University sends 64 students to NCUR, most in state
Released: April 18, 2008
The numbers speak for themselves. At the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 10-12 hosted by Salisbury University in Maryland, the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater had one of the largest groups with 64 students. This was more than the combined 61 students from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, La Crosse, Madison, Platteville and UW-River Falls. The numbers demonstrate the success of UW-Whitewater's undergraduate research program.
Jeffrey McKinnon, director of the university's Undergraduate Research Program and professor in the department of biological sciences, said the reason for the high amount is because of the strong campus support. "This includes our leadership, our faculty, students and student government. The undergraduate research program is also starting to receive support from our alums. The financial partnership of campus and the student government is very important," he said.
McKinnon believes that sending the highest number of undergraduate research students in the state is a testament to the success of the program and how successful it has been since its inception. Not only did 64 students attend with a total of 57 presentations, the results of the conference were positive. "Many UW-Whitewater students got charged up about research and came back feeling pretty good about what they had accomplished and how it compared to the work of students from across the country," McKinnon said. "I hope they felt a little pride in their campus and enjoyed the Eastern seaboard and tasting crab cakes."
One of the conference highlights for McKinnon was watching the UW-Whitewater's student Euphoria Sax Quartet perform under the mentorship of music professor Matt Sintchak. "The room was absolutely electric during their performance of a set of innovative contemporary pieces," he said. "The session ran quite late because the audience had so many questions and would hardly let them leave."
His undergraduate research highlight of the year was seeing senior Gwynne DeBoer be introduced by the chair of the UW-System Board of Regents to give an invited talk in the state capitol at "Posters in the Rotunda." "Gwynne was phenomenally poised and articulate," said McKinnon. "I am sure she will also be terrific when she speaks at commencement."
Overall, it was a great year for undergraduate research for UW-Whitewater. In fact, McKinnon thinks the program is the strongest it has ever been, but believes the best is ahead.
"As our various new honors programs mature, several more departments will be establishing very strong undergraduate research cultures," he said. "The addition of Seth Meisel from history as associate director has been a major step toward firing up undergraduate research in the humanities and I am thrilled with the leadership the history department is showing."
McKinnon added that UW-Whitewater is also sending a large group to the UW System Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in River Falls, which should help to better establish the university’s reputation within the UW System as an outstanding undergraduate research school.
Though undergraduate research is coming to a close for the academic year, students are already looking forward to the summer undergraduate research program in its third year. "I am thrilled to see a very talented group of students get to focus, with minimal interruption, on some really exciting projects," McKinnon said.
- Regina Shirkey,shirkeyrm26@uww.edu
