Undergrad research presented to legislators
Thirty-seven Utah State University students promoted undergraduate research Thursday by presenting their findings to legislators at the state capitol as part of Research on Capitol Hill.
This is the fifth year that USU students have participated in Research on Capitol Hill, said Joyce Kinkead, vice provost for undergraduate studies and research. The students took research they have been working on with their faculty mentors and presented it to legislators and other attendees in poster format, she said. Student representatives from the University of Utah were in attendance as well.
At one time, many legislators felt it would be better for the university to drop research and have the faculty be dedicated solely to teaching, Kinkead said.
“We demonstrated to legislators that undergraduate studies are improved by hands-on work,” Kinkead said. “Students know that the best learning takes place when they research and take what they learn and apply it.”
Morgan Yost, a senior majoring in biology, presented findings on the affects of plant toxins on herbivore populations.
“Undergraduate research has been one of the most educational and fulfilling experiences during my career at Utah State,” Yost said. “Implementing the lessons learned in the classroom with real-world experiences and problems has been essential to my undergraduate education.”
Molly Buck, a senior majoring in animal science, presented her research on the Kochia shrub as a source of forage for beef cattle. Buck said she has benefited from hands-on interactivity in her field.
“I really have learned a lot from my professor,” Buck said. “The hands-on opportunity makes all of the things you have learned through the years come full circle. It helps you know why you had to learn a lot of the things you did, especially in the science field.”
Ladd Schiess, a senior majoring in landscape architecture, said the research he presented to Tooele officials was an “eye-opener” for the city. The project, to preserve and rejuvenate downtown Tooele, involved about 100 students in 15 teams, he said. The teams researched and then presented ideas to the officials. He said the Tooele officials liked the student’s ideas and shared them with Richmond officials the following week at a conference for small towns.
Schiess said he and fellow student Kimberly Williams presented their findings Thursday and discussed them with Sen. Ron Allen, who represents Tooele. He said Allen hadn’t heard of the ideas before, but that he seemed to like them.
Delores Dorton, a senior majoring in psychology, researched the effect of delayed food and monetary rewards.
“I spoke with one legislator who was very interested because he works in special education and uses behavioral therapy daily,” she said. “We had a good conversation about reward contingencies and types of reinforcers available after delays.”
Kristen Stokes, a junior studying diabetics, spoke with state Sen. Lyle Hillyard and state Rep. Fred Hunsaker, both representing Cache and Rich counties, about her research on the use of raisins as preservatives.
She said they were interested in her research and its practical applications as well as in how undergraduate research was beneficial to her education.
-jks@cc.usu.edu