The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR): “Undergraduate Research and American Innovation”

http://www.cur.org/

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), in conjunction with the House Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Caucus, cordially invites policymakers and staff to a luncheon briefing on: “Undergraduate Research and American Innovation”

12:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 26th

Cannon Building Room 121

Every day, across the nation, undergraduate students are engaged in research that is reshaping their education. This Capitol Hill briefing will feature two national experts and their students discussing the transformative educational role of undergraduate research with a corresponding discussion of the federal programs that support this work. Regardless of type of institution, undergraduate research has the potential to radically change the understanding of any number of important existing scientific or engineering concepts and add new knowledge to the field.


Undergraduate research opportunities attract and retain students in STEM fields that are crucial to the country’s ability to innovate and remain competitive globally. Further, undergraduate students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, after working with faculty on research, are more likely to advance in their studies. Ultimately, there is a strong correlation between undergraduate research opportunities and persistence in science-related programs of study and related careers.


The involvement of undergraduates in research has led universities and their faculties to devise new approaches to curriculum that cut across disciplines and to develop new ways of addressing intellectual property in order to bring discoveries to market. Student/faculty collaborative research at predominately undergraduate institutions, as well as at research institutions is contributing to economic development and job creation. These efforts play a key role in the success of federally funded research and development. It is crucial that policymakers understand which federal programs support undergraduate research, their benefits, as well as the potential new developments in this area.


Speakers:
Robert Full, Professor of Biology, and Tonia Hsieh, undergraduate research student, of University of California-Berkeley
Paul Edmiston, Associate Professor of Chemistry, and Deanna Pickett, undergraduate research student, of The College of Wooster

Moderator:
Beth Paul, Provost, Stetson University


RSVP: curbriefing@cur.org  or 202-783-4810

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR): “Undergraduate Research and American Innovation”