Rutgers–Camden Psychology Scholars Showcase Research in Barcelona
A cohort of Rutgers University–Camden students and faculty from the Department of Psychology presented their research to a global audience at the 38th Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) in Barcelona this spring.
Their poster presentations on emotion recognition and support for renewable energy were part of the international gathering that drew nearly 2,500 attendees from 73 countries to Spain’s second-largest city.
Graduate student Jason Nguyen and undergraduates Abby Walker and Brianna Watson represented Rutgers–Camden at the convention, accompanied by Robrecht van der Wel, professor of psychology, department chair, and head of the Cognition in Action Lab.
They were joined by graduate student Martina Lewis undergraduates Jeilyan Pagan Maldonado and Kevin Roberts, who shared research from associate professor Sean Duffy’s Camden Decision Lab.
Walker and Watson presented the research proposal "Can I Recognize Your Partial Disgust? Emotion Recognition When Action Units Are Not Fully Available." Collaborating with scholars at McGill University, the students tested whether subjects could still recognize emotions when specific facial features were occluded.
"Through this work, we hope to gain some understanding regarding the role of action units—muscle groups that are engaged when making facial expressions—and their role in emotion perception and face processing," Walker said.
Roberts served as the presenting author on a study titled "Psychological Correlates of Support for Renewable Energy: The Case of Offshore Wind in New Jersey.” A Rutgers–Camden research team surveyed New Jersey residents on offshore wind turbines and found that political affiliation was the greatest predictor of support.
“This conclusion further explains the need for a better way to inform and communicate the importance of these kinds of projects to the public, so they don't become lost as a partisan issue,” Roberts said.
Roberts, Walker, and Watson each received an Undergraduate Conference Travel Grant from the School of Arts and Sciences–Camden Office of the Dean to help offset travel costs to attend the conference.
“The funding from Rutgers–Camden was essential to my participation, as well as the participation of my classmates,” Walker said. “Without the support, it would have been much more of a financial strain.”
Outside of the three-day conference, the cohort found time to take in the vibrant sights of its host city. They visited Barcelona landmarks such as the Sagrada Família and the Picasso Museum and explored the city’s world-famous architecture and beaches.
They also participated in an experiment on wayfinding conducted by postdoctoral researcher Ryan Weightman, with support from undergraduate computer science student Lilly Zhang. This experiment is part of a collaboration between Benedetto Piccoli, the Joseph and Loretta Lopez Chair Professor of Mathematics as well as a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, along with Duffy and van der Wel.
The APS Convention was the first conference experience for several in the cohort but left a lasting impression on its student researchers.
“We were all so nervous at first, but it ended up being so fun,” Walker added. “We got to discuss our work with many people from different countries and fields of expertise. I also gained several connections with students and professors at different schools. It was an amazing experience to connect with people and learn about all the research being done around the world.”
