Last spring, UWRF student Angela Ludvigsen, a senior majoring in physics and mathematics, shared her project "Whispering Gallery Modes Used to Determine the Changing Size of Levitated Aerosol Droplets in a Fluctuating Optical Trap."

Undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activities showcased

December 1, 2016 – The public is invited to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2016 Fall Gala, an annual showcase event to celebrate the research, scholarly and creative activities of more than 150 undergraduates, on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 5-7:30 p.m. in the Riverview Ballroom of the University Center. Stop in anytime as your schedule allows during the free, child-friendly event.

Interested in seeing a dissecting microscope used for the study of live cancer cells? How about viewing an innovative new saddle mount or taste the honey from hives studied by student researchers interested in rearing honey bee queens and creating sentinel apiaries? Undergraduates from all disciplines have been involved in innovative research in subjects ranging from piglet health to GIS mapping to cutting-edge cancer research.

Students present their work at the URSCA Fall Gala through interactive displays, research posters, slide shows, short films, and art exhibits, in a lively and content-rich environment. Student-made cheeses and sausage from Falcon Foods will be available for sampling along with other refreshments.

Throughout the year, UW-River Falls fosters the development of student research skills through trainings and workshops; grant funding to conduct and present research; and local, state, and national dissemination opportunities. Regularly scheduled trainings include workshops on research ethics, grant and proposal writing, research budgets, presentation skills, and research poster design.

UWRF undergraduates are encouraged to present their work at other state and national venues such as Research in the Rotunda in Madison, UW System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (at the University of Memphis in 2017), and at a wide range of discipline-specific conferences.

"UW-River Falls has long been recognized for the exceptional strength of its undergraduate research programming and opportunities, and we remain state and national leaders in this area," said Lissa Schneider-Rebozo, URSCA director.

The URSCA Fall Gala is a clear demonstration of the university's commitment to fostering hands-on learning and creative inquiry as early as a student's freshman year of college, Schneider-Rebozo said.

For more information, call the URSCA Office at 715-425-3902 or visit https://www.uwrf.edu/URSCA/FallGala.cfm.

Recognized as one of the Midwest's Best Universities by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is located in a scenic community just 30 miles from downtown St. Paul, Minn. UW-River Falls students are empowered, beginning in their first year, to participate in undergraduate research, study abroad, and collaborative learning with award-winning and caring faculty. UW-River Falls partners with leading businesses and non-profit organizations to conduct research, offer student internships, and serve as an economic engine for western Wisconsin.