By Tom Ganser
Correspondent
On Mar. 18, the intellectual and creative abilities of more than 250 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students sparkled as they presented the results of their research and creative undertakings at the 20th Annual Undergraduate Research Day.
“We have a record number of students participating. Every year it grows. This year, we hear what a positive experience it is for both students and mentors,” Catherine Chan, Director of the UWW Undergraduate Research Program, said.
By participating in the Undergraduate Research program, students have the opportunity to advance their research skills outside the classroom by working closely with a professor in their research or by designing and executing their own research project with the help of a faculty mentor. Students in the creative and performing arts conduct research to perfect their craft.
The wide range of topics is evident with just a glance of a few of the titles: “Gene Silencing via MicroRNA: Developing Tools for Use in an Aquatic Plan Species” (Biological Sciences), “Coping with Stress” (Social Work), “Cyber-Stalking Definitions and Experiences Among UW-Whitewater Students” (Communication), “The Choreographic Process Through the Eyes of the Dancer” (Theater and Dance), “Recreational Mathematics” (Curriculum and Instruction), “Polka in Wisconsin’s Heritage” (Music) and “Efficient Downloading Schemes for Vehicular Networks” (Computer Science).
Results of students’ investigations during a “poster presentation” display the question they were investigating, their research methods and the outcomes of their study. The poser presentations are complemented by musical performances, selections from auditions for stage productions, displays of art created and projects related to theater, oral presentations and a roundtable discussion.
“We can see, we can all understand that undergraduate research is an important effort, and it helps to build a better UW-Whitewater. We are here today because you students, along with your research mentors, followed through on curiosity,” Chancellor Richard Telfer said in his opening remarks.
“In other words, you had questions and you decided to answer them yourself. For this I say, good job, and on behalf of everyone at UW-Whitewater, we cannot wait to see what questions you will be answering for us this next year,” Telfer said.
This year’s event included the contributions of Whitewater High School graduates: Skylar Gabel-Eissens (“CCL19 Cocking and Inhibitor Characterization”), Deonti Norris (“The Effects of Applying Multiple Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products on the Model Terrestrial Plan Arabidopsis thaliana”), Amber Weist (performing audition material from “A Lady in Waiting”) and Nicole Wiswell (“Fit Families Rock”).
Wiswell, a 2012 graduate of WHS who is majoring in psychology and minoring in French, said the study she was involved in “explored whether or not liking physical activity may be influenced by parental in physical activity. The results suggest that liking of physical activity may be influenced by parental participation; however, larger experimental studies should be conducted to provide more evidence for this.”
Wiswell said she views undergraduate research as important “because it teaches people how to find information with scientific evidence supporting it. It also fosters curiosity and provides the opportunity for people to learn a variety of skills.”
Following graduation in May 2014, Wiswell plans to continue working for a couple years with the Wisconsin Early Autism Project until beginning graduate studies to earn a Ph.D. in Health Psycholgy.
In addition, four Whitewater High School students – Deonti Norris, CherriShilo Stafford, Yvanna Strait and Kristof Staniszewski – showcased the findings of their summer 2014 research immersion experience.
The group of four worked with professors and students from UWW and the University of Wisconsin at Rock County in authentic scientific research studying the effects of pharmaceuticals on plant growth, apoptosis and necrosis of cancer cells, the effects of autonomy on spiders, and the diversity and dispersion of mussels in the Mukwonago River.
They also participated in a variety of protocols in both lab and field settings, and undergraduate researchers acted as student mentors teaching them about the science surrounding their projects, how to run protocols and how to analyze data.
To take advantage of the “role model” dimension of the Undergraduate Research Program for high school students, Whitewater High School science teacher Petra Vande Zande led a field trip of her students to the event.
Thirty-four UW-W students will travel to Cheney, Washington April 16 to present the findings of their research studies at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. An additional 60 UW-W students will share their projects at the University of Wisconsin System Symposium for Undergraduate Research April 24 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Fall 2015 UW-W Undergraduate Research Day – an event free and open to the public – is slated 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sept. 24.
For more information visit www.uww.edu/urp.
