{"id":69929,"date":"2019-04-08T15:16:49","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T20:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/?p=69929"},"modified":"2024-09-27T10:02:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T15:02:12","slug":"research-at-uwm-celebrated-at-undergrad-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/research-at-uwm-celebrated-at-undergrad-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"Research at UWM celebrated at undergrad symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

UWM celebrated its status as an \u201cR1\u201d university, a designation given to the country\u2019s top research institutions, on Friday at an event highlighting one aspect of the university\u2019s research prowess, the UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium.<\/p>\n

Held each year, the symposium showcases the research collaborations of UWM undergraduate students with faculty and staff through presentations of their findings. UW System President Ray Cross and UWM Chancellor Mark Mone attended this year to help celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u201cMilwaukee and Wisconsin will progress and grow to a great extent and direction proportionate to your growth and progress,\u201d Cross told the students. \u201cYou are inextricably linked to the success of this community and state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the symposium highlighted students\u2019 efforts and findings from their research, both Cross and Mone emphasized that it wouldn\u2019t be possible without the faculty and staff at UWM that stand as mentors for their students.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its core, \u2018Research 1\u2019 really stands for the quality of our faculty, and that translates directly to the high-caliber educational opportunities that change lives at UWM,\u201d said Mone.<\/p>\n

Research recognized<\/h3>\n

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Since 2016, UWM has maintained its elite status<\/a> as a top research university, outlined by the evaluation of institutions across the country for their research expenditures and awarding of doctoral degrees. UWM is one of only 131 universities, of 4,324 institutions evaluated, to receive this prestigious recognition by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Carnegie reaffirmed UWM\u2019s elite status in December 2018.<\/p>\n

UWM\u2019s undergraduate research also received national recognition. The university is one of two universities to receive the Council on Undergraduate Research\u2019s Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments in 2018.<\/p>\n

In the theme of research, this year\u2019s symposium concluded with a campuswide celebration of UWM\u2019s continued status as one of America\u2019s top research universities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe symposium celebrates the contributions of undergraduates to these important research agendas, and the collaborative spirit of research itself,\u201d said Kyla Esguerra, associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.<\/p>\n

The symposium also showcased the diversity of research at UWM. It\u2019s not just lab coats and test tubes: Research spans the breadth of programs at UWM.<\/p>\n

Ashley L\u00f3pez, a senior majoring in psychology, gave a presentation on her research into the effectiveness of health promotion interventions for transgender people, with a focus on HIV and STD risk reduction, substance use and depression. Prior to starting her research, L\u00f3pez, like many others, had misconceptions about the potential and variety of research.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore conducting research with my mentor, I was not considering research at all because of my previous views and opinions of what it was,\u201d L\u00f3pez said. \u201cWorking with him I realized I was wrong. Research is a lot of things. There\u2019s so much variety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interests fuel research<\/h3>\n

L\u00f3pez\u2019s presentation also represented how students across UWM are able to integrate their personal passions and interests into their research.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think that the things that I care about, such as gender identity, could be considered research,\u201d said L\u00f3pez. \u201cI knew from my personal life that I enjoyed helping others work through these things. When I found out I could combine this with my academic work, it was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other presentations at the symposium included how music affects memory, time perception in virtual reality, storm chasing and how YouTube can help people with autism spectrum disorders communicate.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, awards were given to UWM students and faculty to recognize their research efforts. Winners are:<\/p>\n

Outstanding Presentation ribbon recipients<\/strong><\/p>\n