Undergraduate researchers and faculty from UW schools gathered at the Capitol Tuesday to present their research efforts at the annual event, Posters in the Rotunda. The event is organized for student researchers to present their work on posters to legislators, UW Regents and other members of the public.
According to UW-Madison sophomore Abby Wochinski, conducting research and presenting her findings has been an excellent experience for her. She worked on a project dealing with protein purification for one year.
\Just presenting your research in general is a really positive experience. It forces you to articulate,"" Wochinski said.
She also thought seeing other research done by students was a learning experience for her as well.
""It's some issues that people don't always think about ... It's really nice to get it out there, just to know that there is research being done,"" she said.
UW-Madison senior Kimberly Ehlers is conducting research on pregnancy in the School of Nursing.
""It is nice for people to notice ... that we're actually doing influential research and hopefully improving patients' minds,"" Ehlers said.
Reilly said the state must invest in academic research to keep Wisconsin moving forward.
""By conducting undergraduate research, students engage in real-life training and are prepared to excel in their future. These students are the future engineers, biologists, social scientists ... and medical researchers,"" Reilly said.
School of Pharmacy professor Jeff Johnson urged attendees to support undergraduate research. As a researcher of various diseases, Johnson said it was undergraduate research that drove him into science.
""[Undergraduate research] is an essential part of developing good scientists,"" Johnson said.
UW System Board of Regents President Toby Marcovich was impressed by the presentations.
""These are among the most rewarding aspects of being a regent ... to see firsthand results of the teaching, learning and research on UW campuses,"" Marcovich said. ""Who knows what else UW researchers will discover? This kind of work is definitely worth the investment.""
