Student Research to Be Celebrated
August 08, 2007 - News Release
"How did you spend your summer vacation?" is a typical question asked of returning University of Guelph students. This year, at least 90 undergraduates will have similar responses: "I was conducting research!"
The students are all part of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) summer undergraduate research program. They've spent the past few months working as research assistants in U of G laboratories and field settings.
Their academically supervised projects range from gene isolation and canola breeding to trout management.
"These awards are intended to stimulate undergraduate students' interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering," said Prof. Peter Pauls of the Department of Plant Agriculture, who is U of G's NSERC representative and acting associate dean (academic) of the Ontario Agricultural College.
They are also meant to get students interested in pursuing graduate studies and the world of research, creating the next generation of Canada’s researchers, said Pauls.
The students make important contributions to campus research projects during their summer stints, he said. Those contributions will be celebrated Thursday with a special event at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre from 2 to 4 p.m. It's open to the University community and to the general public.
The event is also an opportunity to highlight the students' individual research projects, which span a wide range of campus departments. Electronic images of the students' work will be projected on the walls of the gallery, accompanied by music.
The students have been invited to attend the celebration with a family member or friend. Their supervisors, department chairs and deans are also invited.
Contact:
Prof. Peter Pauls
Department of Plant Agriculture
519 824-4120, Ext. 52460
ppauls@uoguelph.ca
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338 or Deirdre Healey, 519-824-4120, Ext. 56982.
