Meryn Severson (pictured here at the Canadian Population Society poster session) was one of five undergraduate students (Dallas Hauck, Rebecca Smith-Mandin, Kathleen MacNabb and Alec Skillings), who were awarded an undergraduate student travel grant to participate in this year's Congress. Hosted this year by the University of Calgary, Congress drew as many as 8000 scholars from across Canada and around the world.
Meryn, who presented at both the Canadian Population Society (CPS) and Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) meetings, is doing a double major in Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Alberta. Her conference presentation was based on a course she took with sociology professor Dr. Michelle Maroto last fall. The course is unique in that it exposes students to the entire research process, right from translating general interests into a testable research question to learning how to analyze, interpret and present research results. For her project, Meryn analyzed data from the 2011 Statistics Canada General Social Survey, finding that homeownership was a competing cost to childbearing, particularly in the less affordable regions of BC and Ontario.
"Going to Congress was a great experience", says Meryn. "It gave me the opportunity to speak to others about research topics that interested me and connect with scholars who offered feedback and advice for the future. I was able to attend other presentations from professors and students and learn more about the research process. The conference has served as a catalyst in fanning my love for research."
Meryn now plans to deepen her knowledge of housing across the life course as she enters her final year of her undergraduate degree and makes plans for her future. We wish Meryn and the other undergraduate students who participated in Congress continued success in our program!