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May 15, 2003

Media Contact: Michael Dabney, (858) 822-3432

UCSD UNDERGRAD CONFERENCE ON MAY 17 REFLECTS GROWING
TREND TO EXPOSE STUDENTS EARLY TO RESEARCH CHALLENGES

Many college students drop out of science courses because education at the undergraduate level too often treats science as something to be memorized rather than something relevant to everyday life and full of creative potential, according to the national Council of Undergraduate Research. It is because of this perception that colleges and universities across the nation have increasingly begun to expose undergraduates early to the rewards and challenges of research – often pairing students with faculty mentors outside the classroom for added scientific enrichment and motivation towards graduate school.

A UCSD undergraduate presents her research in anthropology before peers and faculty at last year's Undergraduate Research Conference sponsored by the university's Academic Enrichment Programs.

The University of California, San Diego -- a leader in the growing trend to offer valuable research experience outside the classroom to undergraduates through comprehensive collaboration with faculty -- will present its 16th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference on Saturday, May 17 at UCSD.

A total of 89 UCSD undergraduates, representing an interesting cross-section of academic disciplines -- from bioengineering and cognitive science to arts and humanities -- will gather from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the university Faculty Club to present research findings from individual scientific study they have conducted with UCSD faculty mentors over the past months. The event will also include special remarks by UCSD Chancellor Robert C. Dynes, and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph Watson.

All undergraduate participants have been nominated by members of the faculty who have judged their work to be outstanding, says David Artis, Ph.D., director of UCSD’s Academic Enrichment Programs (AEP), which is hosting the conference, and whose various academic programs under UCSD’s Student Educational Advancement Division (in Student Affairs) provide undergraduates the chance to interact scientifically with faculty mentors and facilitators.

“The purpose of research conference is to recognize outstanding scholarly work produced by our undergraduates,” says Artis, “and to stimulate meaningful interaction between students and faculty at the research level. Another goal is to encourage more undergraduates (including ethnically underrepresented students) to pursue doctoral degrees and careers in research and college teaching, and to give students experience in presenting, discussing and defending their work before peers and research professionals in a public forum.”

The event is made possible by generous support from the UCSD Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

The conference is organized into 13 small roundtable discussion sessions throughout the morning and afternoon, with 5-7 students presenting at each roundtable, and one or more faculty members serving as moderators. Each student will be give 15 minutes to discuss his or her paper and 5 minutes to answer questions.

Examples of research topics to be presented include:

• Communication: “Muslim American Youth Subculture: The Use of Hip Hop and Fashion to Create a Distinct Identity for Muslim Youth in California,” by undergraduate Nadia Aziz. “Does Bootlegging Compromise Intent? -- Piracy, Inaccuracy and the Place of Authors in Digital Distribution,” by undergraduate Diana Turk.
• Latin American Studies: “The Problem With No Consensus: Water and Wastewater Issues in the San Diego-Tijuana/Playas de Rosarito Region,” by undergraduate Rebekah Reynolds.
• History: “Handbag Mania: A Critical Look at the Meaning of the Handbag in a Cultural Context,” by undergraduate Amy Elizabeth Brown.
• Biology: “Analyses of Sodium and Potassium Transport in Arabidopsis AtHkT1 Mutant,” by undergraduate Angela Brooks. “Using Mutagenesis Analysis to Determine the Function of YajG in Bacillus Subtilis,” by undergraduate Kenny Lin.
• Psychology: “Self-Control in an Interated Prisoner’s Dilemma Game,” by undergraduate Lauren Lee. “Factors Associated with Young Children’s Willingness to Wear Prescription Eyeglasses,” by undergraduate Ami Hanaoka.
• Sociology: “The Real G.I. Janes: Investigating the Female Experience in Today’s Armed Forces,” by undergraduate Brad Higby.
  “Legislative and Social Obstacles to Teaching the Homeless: The Struggle for Equality and Integration of Homeless Youth in the Public Education System,” by undergraduate Max E. Loewenthal. “Knowledge and Behavior: Complications for HIV Prevention Among College Students,” by undergraduate Harmony Rhoades.
  “The Academic Performance and Cultural Adaptation of Somali Refugees in U.S. High Schools,” by undergraduate Anna Huynh.
• Chemistry & Biochemistry: “Protein Electrostatics and Drug Design,” by undergraduate Peter A. Sims.
• Bioengineering: “Knocking Out E. coli: Predicting Evolutionary Phenotrypes Use in Silico Models,” by undergraduate Monica Mo.