Undergraduate Research Day set for March 18

March 08, 2015

On Wednesday, March 18, more than 250 UW-Whitewater students will present their research findings at Undergraduate Research Day. The event will take place from noon to 3:15 p.m. in the James R. Connor University Center Hamilton Room and is open to the public.

This year's exhibit represents the largest number of students involved in undergraduate research in UW-Whitewater history.

"We have a record number of students participating," said Catherine Chan, director of the program. "Every year it grows. Each year, we hear what a positive experience it is for both students and mentors."
More than two-thirds of the departments on campus are represented in research projects, from all four colleges.

Brianna Shells, a senior social work major, conducted research on how homelessness affects adolescents' journeys to education. Emilee Deck, a senior music major, researched the musical and social development of preschool children. Clearly, it's not only the sciences that get involved.

"There are a wide variety of participants," Chan explained. "From art and theatre to geology and business, there are all sorts of projects being represented here." In fact, this year, the largest group of undergraduate research projects come from visual arts students.

UW-Whitewater is nationally known for its emphasis on undergraduate research. Chan will be taking about 34 students to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research later this spring at Eastern Washington University. Other students will present their research at the UW System Symposium at UW-Milwaukee.