Seven NMSU political science students presented original research at a national conference in Washington, D.C., after their work was selected for presentation

Minerva Baumann, New Mexico State University

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State University undergraduate students in the Department of Political Science, Public Law and Administration presented their research at this year’s Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference in Washington, D.C., along with others from around the world.

Pi Sigma Alpha has nearly 850 chapters with members from major research institutions to small liberal arts colleges. Seven NMSU students participated, joining more than 400 other students whose proposals were accepted.

“This is the second team that I took to Washington, D.C., to participate in these research presentations,” said Seong Kang, associate professor of political science, public law and administration. “It’s an important opportunity for our students to go to D.C. and represent New Mexico.”

Cossette Luna and Miguel Beltran, NMSU Pi Sigma officers, gave presentations on Indigenous population policy and the politics of nuclear waste disposal.

“My topic was on Indigenous population policy and specifically blood quantum policy, which affects tribal enrollment and access to resources. It ties into identity politics, sovereignty and concepts that are meant to help specific marginalized communities,” said Luna, a Las Cruces native and NMSU sophomore. “This is my first time presenting at a conference, so it was a really good experience applying what I’m learning, the research that I’m doing and presenting it in a way that is accessible to everyone within the field.”

Beltran’s presentation focused on the Waste Isolation Pilot Project and the politics impacting nuclear waste disposal. He grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico, just 30 miles from the WIPP site.

“There's only one facility in the entire U.S. that handles long-term, defense-generated nuclear waste,” said Beltran, who will be a senior at NMSU in the fall. “My presentation was about how this facility in particular has been facing a lot of troubles concerning the budget as well as a lot of general infrastructure failures.”

Presenting research, interacting with fellow panelists and networking with Pi Sigma Alpha members make the conference experience beneficial for students. In addition to research presentations, the conference includes career events focused on graduate and law school, and working in government, advocacy, academic and other settings. Each research panel includes a graduate student, as well as a faculty chair, providing participating students with expert-level support and feedback to help them improve their research.

“We each presented to a panel, and we received good feedback. Mine had a Ph.D. in identity politics, and it really helped me narrow the scope,” Luna said. “My presentation was very specific about communities in New Mexico. I really had to learn that most people don't have common knowledge about how the policies affect people.”

“This was the first time I ever presented at a research conference,” said Beltran, who plans to become a lawyer. “The primary benefit that I got from this was really putting my research skills to the test.”

The seven NMSU political science students’ trip was funded by grants from the College of Arts and Sciences, Associated Students of NMSU and the political science department. Luna and Beltran also received the Lofton Scholarship.

Minerva Baumann writes for New Mexico State University Marketing and Communications and can be reached at 575-646-7566, or by email at mbauma46@nmsu.edu.