Students present their research at the 2008 Undergraduate Research Symposium Monday, April 28 - Friday, May 2.
By Melanie Miller
From Monday, April 28 through Friday May 2, the Virginia Wesleyan campus will showcase the efforts of undergraduate student researchers. The third annual Undergraduate Research Symposium features the innovative and noteworthy accomplishments of students from a variety of academic departments in areas such as art, history, the sciences, education, the humanities, business, mathematics and the PORTfolio Program.
The symposium will begin with a kick-off event and reception sponsored by the Humanities Division on Monday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, Pearce Hospitality Suite. Student researchers will have the opportunity to formally present their research and display their projects at selected sites around campus beginning at 4:30 p.m. daily.
ยป View a full schedule of scheduled projects, times and places.
More than 90 students have participated in undergraduate research at Virginia Wesleyan during the 2007-2008 academic year. Dr. Maynard Schaus, Batten Associate Professor of Biology and coordinator of undergraduate research, said he is pleased with the accomplishments of the undergraduate researchers.
Painting by Ellen Bryant, part of her research project.
"Several students have received VFIC (Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges) Summer Science Undergraduate Research Awards and other recognitions for their hard work, such as grants from the Virginia Wesleyan Undergraduate Research Fund," said Schaus.
Ellen Bryant '08, an art major, is a recipient of a Virginia Wesleyan Undergraduate Research Fund grant and has completed her project titled, "The Ocean's Cathedral."
"My research focused on the use of painting an image of nature, in particular, the ocean wave, to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in the viewer," said Bryant.
For the project, Bryant worked alongside the professional and successful artist, Howard Kirk, who shares her passion for painting ocean waves. Bryant spent time with Kirk in his studio located in San Clemente, Calif., where, during the course of her stay, she observed the inspirations, motivations and techniques he uses in his paintings. She has learned from his work habits, use of color and references to inform her own particular approach to depicting waves.
Lan Tran '10, also a recipient of a Virginia Wesleyan Undergraduate Research Fund grant, conducted research in her major, earth and environmental sciences, along with health and humanities titled, "The Relationship between Dioxin Exposure and Specific Genetic Disorders in Vietnam and Humanitarian Efforts to Aid Victims and the Community."
Tran completed her research project in Vietnam examining the effects of dioxin on the environment and human health. While in Vietnam, she interviewed a Vietnamese doctor who studied dioxin in college, an American medic who served during the Vietnam War and currently lives in Vietnam, visited families in and around Danang with children possibly affected by dioxin/Agent Orange and interacted with children at the Agent Orange Home.
Tran also gathered information Vietnam has on dioxin and the link to genetic disorders, examined types of books in Vietnamese bookstores, purchased books relating to the environment and dioxin and talked to locals (tour guides, boat families, store keepers, university students) about education (especially on the environment). In addition, she studied the programs that worked together to help families in need of medical care or other kinds of aid.
For Schaus, the annual symposium provides students the opportunity to participate in serious research from the conception of an idea through planning, research, analysis, presentation and critiques.
"Students are given the opportunity to take what they've learned in the classroom and apply that knowledge to their project," he said. "Last year there were so many different disciplines doing undergraduate research, it's starting to become part of the culture here at Virginia Wesleyan."
04.21.08