Students get chance to showcase research
By Amy Geiszler-Jones
WSU students will showcase the research they’ve done as undergraduates during the university’s first daylong Undergraduate Research Forum Thursday, April 5, at WSU’s Hughes Metropolitan Complex.
At WSU, one of three research universities in the Kansas regents system, students often conduct research alongside faculty members. While a number of students have the opportunity to publish or present their research at various conferences, there hasn’t been an avenue to highlight the students’ efforts for the WSU and Wichita community.
Since fall 1999, a committee of faculty members worked to change that and came up with the Undergraduate Research Forum after reviewing similar programs at about 30 U.S. universities. Most WSU faculty members, like committee chair Ken Pitetti, a physical therapy researcher, involve students in their research.
During WSU’s Undergraduate Research Forum, students will make oral or poster presentations. The forum will conclude with two musical performances by students.
Students doing oral presentations have 15 minutes to present their material and respond to questions. Musical performances are limited to 20 minutes.
While students from a number of disciplines, including philosophy, engineering, geology, biology and education, are participating, Pitetti says the committee hopes that future forums will feature more of students’ creative activities, such as readings of original writings and art exhibitions.
Presentations include such diverse subjects as "The Role of Wheat Bran in the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer," "Improving Indian Education Through Cultural Awareness," "Bird Strikes on the Leading Edge of Composite Materials," "Congruence of Parental and School Goals for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders," and "Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus Aureus/Mrsa."
Oral presentations can be heard from 9:30-10:45 a.m., 11:05 a.m.-12:20 p.m., 1-2:15 p.m., and 2:35-4:05 p.m. The musical performances are from 3:15-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served while the poster presentations are made from 10:45-11:05 a.m. and 2:15-2:35 p.m.
Two faculty members chosen by the student presenters will critique each presentation.
