Fourth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium showcases student research, April 27 – May 1.
By Heather Templeton '10
While writing papers and spending time in the lab are traditional elements of the undergraduate experience, Virginia Wesleyan's students are traveling the globe to produce original research, exploring countries such as Costa Rica, Trinidad, Vietnam, Taiwan and Belize.
"Undergraduate research is one of the best forms of teaching at a school like Virginia Wesleyan. We have the opportunity to work one on one with our students and can challenge them to go the extra mile." - Dr. Maynard SchausNo matter what their major, undergraduate research challenges students to reach their personal best. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, students have the opportunity to co-author publications and papers, and present research with faculty scholars at local, regional and national conferences.
From Monday, April 27 through Friday May 1, the Virginia Wesleyan campus will showcase the work and research of its students during the Fourth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. For the past year, students have studied and prepared original research within a variety of academic fields in areas such as art, history, the sciences, education, the humanities, business, mathematics and the PORTfolio Program.
» View a full schedule of scheduled projects, times and places
Suzie Lazarowitz '09 from Newmarket, Md., spent last summer studying Leatherback sea turtle hatchlings in Petite Tacarib, Trinidad through a Summer Science Undergraduate Research Award from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC).
A biology major, Lazarowitz studied if hatchlings would move toward an artificial light on the beach rather than the water. Once the hatchlings leave the nest, they are under intense predation pressure from carnivores and must be able to find the sea rapidly. It is thought that hatchlings use multiple cues to find the sea post-emergence from the nest, but rely primarily on vision.
For the experiment, Lazarowitz conducted five separate trials including a controlled trial (no additional sensory cues), artificial light, red light, silhouettes, and blackout.
Lazarowitz discovered that the hatchlings moved toward an artificial light on the sand (directly opposite the ocean), and would scatter slightly when an artificial silhouette was placed completely opposite the vegetation side of the beach. The hatchlings scattered the most when a black cloth was placed all the way around the trial area, completely blocking any visual cues.
Lazarowitz said undergraduate research is an important experience for all students, especially for those who wish to pursue a master’s degree or a doctorate.
"To have had the experience of doing research before getting into graduate school makes you more appealing to the schools you are interested in," she said. "I feel that attending Virginia Wesleyan has provided me with many more research opportunities than I would have had anywhere else."
Jillian Weston '09 from Radford, Va., conducted her research on the topic of gossip as a function of cultural learning and social comparison.
Majoring in psychology, Weston studied whether gossip reminds groups of social norms, and if people use gossip as a way of comparing themselves to others to improve their own status or self.
"By trying to improve, one can learn how to behave or interact in social groups," said Weston. "I hypothesized that one is less likely to do something negative if someone else was gossiped about doing the same negative action."
David Weirich '09, double majoring in music and mathematics from Portsmouth, Va., studied musical works of the generation of composers before him and wrote new pieces focusing on an extra-musical identity.
"I have learned that it should not be the goal of the composer to create something new per se, but rather to create something important," said Weirich. "I have given each piece an extra musical identity… something personal, public, ridiculous, serious, silly, outrageous or mundane. For music to truly be important it can’t just be music, it has to something more."
Weirich composed Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major, which represents the themes of life, death, and rebirth within the context of a 24-hour period. For the piece, the movements are titled The Afternoon, The Evening, and The Morning.
"Each movement contains multiple musical themes which each represent a different idea," said Weirich. "There's a Pensive Theme in the first movement, and a Prayer Theme in the second movement. By associating an extra element with the sonata, it becomes more than just music, but an expression of hope: something very important indeed.”
The symposium begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27, with a kick-off event and reception sponsored by the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, featuring student research posters and talks by Dr. Maynard Schaus, Batten Professor of Biology and coordinator of undergraduate research at the College, and Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, assistant professor of ocean and atmospheric sciences.
The symposium concludes on Friday, May 1, with the Academic Fair and Poster Session at 3 p.m., following Spring Honors Convocation.
For more information on the Undergraduate Research Symposium, contact Dr. Maynard Schaus at 757.455.3247 or mschaus@vwc.edu.
04.21.09