AMES, Iowa -- Does the arena decibel-level during Hilton Magic really impact basketball player performance? What happens in cyberspace during virtual mourning? And what do China's cities look like in the midst of epic change? These are just three of the 87 research projects Iowa State University students will share during the university's fifth annual "Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression." The symposium will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, in the Memorial Union on the ISU campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Logo design by Kim
Manternach, senior, graphic design
The symposium provides undergraduates from all majors with an opportunity to share their research through conference-style oral presentation sessions. More than 100 undergraduates will present on topics ranging from biofuels to robotics and biochemistry to eyewitness identification. And, for the first time, one session will feature creative writers reading from their works.
"This symposium provides the ISU community an opportunity to learn about the broad range of undergraduate research activities taking place here," said Dana Schumacher, an assistant director of the University Honors Program. "And it offers students important experience in presenting their work."
The day's events will begin with registration and refreshments at 8:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room, followed at 9 a.m. by opening remarks by Sharron Quisenberry, ISU vice president for research and economic development. Concurrent presentation sessions will be from 9:30-10:45 a.m., 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., and 12:30 - 2 p.m. and 2:15 - 3:30 p.m. A detailed schedule of symposium events and presentations is at http://www.undergradresearch.iastate.edu/symposium/
Following is a sampling of the research being presented.
- "The Sounds of Hilton Magic" Luke Roling, senior, chemical engineering
- "Unraveling the Country Cousin of HIV and its Persistence Across All Stages of Disease in Horses," Yasaira Rodriguez, senior, microbiology
- "Cyber Lamentations: Interacting With the Dead in the Virtual World," Levi Farrell, junior, anthropology
- "A Historical Analysis of Caucasian and Non-Caucasian Female Students Enrolled in the College of Home Economics from 1872 to 1947 at Iowa State University," Jeanie Kilpatrick, senior, history and anthropology
- "Body Image and Appearance When in the Minority: Exploring Experiences of African- American and Latina Women at a Predominately White Campus," Natasha Oakley, senior, apparel, merchandising, design and production
- "GLIMPSE: of China," Clark Colby, senior, architecture
- "The Costs of Freedom: A Qualitative Analysis of the United States Army's Reception and Discharge Processes," Chris Ward, senior, finance
- "Physiological Reactions Behind Criminal Confessions," Michaela Burt, senior, psychology
- "Manufacturing and Testing of Metal Composites," Nicholas Orlowsky, sophomore, mechanical engineering
- "Interactions of Soil Type, Microorganism Community and Nutrient Level," Emily Zimmerman, senior, biology and global resource systems
