Chemical Education Today edited by
Association Report: CUR
Kerry Karukstis Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA 91711
Communicating the Importance of Undergraduate Research to Legislators by Kerry Karukstis
Posters on the Hill
State Events The success of the annual Posters on the Hill event has encouraged faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions to organize similar state capitol poster sessions. Recognizing that many state senators and representatives continue their careers at the national level, a poster session at the state level can be viewed as an investment opportunity to educate local leaders about the value of undergraduate research. Some institutions, such as Truman State University in Missouri, have conducted a state capitol poster session showcasing undergraduate students representing many disciplines from their institution alone (2). Others have organized a multi-institution event, including Photo: Michael Castellani, Department of Chemistry, Marshall University.
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) strongly believes that it is the responsibility of the scientific community to ensure that legislators in the United States Congress have a clear understanding of the science and science education programs they fund and why these programs are important. In particular, continued support for undergraduate research requires that members of Congress appreciate the value of undergraduate research programs. In CUR’s view, nothing more effectively demonstrates the impact of undergraduate research than the words and stories of the student participants themselves. To communicate to Congress the importance of undergraduate research and to express thanks for the federal funding of undergraduate research programs, the CUR has hosted an annual undergraduate research poster session on Capitol Hill since 1997 (1). This “Posters on the Hill” event was held recently in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 with 83 undergraduate students from 31 states and 56 institutions presenting the results of their independent research in science, engineering, and mathematics. The students were selected from several hundred applicants on the basis of their research accomplishments . They received financial support from their home institutions to attend the event. Many faculty research mentors accompanied the undergraduates, further emphasizing the collaborative nature of undergraduate research. Representatives, senators, and their staff were invited to attend the poster session and reception to learn more about the research investigations conducted by undergraduates. Representatives from the federal agencies supporting the research (including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, the Center for Disease Control, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Army Research Laboratory, and the Office of Naval Research) were also invited to see the results of their support.
emphasized how their undergraduate research experiences helped them “learn science by doing science” and how such hands-on learning enables their non-scientist friends to understand the scientific and social issues of the future. Faculty stressed their role as public communicators of science and technology and how research-active faculty members teach with freshness and vigor as well as with more current knowledge. Each senator and representative received a copy of a letter prepared by CUR that summarized these points and urged continued support for the many programs of federal agencies that focus on undergraduate research. Legislators were also asked to support the expansion of research opportunities for undergraduates and their faculty mentors at national laboratories as a means of regenerating the creative workforce for these agencies.
Congressional Office Visits Communicate Our Message CUR encouraged students and their faculty mentors to make arrangements for individual congressional visits prior to the poster session. Ridg Mills, Junior Legislative Aide from the Office of Congressman and Democratic Whip Steny Honer (5th Congressional District of Maryland), provided participants with personal advice to increase the effectiveness of these office visits. CUR prepared students and faculty with several strategic talking points to emphasize the seamless connection between research and education and the profound impact that federal investment in science, mathematics, and engineering has on local communities all across America. In particular, students www.JCE.DivCHED.org
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Congressman Steven Rothman, representing New Jersey’s 9th District, visits with his constituent Janine Domingues (center) and her faculty research mentor Carolyn Barry (right). Janine attends Loyola College in Maryland. Rothman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee overseeing the allocation of funds in the federal government and also serves in the House leadership as Assistant Democratic Whip.
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Association Report: CUR the “Research in the Capital” symposium held in Raleigh, NC through the efforts of four distinct institutions in the University of North Carolina system (the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville) (3). Articles in the CUR Quarterly describing these events (2, 3) share strategies for scheduling a poster session, attracting legislative attention, and enhancing the communication between legislators and undergraduate students and faculty. The CUR Web site (4) offers suggestions on the preparation of both a poster and accompanying oral remarks in order to communicate effectively to an audience that is educated and knowledgeable but that has a limited technical background. Students are also encouraged to share with legislators and their staff how their research involvement has affected their education and their career plans. Participate in the Posters on the Hill 2006 Undergraduates interested in helping CUR communicate the importance of undergraduate research to members of Congress are encouraged to apply to participate in the 2006 Posters on the Hill event. More information on the abstract submission process can be found on the CUR Web page (5).
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Any undergraduate conducting a research project that represents one of the CUR divisions (biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics/computer science, physics/astronomy, psychology, and social sciences) is invited to apply. Literature Cited 1. Mateja, J. A Visit to Capitol Hill. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly 1997, 17, 186–187. 2. Howard, D. R. Poster Sessions at Your State Capitol: Excellent Experiences and Lessons Learned. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly 1998, 19, 86–89. 3. Pukkila, P. J.; Whatley, K. M. Research in the State Capital: Helping your State Legislators Understand and Appreciate Higher Education. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly 2001, 22, 81–83. 4. Posters on the Hill Participant Briefing Materials: Your Presentation to Your Congressman. http://www.cur.org/poh/ yourpres.html (accessed Jun 2005). 5. Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill. http://www.cur.org/postersession.html (accessed Jun 2005).
Kerry K. Karukstis is a member of the Department of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711;
[email protected] Vol. 82 No. 9 September 2005
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