WAUKESHA – Sixteen students from the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha will present papers on research they undertook collaboratively with their professors at a symposium to be held Saturday, December 7, at the campus, 1500 N. University Dr., Waukesha.
Supported by a grant from the UW Colleges, the research program began in spring 2002 as a pilot program for “Enhancing Student-Faculty Research at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha.” This fall it blossomed, with faculty selecting students to work with them in twelve separate disciplines.
Papers to be presented at the December 7 symposium and their authors are:
“The Power of Efficacy: A Comparison of Mass and Elite Personal and Political Efficacy,” researched by Lucas Carrao, Pewaukee, and Margaret Hirschberg, assistant professor of political science, with assistance from other students.
“Parental Involvement and Children’s Behavior,” researched by Dustin Koehler, Hartland, Kelly McDougall, Pewaukee, and Salah Bassiouni, associate professor of sociology and anthropology.
“Bridging Greed with Middle Class America,” researched by Lisa Eligon and Kiara Sturdevant, both from New Berlin, along with Carol Fischer, professor of business and economics.
“Architecture and Political Power: Kings, Palaces and Politics,” prepared by Nicholas Albers, Menomonee Falls, Megan Johnson, Waukesha, Gabrielle Ziehr, West Bend, and Jane Crisler, associate professor of history.
“Appraising the Mozart Effect,” researched by Nathan Turniff, Waukesha, and Craig Hurst, associate professor of music.
“Dramaturging the Holocaust: Pre-Production Work on And Then They Came for Me,” by Rebecca Weber, Wales, with Mark Lococo, associate professor of Communication & theatre Arts.
“Analyzing Solar Motions and Phenomena,” researched by Adam Machajewski, Milwaukee, and Joe Otu, associate professor of physics.
“”Pressed for Time: A Herbarium for Martin’s Woods,” researched by Terri Peters, Rochester (WI), and Nancy Dernehl, associate professor of biological sciences.
“Differences and Sums: A New Formula,” researched by Jeff Braley, Muskego, and Paul Sundheim, associate professor of mathematics.
“Spatial Skills: A Spider’s Web,” researched by Katie Schmitt, Hartland, and Bob Bermant, professor of psychology.
“Getting Away with Murder: My Ancestors Made Me Do It,” researched by Jim Budish, Elm Grove, and Bill Schneider, lecturer in philosophy.
“The Fitness Detention,” researched by Rich Kokott, Muskego, and Jack Hervert, assistant professor of physical education.
Jenny Saffran, an assistant professor of psychology at UW-Madison and a pioneer in organized undergraduate research, will present the keynote address, “Teaching Outside the Classroom: the Role of Research in Undergraduate Education.” She will be speaking at 11:00 a.m. in the Commons Conference Room 101.
Three faculty judges who are not affiliated with the project will select the top three papers, with prizes of $100, $75, and $50 to be awarded at the end of day on December 7 to their student authors.
On a recommendation from campus dean Brad Stewart last January, psychology professor Bob Bermant, who for about 20 years had been working with students on research projects that many were able to present at an annual state symposium, recruited Salah Bassiouni, associate professor of anthropology and sociology, and Margaret Hirschberg, assistant professor of political science, to work with him in organizing a faculty/student research program on campus and write a proposal for a Grant to Increase Student Engagement (GISE) to fund it.
Receiving $4,000 from the grant and another $1,500 from a dean’s fund, they developed a pilot mini social sciences symposium in spring, held several meetings over the summer to evaluate and plan, and designed the cross-discipline program that will be showcased at the symposium December 7. Invited guests, professors Jenny Saffran and Art Glenberg, both from the UW-Madison psychology department and experienced in doing research with undergraduate students, discussed their experiences and advised the ingénue group.
The project aims to engage students and faculty in the research process with the goal of building closer faculty-student relationships, encouraging collaborative research, and fostering a more nurturing and supportive environment for both students and their faculty mentors.
While other of the freshmen-sophomore UW Colleges campuses took the GISE challenge to increase student engagement by developing programs to assist students who are struggling academically, Bermant said that that segment already is well served on this campus. The high-ability students, on the other hand, need additional stimulation to make them aware of their potential and to help them reach it. Faculty, too, enjoyed the special opportunity to connect with their highly qualified students.
UW-Waukesha has the highest enrollment among the 13 campuses of the UW Colleges, which serve as a primary access to the UW System throughout the state. For information about UW-Waukesha admissions, contact the Student Services office at (262) 521-5200 or visit the campus Web site at waukesha.uwc.edu. |
