Senior Gustavo German, who will participate in the conference on Saturday, set up a process to screen for a DNA molecule as his research project. His research experience was helpful in getting him into Oxford University, his first choice for graduate school. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)
She’s a shoe-in
As her biggest venture in research, undergraduate student Nora Cary created an exhibit at the Design Museum, titled “Stepping Out: Footwear From Around the World.”
[ More on shoes… ]
Undergraduates show original thinking at capstone event
Here at UC Davis, it isn’t just faculty who do the research, it’s students, too.
In fact, students are set to present their work next Saturday, April 25, at the 20th annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference.
“Research is the core of our intellectual life at UC Davis,” says Naomi Janowitz, professor of religious studies. “We pass on the knowledge of previous generations, but crucially we add our original thinking to that.”
“Ideally,” she adds, “every student here should be involved in the creation of new knowledge.”
On Saturday, 275 budding scholars will show just how they are creating “new knowledge,” says Gail Martinez, assistant vice provost of undergraduate studies.
A culture of undergraduate research
“We are trying to create a culture of undergraduate research on the campus, and clearly we’re getting there because every year the conference seems to grow.”
Back in 1990 when the conference began, a mere 19 students participated, points out Martinez, who co-chairs the conference along with Elaine Borrelli, director of Advising Services.
The growth to 275 participants is partially due to the new Undergraduate Research Center that provides students a place where they can seek additional resources in their research, including free use of a new poster board printer for conference presentations.
To qualify, students must complete their research under the direction of a faculty member and get approval to present the projects. When the day of the conference finally comes, it’s their time to shine.
Oral presentations or posters
The presentation can be given in one of two ways. First is the oral presentation held in the morning. This is the more structured of the two formats and involves a 15-minute speech about the topic, including a question-and-answer session moderated by a faculty member.
The second presentation option is a poster session in which several students gather in a room next to their respective posters. Audience members can mingle with participants, asking them about their topic.
Forty-two faculty moderators and 14 senior administrators will give out certificates of participation to students when they complete their presentation.
Martinez lines up the deans, vice chancellor of research and vice provost for academic personnel who hands students certificates.
Nicole Gallet conducted an online survey about U.S. and French perceptions of immigration. Her research idea was born during a year studying in Lyon, France. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)
Making it special for students
“I try to make it special for the students,” she says. That means giving the undergraduates an opportunity to meet with a senior administrator who is related closely to their field of interest.
“Most of the students have never met their dean,” Martinez says. This year, after the morning presentations, keynote speaker Richard Coss will give a talk about his involvement with the undergraduate research. Coss is a professor in the psychology department who was awarded the annual “Chancellor’s Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research” last year.
After lunch, the poster portion of the conference takes place in Freeborn Hall. Participants are asked to stay for the duration of the day, even after they are through presenting. It is these students who make up the audience, in addition to family and friends and a part of the student body.
Opportunity for high school students
Martinez says the conference is also an excellent opportunity for incoming students as well as high schoolers interested in UC Davis to get a peek into what a research university is all about.
“I love working with undergrads on independent research projects, because I witness over and over again the moment of empowerment where they suddenly realize the significance of their previous coursework in the context of ‘real world’ scenarios,” says Susan Avila, professor of design.
‘People don’t seem to realize what students do in social sciences, humanities and the arts that encompasses creative work and scholarship that’s part of the enterprise of being at a research university.’
Gail Martinez, assistant vice provost of undergraduate studies
The wonderful thing about the conference is that it welcomes all areas of interest, ranging from the arts to the sciences.
Research is on all subjects
“It’s all things: art, art history, design, and of course the traditional sciences, engineering, and agricultural sciences,” Martinez says.
“People don’t seem to realize what students do in social sciences, humanities and the arts that encompasses creative work and scholarship that’s part of the enterprise of being at a research university.”
Leadership, communication, writing and critical thinking skills — all of these are talents honed by preparing for the conference, Martinez says.
Because two thirds of the participants are graduating seniors, they leave with the skills necessary to engage successfully in graduate school as well as in the professional world.
Working with professors
Students also get the chance to work closely with a professor.
“I believe in one-on-one opportunities, whether through internships or research assistantships,” says Suad Joseph, a professor in Middle East and South Asia studies.
Every year she helps a number of students through the research process. She’s even offered some long-term researchers sole and co-authorship in various scholarly articles she’s presided over.
“A number of students who worked with me over the years have said that the skills they learned helped them find jobs.”
On the UC Davis home page: Nora Cary, lying in a rainbow of footwear being exhibited at the Design Museum, has hopes of being a museum curator. Her project as an undergraduate gives her experience for her résumé. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis photo)
When asked what is the number one reason students should participate in the conference, Martinez hesitates as she tries to capture just one.
“I think for many students it’s a capstone. It takes everything that they’ve learned in their discipline, and it puts it right out there.”