Undergraduate student researchers contribute knowledge; advance their creativity
For her undergraduate research project, Augsburg College student Jenna Mead examined how the media portrayed responsibility for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. University of St. Thomas engineering student Senta Riley built an underwater robot. Other students analyzed ground water toxicity and the incidence of cardiac events following anesthesia.
These are among the projects that will be showcased at the Scholars at the Capitol event in the rotunda on Feb. 19. Students from Minnesota's private colleges and universities will display their posters and answer questions from legislators and others who stop by during this annual event. “It’s a real education experience for legislators,” said College of St. Scholastica’s Kathleen Cargill, who has been involved with the event for the past decade. “It’s good for students too since they need to be able to translate their science into layman’s language,” she said.
Jenna Mead, who did her research last summer, found nearly every aspect exciting. “I was able, with the assistance of my advisor, to develop my own question and figure out how to best answer it,” she said. Mead examined “framing of fault” for Abu Ghraib in ten worldwide English language newspapers. She found that stories were more likely to label the events as abuse rather than torture, and reporters frequently opted-out of attributing responsibility. Mead concluded that the media may be making a shift away from blaming individuals to blaming an organization (the prison system in this case).
Mead said the literature review was especially valuable to her. “You learn about the conversation you’re about to get in on.” The research experience confirmed her passion for academia. “I’m in the process of applying for graduate school and I know I chose the right route,” she said.
More than one-fifth of 2007 private college graduates went on to graduate school. Cargill said that doing an undergraduate research project prepares them so that they know what a research symposium is and how to do a literature search or make a poster. “It’s good for their academic and professional skills,” she said.
Putting research into practice
Senta Riley undertook a hands-on engineering project. She and her research partners created a remotely operated vehicle to view life underwater and collect water samples. The resulting robot was simpler than the students’ original design, Riley said. When they tested it, the students discovered that it needed a more powerful motor so they did further research on adding motors to robots.
Riley said her faculty advisors helped make the experience meaningful. “They kept me motivated, challenged my ideas and forced me to expand my thinking,” she said.
"It's through projects, like the one that Senta and her partners worked on, that students learn how real engineering systems work,” said AnnMarie Thomas, engineering professor at St. Thomas. “As a faculty member, working on projects with students is an incredibly rewarding process; not only do the students benefit, but the faculty members often find themselves viewing their research in a new light.”
Augusta Garberich (left) and Ali Bammann from the College of Saint Benedict present their poster
Contributing to the profession
Augusta Garberich, a nursing student at the College of Saint Benedict, did her research on incidence of cardiac events following anesthesia. “Starting college, I never would have guessed that I would be involved in research, but this opportunity provided a level of learning that cannot occur in a classroom,” she said.
Garberich found that it was difficult to predict who may experience a cardiac event. She concluded that electrocardiogram monitoring is important for patient safety any time sedation or anesthetics are given. “I think the most exciting aspect of research is contributing to evidence-based practice; this is how nurses and other healthcare professionals substantiate and advance their practices,” she said.
At the Capitol
Twenty-six students will display their poster at this year’s Scholars at the Capitol event. Students personally invite legislators from their own districts and in years past the governor and education secretary have attended.
“We want to inform legislators about the wonderful research done by our private colleges,” said Cargill. “It benefits Minnesota.”
If you are going to be nearby on Feb. 19, stop by Scholars at the Capitol.