Engaging undergraduates key to strengthening curiosity and further study
2011 Undergraduate Research Symposium Competition
Photo courtesy Gene BainesFebruary 7, 2012 - Very often, when the topic of student research comes up, the focus is put on graduate student work. And that’s no real surprise; traditionally, research and in-depth project work are key components of a graduate program. And while that is certainly true in the Faculty of Education, there is also the belief that developing that thirst for deeper knowledge and the desire to share research findings begins with the undergraduate experience.
In November, the 2011 Undergraduate Research Symposium Competition showcased more than 130 projects focusing on a range of disciplines, all presented as posters in the MacEwan Hall Ballroom. Richard Heyman, professor in the Faculty of Education, was invited to judge science-based projects, and he reports the experience was nothing short of incredible.
“The specific award for which I judged is called the Provost Award in Research Excellence - International field of study,” Heyman explains. “I had about three hours to judge 12 projects, and every one of them was amazing.”
Heyman says the projects were uniformly excellent and well presented, and the judges were given the opportunity to talk with each of the students to get a better idea of not only the subject matter, but how the students went about their research. And he says that involving the students in this sort of work in their early years of post-secondary education is clearly important. “It encourages students to do the research because it will have an audience, even if it doesn't win a prize. And it's a great way of showcasing the brilliant, useful and imaginative work that our students are doing.”
In the Faculty of Education, there’s a recognition of the need to foster undergraduate research. Associate professor Dianne Gereluk is committed to the idea of inducting students into the research culture as soon as they enter university. “One major component of the Introduction to Education Studies class is to develop a research poster and present it to their colleagues”, she explains. “This most recent research poster conference went so well that quite a large number of students submitted their poster presentations for consideration to the annual WestCAST (Western Canadian Association of Student Teachers) conference and were accepted to present their findings at WestCAST, held at the U of C in February”.
“It’s never too early to engage students in research.”