6:00-6:15: Introduction by Dr. Tom Meyer, PhD (co-founder of the Hudson Valley Writing Project and associate professor of Secondary Education and Coordinator, English Education, at SUNY New Paltz)

6:15-7:30: Student presentations

7:30-7:45: Closing remarks

SIP Talks at SUNY New Paltz is based on Google's 80/20 principle in which engineers spend 80% of their time on assigned projects and 20% of their time on self-directed projects aimed at benefiting the company as a whole. Classrooms around the world, from K-12, have adopted this philosophy, focusing more and more on inquiry-driven, project-based assessments.

Thank you to all of the participating educators: Steve Masson, Joel Neden, Lisa St. John, Eileen Kamrass, Lara Tozzi, Joanna Arkans

THANK YOU TO THE HUDSON VALLEY WRITING PROJECT AND SUNY NEW PALTZ FOR THEIR SUPPORT!

Celia Gottlieb “The Nation of Mass Incarceration”

Highland High School

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. Having such high rates of imprisonment not only has many social costs but also quite an economic strain. The criminal justice system in this country specifically targets minorities, treating them unfairly and perpetuating racial disparities. This talk digs deeper than crime and punishment. It explores America's multidimensional problems of race, injustice, and inequality.

Elijah McKee "The Artful Species"

New Paltz High School

Art is often viewed as an apex institution of humans, a byproduct of the formation of modern society. However, this perspective may be skewed, in that art should be considered more of a reactant, a critical ingredient, in the formula that allowed society to take root and humans to flourish. By untangling and classifying the early ties between art and humankind and drawing a parallel to their modern relationship, art’s evolutionary purposes can be uncovered.

Brianna Beal “Understanding Dementia”

Highland High School

Contrary to what many believe, dementia is not just a normal part of growing old. Roughly 40% of senior citizens suffer from the condition. This talk highlight's one student's research on the subject, her work with dementia sufferers, and her inspiring relationship with her Grandmother.

Loujack Morgiewicz "The True Nature of Reality"

New Paltz High School

In this explorative presentation, the deeply intertwined relationship between perception, causality, and the physical world will be examined through philosophy and physics. Prepare to forget your perspectives of time and truth!

Bella Canino “Monochromatic Film in the Digital Age”

Highland High School

In the age of Instagram, Photoshop, and Snapchat images are a dime a dozen. Filtered, processed and perfectly cropped photos fill our lives and shape our realities for better and worse. For her SIP Project, Bella spent as much time in the dark room as she did in the library. Her talk explores her journey back to the roots of photography and reveals what she learned about her subject, herself, and society in the process.

Carmen Chu "Teen Dating Violence in the Modern Age"

New Paltz High School

Intimate partner abuse is common among teenagers, yet rates of teens reporting dating violence remain low. Adolescence is a period of emotional instability and impaired risk assessment, which can influence adverse decision-making in relationships. Weighing the benefits and costs of an abusive relationship becomes muddied by fear and insecurity, especially when social media becomes a tool for abusers and perpetuates a victim blaming culture. As technology increasingly influences the lives of future generations, societal and legal changes must be made to improve adolescent relationships and reduce the prevalence of dating violence in our communities.

Kaitlyn Poluzzi “CaN wE AutoCorRecT ReLationShiPs?”

Highland High School

The pervasive use of cellular technology is impacting childhood and adolescent development in ways we are only beginning to study and understand. This talk delves into research from ivy league schools to our own back yard in hopes of better understanding how our gadgets are shaping our lives.

Mia DiMaio "Architecture is More Than Just a Building"

New Paltz High School

Architecture is often perceived as a building solely designed for purpose, but form and representation have a latent effect: they create a relationship between function and cultural identity. In fact, many buildings transcend function, and are even designed with the language of architecture in mind. As resources, space, and energy are becoming increasingly endangered, function should be important-- but the power of architecture to speak in a way that can change human interaction should not be ignored.