EECS Undergraduates Recognized for Research

Rebekah Manweiler and Erick Oduniyi won 3rd place in the undergraduate poster competition at the 2018 ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in Orlando, Florida. Manweiler is a senior in computer science. Oduniyi a senior in computer engineering. Their poster, “Evaluation of Child-directed Speech Using Automatic Speech Recognition and Network Analysis” explored the phonetic, syntactic and semantic nature of child-directed speech using ASR and Network Analysis. They are interested in how child-directed speech evolves and in what ways it is different from adult-directed speech.

Manweiler presented the poster on September 20 at the conference and the two received the 3rd place award the next day. This poster is a culmination of their research for the past year that was funded by the Computing Research Association through the CREU program (Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates). Oduniyi was also awarded an extension to his Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates effort for the summer and was accepted to give a podium presentation at the 2018 Cognitive Science Association for Interdisciplinary Learning (CSAIL) meeting in Hood River, Oregon in July 2018. Manweiler and Oduniyi each received Outstanding Presentation Awards and Undergraduate Sigma Xi Oral Presentation Research Awards for their respective project presentations “Exploring the Network Structure of Child-Directed Speech” and “Computational Stories Pt 1: Developing a Framework for Processing Language & Culture” presented at KU’s 21st annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Their mentors are Nicole Beckage and Professor Jonathan Brumberg, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing. These students are continuing their research.

Left to Right: Tapia Conference General Chair Tao Xie, EECS student Rebekah Manweiler, Tapia Program Committee Chair Joel Branch