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News Release
BOISE STATE NEWS RELEASE / April 15, 2009
Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research and Scholarship
Conference at Boise State University April 20
Hundreds of the best and brightest research endeavors by Boise State
University undergraduate students will be on display at the sixth annual
Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Conference in the Student Union
Building from 1-4 p.m. Monday, April 20.
Involving students and faculty sponsors from across campus, the conference
is a way for young researchers to celebrate their efforts with an audience
of peers, professors, prospective college students, community members and
the university at large.
“Boise State’s advancement as a metropolitan university where groundbreaking
research and technological discoveries are the rule, rather than the
exception, is inextricably linked to an outstanding undergraduate
experience,” said Bob Kustra, Boise State president. “This conference
provides our undergraduate students an opportunity to share their research
projects and be recognized for their exceptional work.”
Associate vice president for undergraduate studies Sharon McGuire, who is
facilitating the conference, said it is designed to enhance traditional
conceptions of research.
“We want people to interpret research and scholarship broadly, to understand
they include writing, dance, video production, fine arts, graphic design,”
McGuire said. “A lot of these projects have life beyond this one day in
April, but it helps plant the seed. We want more students to get involved in
research earlier in their academic careers, and the conference helps them
get their feet wet.”
More students are involved and motivated than ever before, according to this
year’s conference schedule. The number of participants has doubled since
2007 and the number of projects has more than doubled. From modern languages
to materials science to anthropology to nursing to contemporary dance, a
wide array of academic disciplines will be represented, demonstrating the
richness of the undergraduate experience at Boise State. Younger students
will be in the audience, and the hope is that they will be inspired to
pursue research interests as they advance in academia.
“Having research experience as an undergraduate is a major component in
winning scholarships and getting into graduate programs,” McGuire said. “As
Boise State grows its graduate programs and research portfolio, it’s
important to keep undergraduates involved.”
Here is a sampling of the day’s events:
• Special Project Presentation: There will be a group session on
Boise State’s First Year Read selection, Greg Mortenson’s “Three Cups of
Tea.” Students will discuss inspiration gleaned from the book, what it means
to make a difference and how others can get engaged in service opportunities
in their own communities.
• Performing Arts Presentation: Alisa Thompson will present a
four-minute lyrical piece called “The Beauty in You,” set to Bethany
Dillon’s acoustic song, “Beautiful.” The piece is an examination of the
inadequacy and insecurity inherent to human nature.
• Experiment Presentation: Dan Isla, Ryan Bedell, Alex Miller,
Mallory Yates, Matt McCrink and Kyle Knori will present their experiment as
part of NASA’s Microgravity University program. This experiment observes how
different wheel geometries interact with lunar regolith simulant under
variable loads in lunar gravity. The project includes building a test
apparatus with digital data acquisition, designing a test matrix and
performing the experiment in lunar gravity.
• Media Presentation: Saandra Steinfelt will present her film,
“Special Olympics: Humanity and Heart in Boise County, Idaho.” Steinfelt
documented the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games through the lens of
the rural town of Horseshoe Bend. Capturing everything from the torch run to
the events to the interactions of athletes and local fans, she hopes to show
the general public how Special Olympians touch our hearts.
• Podium Presentation: Nicolas Diaz will present his paper, “Riding
the Dragon: Argentina, Brazil and the Chinese Commodity Market.” It is an
analysis of natural resource-rich countries in Latin America, their
significant trade relationships with China and the effects of such outside
investment on traditional agricultural sectors.
• Investigation and Comparison Results Presentation: Josu Zubizarreta
will present his paper “Basque DNA: An Investigation and Comparison of 17
Y-Chromosome Microsatellite Loci of the Local Basque Population - Euskal
Herriko Eta Euskal.” DNA was processed from cotton oral swab samples taken
from volunteers of the Boise area Basque population. In order to determine
genealogy and mode of Basque ancestry, questionnaires were collected along
with the swabs.
A full schedule and program can be found at
http://academics.boisestate.edu/undergraduateresearch. Free parking is
available. Contact Judy Wauer for details at (208) 426-4062 or
judywauer@boisestate.edu.
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Media Contact: Mike Journee, University Communications, (208)
426-1517,
mikejournee@boisestate.edu.
Boise State University is “The New U Rising” with record student
enrollment, new academic buildings, additional degree programs and a growing
research agenda. Learn more at
www.boisestate.edu.
The Office of Communications and Marketing - Boise State
University
1910 University Drive - Boise Idaho 83725-1030
Located in Capitol Village, 2225 W. University Drive
email
communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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