- Important Original Research May or May Not be Publishable
- Funding Issues
- Significant Benefits to Students and Faculty
This summer research program provides an opportunity by which students,
faculty, and members of a regional community action organization are
able to work together on important environmental issues. Moreover,
the students are able to work with local environmental organizations
and to use their mathematical and computer knowledge as well as their
critical thinking skills to consider the environmental consequences
of relevant activities.
In the end, it is clear watching the students that their expectations
of research have both been changed and expanded. The levels of frustration
the students experienced at times have not been forgotten, but the
great deal of success and acclaim they have achieved shows through
each time they give a talk or simply field a question from an interested
party. Drs. Pearce and Blackburn-Lynch are very pleased with the
overall outcome of the research and the affiliations with environmental
organizations.
For faculty who are interested in developing an undergraduate
research program with local environmental ties, Drs. Pearce and
Blackburn-Lynch recommend calling a local environmental organization
and asking them if they have any questions that could be explored
mathematically. Drs. Pearce and Blackburn-Lynch have found this
simple method surprisingly effective. Often you get more ideas than
can be used or you hear questions that can not be answered, however,
given enough ideas, often a common interest can be found. |
