MADISON-University of Wisconsin System undergraduates from most UW campuses will present original research findings on topics ranging from the environmental status of Wisconsin rivers, to the literary contributions of African-American women, to the design of functional clothing that provides shelter for the homeless.
“Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research,” will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 25. The event will bring UW System students and their faculty to the Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda to share insights from undergraduate research projects with state elected officials, members of the Board of Regents, and the public.
“Undergraduate researchers in the UW System participate in projects that have had immediate, positive impacts, both on campus, and in local Wisconsin communities,” said UW System President Kevin P. Reilly. “Students collaborate with faculty to investigate problems and find solutions in health care, education, the environment, and biotechnology, just to name a few. As these undergraduate researchers move into the workforce, they will bring the investigative skills Wisconsin needs to remain competitive in a growing knowledge economy.”
Each year, hundreds of UW undergraduates present research findings at local, regional and national meetings, including Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C. , National Conferences on Undergraduate Research; and the UW System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. Undergraduate research efforts are supported through grants, external funding and campus academic programs.
“Research is one of the most important ways to keep a university vital and successful,” said Regent President David G. Walsh. “Everyone agrees that Wisconsin needs a stronger economy. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is to support a healthy public university system that enables students, faculty and staff to conduct groundbreaking research that leads to patents, spin-off companies and discoveries that can benefit all of Wisconsin.”
“Posters in the Rotunda” will feature a short program at 12 noon on April 25, to include remarks from President Reilly, Regent President Walsh, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, and Dr. Tina Sauerhammer, a graduate of both UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay, where she was an undergraduate researcher.