In an opportunity to celebrate undergraduate achievements in research, more than 300 students present their research findings during the annual Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day, at the University of Wyoming.
"The University of Wyoming and Wyoming's community colleges provide many opportunities for undergraduates to participate in independent research projects across many disciplines," says Bill Gern, UW vice president for research and economic development. "Undergraduate Research Day recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of undergraduate student researchers."
Hosted by Wyoming EPSCoR, Wyoming's celebration of undergraduate research is open to all students who have completed an independent research or creative project in any discipline at Wyoming community colleges, UW/Casper College and the University of Wyoming.
Topics include research in the areas of agriculture, business, education, engineering, health sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematical sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. Students, faculty, families, friends and the public are invited to attend the presentations. Presenters are expected to attend other presentations throughout the afternoon.
Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day is sponsored each April by the UW Offices of Research and Economic Development, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs; and also by the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Agriculture, College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Health Sciences, Wyoming INBRE, UW Honors Program, the McNair Scholars Program, Wyoming EPSCoR, and the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium.
The UW Libraries provides a repository for electronic copies of the student presentations, and makes them available electronically through the UW Libraries Digital Initiative at http://digital.uwyo.edu.
Over the course of her childhood, Lauren Harrison accumulated a ridiculously large rock collection. Raised in Laramie, when it came time to attend college, choosing to attend UW and to study geology were natural choices.
Her family's cabin in the Medicine Bow Range gave her plenty of opportunities to discover fantastic rock specimens. Throughout high school and college, Lauren's fondness of rocks evolved into an interest in studying the geochemical aspects of rocks with a focus on high-temperature, hard-rock geochemistry.
She credits Department Head, Art Snoke, for his dedication to students and helping her with her undergraduate research project, and fondly remembers the summer field camp taught by Associate Lecturer Erin Campbell-Stone. A self-described "outdoor nut," she tries to occupy her spare time throughout the year by biking, camping, hiking, and skiing.
Looking forward to graduate school, Lauren feels the challenging, well-rounded curriculum in the UW Geology and Geophysics program has helped prepare her for her future studies.
UW Geology & Geophysics Department
Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day
