Madison Reporter

Undergraduates at UW–Madison are gearing up to present their research projects at the annual Undergraduate Symposium, set to take place at Union South on Thursday, April 25. The event will feature 672 students, an increase from the previous year. Among them is Amber Mans, a sophomore research fellow at the Glass Lab, who expressed her excitement about sharing her project, titled “Refractory Cements and Their Qualities in Mold Blown Glass”.

Mans spoke about her passion for sharing knowledge, stating, “I just want to share as much as I can but also to create avenues to people interested in this field who otherwise may be closed off from having access to the material or learning about it.” She sees the symposium as a valuable platform to engage with other researchers and create connections within the field.

Kelly Copolo, the academic program specialist for the Division for Teaching and Learning, highlighted the importance of the symposium in showcasing the diverse and remarkable work of undergraduates. She emphasized the event's role in promoting mentored undergraduate research and fostering creativity among students. Copolo expressed her excitement at seeing the symposium continue to grow each year.

Another presenter at the symposium, Grace Dai, shared insights into her research on parenting by individuals who are incarcerated. Dai emphasized the human impact of her work, stating, “Doing research that can not only benefit the children who really don’t deserve to be experiencing that kind of separation, or a lot of the scientifically studied, negative effects that parental incarceration has on children.” Her project, titled “Parenting in Prison: How Contextual Variables Relate to Program Outcomes,” delves into the complexities of this issue.

Reflecting on her experience, Dai mentioned the importance of addressing gaps in public knowledge and working towards providing valuable insights for community organizations. She credited her involvement in research to Dr. Pajarita Charles in the School of Social Work, highlighting the collaborative nature of their projects.

Amber Mans also shared her future aspirations, mentioning her upcoming participation in the Glass Art Society Conference in Germany. She sees the symposium as a valuable opportunity to practice her presentation skills and engage with fellow artists. Mans expressed her eagerness to learn from her peers' presentations and explore their passions during the event.

Additionally, freshman Alice Hu discussed her involvement in research on how Hmong patients communicate pain to healthcare providers through storytelling techniques. Although not presenting at the symposium, Hu found the research personally significant due to her experiences with language barriers in healthcare settings. She emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing communication challenges for limited English proficient patients.

The Undergraduate Symposium serves as a platform for students like Mans, Dai, and Hu to showcase their research, engage with peers, and contribute valuable insights to their respective fields. The event underscores UW–Madison's commitment to supporting undergraduate research and fostering a culture of academic excellence and innovation.