Newswise — The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) will welcome nearly 80 undergraduate students from across the nation to Capitol Hill for their annual Posters on the Hill event on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The students will present the results of their independent research in diverse fields, displaying their research posters to Members of Congress, federal agency funding officers, members of the press and invited guests.
"Undergraduate research experiences provide students with a conceptual understanding of their disciplines, while cultivating critical thinking and problem solving skills that transcend disciplinary learning. Given the renewed importance of science and discovery in this country, and the challenges we face, undergraduate research is more valuable than ever," said CUR Executive Officer Nancy Hensel. "Posters on the Hill is an opportunity for students and faculty to share their work with Members of Congress and others who support the endeavor."
The winning teams of students and their faculty advisors, who hail from four-year institutions and community colleges, were competitively chosen from over four hundred applicants. Their research is funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services and many other agencies --- federal, state and local; some projects are also funded by private sector supporters. Examples of the exemplary undergraduate research that will be featured on Capitol Hill include University of Alaska-Anchorage's Kimberly Beckford and advisor Ann Jache, who are researching the teaching and learning of science among Alaska Native students in grades 9-12. Kathryn Teixeira and Deni Galileo from the University of Delaware are using a new quantitative model to study breast cancer metastasis to the brain. University of South Florida's Evelyn Peters and her faculty advisor, Thomas W. Smith, will share their research that compares the art of ancient Rome with that of Washington, DC.
The country's priorities—developing clean, renewable energy sources, establishing a "green" economy, supporting research and discovery to fight disease and improve the country's health care system—are supported by undergraduate research. These students and their advisors will be visiting with Members of Congress to suggest that any federal investments in research should recognize the endeavor's important role in pursuing these national goals during their visit to Washington, DC.
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. Nearly 600 institutions and over 3000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.
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