UW-River Falls students presenting their research at Research in the Rotunda  were (L to R):  Sarah Degrotte, Dagan Hathaway, Alexandra Spaulding, Kate Vruwink, McKenzie Sobkowiak, and Jacquelyn Maher.

Six undergraduates showcase research at State Capitol

April 14, 2017--State legislators joined UW System and institutional leaders in welcoming 125 students and more than 50 faculty mentors to the State Capitol for the UW System’s 14th Annual Research in the Rotunda event April 12. Six students participated in the event from UW-River Falls.

“UW System institutions help develop the innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers of tomorrow. It is an honor to watch the students’ intellectual and academic growth, and these projects clearly demonstrate their problem-solving skills,” said UW System President Ray Cross. “The UW System has earned a national reputation as a leader in undergraduate research, which contributes to Wisconsin’s workforce and economic development. The research done by our students has the potential to inform public policy and influence decisions made by the private sector.”

Undergraduate students and their faculty advisers from across the 26 UW System campuses filled the Capitol rotunda to share their research findings on a variety of important topics with legislators, state leaders, UW alumni, and other supporters. The student research displayed at the Capitol extends well beyond the campuses. Students investigated real-life issues affecting Wisconsin citizens and communities, and many topics involved multiple years of study.

Students participating from UW-River Falls are listed along with their hometown and the title of their research:

Jacquelyn Maher of River Falls, “Baseline Inventory of Native Pollinating Insects atNew Biomonitoring Locations in Washburn County and Pierce County, Wisconsin.”

McKenzie Sobkowiak of Holmen, “Determining Fertility in the Mare Using Reproductive History, Age, Vulvar Conformation, Rectal Palpation, Ultrasonography, and the Results of Uterine Culture and Endometrial Biopsy.”

Alexandra Spaulding of Merrill, “Evaluation of Natural Background Concentration and Basin-Wide Non-Point Source Pollution of Phosphorus in the Kinnickinnic Subwatershed.”

Sarah Degrotte of River Falls, “Modeling Intestinal Tissue and Bacterial Microbiome Interactions: An Application of the Newly Developed “Histo-Genesis IV” Bioreactor System.”

Dagan Hathaway of Menomonie, “Testing Properties of Light and Bell’s Inequalities Using Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion.”

Kate Vruwink of Wisconsin Rapids, “Without a Roof:  A Journalistic Study of Homelessness Across Wisconsin.”

For more information about UW-River Falls participation in the event, email Professor Lissa Schneider-Rebozo, director of Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity, at elizabeth.schneider-rebozo@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3903.
 
For more information about the event in general, visit https://www.wisconsin.edu/research-in-the-rotunda/