Undergraduate research celebrated at State Capitol

March 22, 2004
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Undergraduate research celebrated at State Capitol

ANN ARBOR—Students from the University of Michigan (Flint, Dearborn and Ann Arbor), Wayne State University and Michigan State University will celebrate undergraduate engagement in research at the first Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum at the State Capitol in Lansing March 31.

Fifty students from across the state of Michigan will showcase their research, ranging from the study of economic development in Detroit to clinical trials for breast cancer drugs. The event, which is 9 a.m.-2 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Posters will be set up in the Capitol Rotunda and there will be opportunities for state legislators to meet with the students and learn more about research and the vital role it plays in undergraduate education at Michigan’s universities. During the course of the day, students will meet individually with their state representatives.

U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, UM-Flint Chancellor Juan Mestas, UM-Dearborn Provost Robert Simpson, and Michigan State Provost Lou Anna Simon will speak about the vital role our research universities play in educating and training future researchers, teachers, policymakers, engineers, and corporate leaders. Their remarks will also highlight the important contributions university researchers are making to the quality of life and economic vitality of the State of Michigan. State Sen. Liz Brater and Rep. Chris Kolb are also scheduled to be among the speakers.

The U-Michigan-Ann Arbor students are current and former participants in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), said Sandra Gregerman, director of UROP.