Benjamin Marcinko (’28) never imagined a first-year communication course would lead him to present research at one of the nation’s largest undergraduate research conferences.

What began as a final paper assignment at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University evolved into months of research, countless revisions and an opportunity to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) — an accomplishment many students don't achieve until much later in their college careers.

For Benjamin, the experience reinforced an important lesson: meaningful research isn't limited by your major.

"I think that a majority of the time, students often turn away from things that are outside their specific field," he said. "While employers certainly want their prospective employees to be well-versed in their area of interest, I don't think it can ever hurt to be too well-rounded."

As an Aerospace Engineering major, he's drawn to a field that continues to evolve.

I think what drew me to it was the fact that it is still evolving, giving me the chance to do something that could potentially change the way we live or see the world.

A Class That Changed His Perspective

Benjamin’s research journey began in COM-122, Language and Controversy, taught by Dr. Evan DeCarlo, assistant professor of Humanities and Communication.

Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, the course encouraged students to examine controversial topics through research, communication and evidence-based arguments.

"COM-122 generally focuses on the idea that in order to have a discussion on a topic, you need to be able to communicate in a clear and concise manner," Benjamin shared. "Dr. DeCarlo took that a step further by having us focus on topics that were controversial by societal standards."

The course also changed how he approaches disagreement.

"It really made me think and realize that a lot of the reasons we disagree are because we don't fully understand what the other side is arguing," he said. "When we try to tackle complex issues, the first thing we should do is slow down and approach it as a simple issue."

Turning Curiosity Into Research

For his final research paper, Benjamin selected a topic he knew very little about: physician-assisted suicide (PAS).

"I had a few topics in mind when I started looking for controversial arguments, but this one stood out to me as the one that is the most impactful in society and that would be the most interesting to get a better understanding of," he said.

As his research progressed, he realized the issue extended far beyond a simple moral debate.

He examined PAS through multiple lenses, including public health, economics, politics and media representation. Looking at countries such as Switzerland and Canada, Benjamin explored how PAS programs intersect with health care systems, financial considerations and public policy while analyzing how the topic is presented in the media and discussed in political discourse.

"In the end, I came to realize that the issue went a lot deeper than I thought and was a lot more complicated than a simple moral disagreement," he said.

Researching such a sensitive issue required balancing empathy with evidence.

"While part of my research did include looking at the emotional aspect of PAS, I had to remember that the main information I wanted was analytical," Benjamin said. "While emotions are certainly important, I recognized that a lot of people would prefer to look at the hard data, so I focused more heavily on that."

Throughout the project, he challenged his own assumptions while striving to understand opposing viewpoints.

"There were definitely times when I had to put myself in the shoes of the other side so I could understand them," he said.

An Opportunity Worth Taking

When Dr. DeCarlo encouraged students to submit their abstracts to the NCUR, Benjamin wasn't convinced.

"I wasn't going to submit it at first, but I realized that there was no harm in trying," he said. "So, I ended up submitting the form on the last day it was open."

His research was accepted.

For a first-year student, earning a place at NCUR was both unexpected and rewarding.

"Being selected at NCUR itself is a big deal," Benjamin said. "It’s a competitive conference that not every student will get selected to go to, and anyone who does go should be proud of themself."

Preparing for the conference became a collaborative effort with Dr. DeCarlo, who helped Benjamin refine both his research paper and presentation poster.

"For weeks, I've been working really closely with Dr. DeCarlo," Marcinko said. "He's been a really big help, and I appreciate all the time and effort he's put in."

More than anything, Benjamin is looking forward to the conversations his research will spark.

"I'm really excited to see what other people are going to think about my topic," he said. "I'm hoping to be able to have some interesting conversations with people and learn some new things along the way."

Looking Beyond the Classroom

Although his research focused on health care ethics rather than aerospace engineering, Benjamin believes the experience will shape his future as an engineer and future Air Force officer.

"My biggest takeaway is that I shouldn't be afraid to speak out and look into things when there are problems," he said. "In any field, it’s important to understand what your responsibility is, and people in the engineering and aviation world will have lives in their hands."

The experience also sparked a new appreciation for research.

"When I first started working on this project, I didn't really think it would take me anywhere," Benjamin said. "But I realized that I really like researching topics like this and sharing and presenting my research with people of various backgrounds."

After graduation, he hopes to commission into the U.S. Air Force, ideally serving as either a pilot or a developmental engineer.

Until then, he's encouraging other students to step outside their comfort zones and embrace opportunities they might not initially consider.

His journey proves that at Embry-Riddle, education extends far beyond the classroom. Whether students are designing aircraft, leading research or tackling society's most complex questions, they're challenged to think critically, communicate effectively and become well-rounded leaders ready to make an impact.

Can you picture yourself here?

We can. You'll fit right in.
Apply