| UMR students showcase research at the Capitol |
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| Written by Anna Ehrhardt | |
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Selected students from the University of Missouri-Rolla participated in Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol on April 17 in Jefferson City, Mo. Students came from all four University of Missouri campuses to display research posters in the Capitol rotunda. The students also have opportunities to tell legislators about their research and how it addresses the needs of society. The main purpose of this annual event is to create an opportunity to let politicians know the research that is going on. Also, by making them aware, the politicians will hopefully provide more funding to the schools for research of the sort that was displayed. Not only did representatives come, the general public, UM faculty, parents and the public came to see the research projects. Chancellor Carney even stopped by for a quick visit. All research projects were part of the OURE program. Groups and individuals applied to be a part of the day. Projects were mostly chosen on how relevant they were to Missouri. UMR students brought a lot of interesting research to the Capitol. It included showing legislators how glass is being used to strengthen bone tissue, a possible new method of removing lead from the bloodstream, how nutrients in streams can be monitored more efficiently and why flood plains need to be checked for high levels of salt. Kristen Loesch and her partner Laura Woodard presented research on Computer Science recruitment for the 21st century. They focused on increasing computer science enrollment after seeing a drastic drop, especially in females, recently. The project is centered around third to sixth graders. Loesch and Woodard created software that includes information about alumni and faculty (eventually students) that show how computer science is socially relevant, involves teamwork and is not just video games; it hopes to get rid of some of the stereotypes. The two presented the software, at Mark Twain elementary, to its third and fourth graders. Loesch said that there was a lot of encouraging results. Loesch said that “it was a really good experience and good presenting to such a different crowd.” She thought it was interesting to simplify projects down, so that the average people could understand. Lucas Carr’s research was focused on calibrated electrical soil probes which measure the salt concentration in the soil. Both students commented that it was interesting to look into normal life at the Capitol. They said that there was a filibuster taking place at the time over a bill that was going to be voted on. Loesch said that she even saw protesters and that there was a big rally because of the bill. The following UMR students showcased various research projects, as individuals or in groups, at the event: Ashlee Abbott, sophomore in ceramic engineering; Tara Banaszek, senior in biological sciences; Brandon Brinkmeyer, senior in metallurgical engineering; Lucas Carr, senior in geological engineering; Kenneth Doering, senior in metallurgical engineering; Agatha Dwilewicz, junior in biological sciences; Will Granich, senior in environmental engineering; Ryan Craig Hupe, junior in physics; Tracie Kost, senior in chemistry; Kristen Loesch, senior in computer science; Lane Martin, junior in physics; Travis McDowell, senior in chemistry; Megan McGrath, junior in metallurgical engineering; Tamala Morris, sophomore in chemical engineering; Lauren Elizabeth Rich, junior in physics; Stuart Salvador, senior in mechanical engineering; Laura Woodard, senior in computer science. |
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