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Event Puts Spotlight on Meredith Research Efforts Meredith College students provided 22 examples of the potential directions that undergraduate research projects can take on September 19 during the College’s annual “Taste of Research” event. “Taste of Research,” sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Program, was held in the atrium of the Science and Mathematics Building. A record number of student presenters filled both floors of the atrium, using poster presentations to share their results. The event is “a means for students to present the work they did over the summer,” said Rebecca Duncan, director of Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program. “The final stage of research is being able to articulate what they accomplished.” Nineteen of the students conducted their projects with Meredith faculty sponsors and three others were involved in research at NC State. The research projects represented a variety of disciplines, including psychology, biology, political science and art. Sophomore Marie LaHaye’s project examined the effectiveness of two styles of teaching for children with autism. “I came to Meredith to work with the Meredith Autism Program,” said LaHaye, a psychology major. The research program was “a way for me to work in my own research study.” LaHaye plans to continue her work through this semester, if not beyond. Senior Kathleen Angermeier is also extending her research beyond the summer. In a project she is completing as her Honors thesis, Angermeier studied the effect of heat on the relationship between heart rate and the lactate threshold. She is continuing to collect data this fall. “Lactate is a byproduct of metabolism and it shows how hard a person is exercising,” explained Angermeier, whose project examined whether markers for heart rate training zones used by athletes are still accurate when the exercise is being done at higher temperatures. Angermeier hopes to present her research at Meredith’s annual Celebrating Student Achievement Day, and plans to apply to the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Summer research projects can also help students clarify career plans. Senior Alyssa Miller, an art and psychology major, chose a project that related to her goal of becoming an art therapist. She designed an art therapy activity that she used with patients at the UNC Craniofacial Center. “The Undergraduate Research Program is nice because it allows you the opportunity to do a project that interests you,” Miller said. “I now have a much better idea of what I want to do after I graduate.” The students who presented during the “Taste of Research” event were recipients of summer research stipends, which are administered by Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program. A substantial portion of the funding for the stipend program is provided by an endowment gift from Shepard Kimbrell Halsch, ’85. For more information on Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program, visit www.meredith.edu/ugr. Date Submitted: 2007-09-20 |
