Undergraduates show off research

Undergraduate Research Day discussion

The work of 127 Wake Forest students was displayed at the fourth annual Undergraduate Research Day on Oct. 1 in the Benson Center. The event is organized by The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Center (URECA).

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Students gave oral presentations and conducted discussion sessions in front of their posters.

“I was impressed by the number of submissions and the quality of the presentations,” said Helga Welsh, professor of political science.

The presentations were a culmination of a process that began with students submitting proposals to earn funds for their projects. Then students developed and executed their projects on the Wake Forest campus or at international locations in collaboration with faculty mentors. This year, 78 faculty members serves as mentors for student projects, and all academic divisions of the College were represented.

“This summer I mentored three students sponsored by the Wake Forest Research Fellowships,” said Oana Jurcheschu, professor of physics. “I was impressed with their creative thinking, their enthusiasm and maturity about research.”

The topics addressed varied widely, including:

  • “Can we develop a better source of hydrogen for alternative energy?”
  • “What can soil deposits tell us about Portugese pottery production?”
  • “Does the practice of magic in the Harry Potter books reflect medical practices in Renaissance England?”
  • “How do Bollywood workers see themselves in the context of the global film industry?”

Individual student investigations were supported by Wake Forest Research Fellowships, Richter Fellowships, ACC-Inter-Institutional Academic Collaborative Fellowships, and faculty grant funding.

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