Undergraduate students Kristy Felske (left) and Julie Milbrett discuss their research findings at one of four poster sessions during the 2007 Undergraduate Research Conference. Their project, Adherence of Earthworm Coelomic Cells, was advised by Dr. Dorothy Wrigley, professor of biological sciences.
When Meghan Turok enrolled at Minnesota State Mankato, the world of research seemed miles away. "I never thought I would participate in undergraduate research," Meghan says.
But that changed when Dr. Chris Corley, assistant professor of history, approached Meghan and asked her if she would like to investigate the work experiences of single women in 18th century France and present her findings at the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC). Meghan jumped at the chance and has since been examining and translating 250–year old French census records for the first stage of her research.
For those students who are deciding where their lives will lead, having faculty who actively approach them about undergraduate research can be a life changing experience. They may decide to continue on to graduate school, or they may gain valuable insight about whether their chosen field is right for them.
Dr. Michael Bentley, professor of biological sciences, believes that actively approaching students about research is his professional duty. "It's part of our department philosophy and work ethic to encourage student research," Dr. Bentley says. "This was one of the main things that attracted me to Minnesota State Mankato eighteen years ago."
Dr. Bentley began mentoring undergraduates years before the first URC was held on campus in 1999. "Prior to the URC," he says, "undergraduate research was often open–ended, with no apparent point of closure." Without a defined end, first–time researchers could become frustrated and lose interest in the process. Dr. Bentley believes the URC changes the undergraduate research experience and helps prevent students from burning out. "At the end of the project, the students have a commitment to present the results at the URC. This presentation is the most important part, not only because it is a committed goal but also because it represents a point of completion."
By giving students a compelling reason to invest themselves in their projects, the URC directly affects the way students view themselves and their role in the university. Dr. Gina Wenger, associate professor of art and URC co–chair, says that the students' self–assurance undergoes a dramatic increase as their research progresses. "They go from 'Is this okay?' to 'Here's what I'm going to do,'" says Dr. Wenger.
This is exactly the experience that Meghan has had as she progresses with her own research. "Projects like this always seemed intended for the more gifted students," she says. "Doing this research has given me the confidence to try things that I never thought I could."
Eleanor Harper, an undergraduate history major who presented her research at the 2007 URC, also gained confidence as she developed her project. She gives credit to the diligence of her mentor, Dr. Curt Germundson. "The involvement of Dr. Germundson was essential for the success of my research project," says Eleanor. "He not only guided me but provided constant support and encouragement. My experience with the URC has impressed upon me the importance of having the support and friendship of mentors."
Faculty often find the mentoring experience to be as rewarding for themselves as it is for the students. Dr. Dawn Albertson, assistant professor of psychology, has been on the URC committee for two years, but 2007 was her first year as a faculty mentor. She says that it's impossible for her to fully express the pride and joy she felt in her students' success. "They became very committed to their project, worked incredibly hard, and ended up astonishing themselves—though not me—with their accomplishments," says Dr. Albertson. "Last year's URC experience made me realize that individual interactions with students are the most fulfilling and rewarding part of my job."
Dr. Bentley likewise doesn't mince words when talking about the importance of the URC experience. "The URC provides a means to highlight student research to the public, it is a recruitment tool for attracting students to the university, it provides capstone experiences for our students, and, hopefully, it builds positive impressions to the outside community regarding our students' capabilities. Finally, there is a benefit to the state, nation, and world as students develop their critical thinking skills." In short, says Dr. Bentley, "independent study is the essence of a successful university."
