‘FCS in Bloom’ puts innovative student research on display

Amy Weimer, Ph.D., poses with award recipients at the 2024 FCS in Bloom event.

FCS Director Amy Weimer, Ph.D., says that the event is a unique experience where students engage with both fellow Bobcats and external stakeholders to demonstrate the impact of their research. 

“FCS in Bloom is a chance for students, faculty, alumni, donors, and family members to come together to learn and share about the cutting-edge research and creative works that our students have developed,” says Weimer.  

“The event showcases student work across a variety of modalities including research, service-learning, and community-impacting projects.” 

A valuable aspect of FCS in Bloom is that students can network with faculty members and other researchers whom they otherwise rarely interact with.

(left to right) Fashion Merchandising Professor Yuli Liang, Ph.D., and Emily Kiper.

Emily Kiper, a fashion merchandising student who participated in the 2024 FCS in Bloom, believes that the yearly event allows FCS students to demonstrate that innovative research is not limited to just STEM-related academic fields.  

“This event is so important for FCS students because it highlights that it's not just STEM students conducting undergraduate research,” says Kiper whose research uses visual tracking analysis to determine the effectiveness of AI-generated fashion advertisements.  

“It was not just my professors, but also other faculty members who I had the chance to talk to and learn from, and it was such an encouraging and motivating experience!” 

The School of Family and Consumer Sciences provides academic programming, internships, and research opportunities that prepare students for careers that support children, families, and communities worldwide. More information can be found on the Family and Consumer Sciences website.