, sustainability, and improving outdoor environments. LAEUD faculty also played an important role by reviewing abstracts and jurying poster sessions.
Events like this highlight the value of undergraduate research in helping students grow, build confidence, and connect their ideas to real world challenges. LAEUD’s active involvement demonstrated the program’s commitment to hands on learning and its leadership in preparing students to design resilient and heathy communities.
