In an effort to cultivate student interest in undergraduate research, the Walsh Exchange, the Carroll Round, the School of Nursing and Health Studies Undergraduate Research Conference, and the Undergraduate Research Symposium will be consolidated into “Research Week,” which will run from March 29 to April 9.
“We want to celebrate research on campus and build a community,” said co-chair of the Symposium Chandani Desai (COL ’15). “We think it’s a valuable experience to communicate [research] to an audience that isn’t familiar with the topic.”
The NHS Undergraduate Research Conference, now in its twelfth year, invites students to present health and science research. Since its establishment in 2002, the conference has expanded to include research from students in the NHS, the College, the School of Foreign Service, and the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus.
The Walsh Exchange also aims to promote underclassman involvement with research in international relations. “We hope that knowledgeable students and scholars will attend our conference … but our main goal is to get people who are curious about research but don’t quite know what it entails to come and see what’s it’s all about,” said co-chair of the Walsh Exchange Chloe Krawczyk (SFS ’15).
The Carroll Round focuses on political and international economic research. While the other conferences are geared towards Georgetown undergraduate research, the Carroll Round prioritizes partnering with other universities. This year, the conference will receive students from various schools, including Princeton, Yale, The London School of Economics, and the Stockholm School of Economics.
“I think the Carroll Round is an excellent way for students to be exposed to research on campus, and it is unfortunate that more students do not have the opportunity to get involved,” said chair Heather Hedges (SFS ’15).
The Undergraduate Research Symposium, sponsored by GUSA and the Office of the Provost, was established last year under the Gustafson/Kohnert-Yount GUSA Administration in reaction to the challenges facing undergraduate research such as difficulty recruiting freshmen and sophomores without prior research experience. The Symposium will include research from all four schools and a variety of disciples in order to appeal to a wider audience.
According to the Provost’s Office, further efforts need to be made to highlight undergraduate research as vital at Georgetown.
“We need to do more to organize, support and promote undergraduate research as a core practice,” wrote Vice Provosts Janet Mann and Randy Bass, and Assistant for Academic Affairs Sonia Jacobson, in an email to the Voice. “Many students are unaware of how they can become involved. We need to get the word out.”
While the research events aim to promote undergraduate involvement, many challenges remain for students seeking to become involved in the research process.
“I do think that some of the biggest challenges are getting involved and … actually developing ownership and independence over one’s own research project,” said Victor Wang (SFS ‘15), chair of the Student Planning Committee of the NHS Undergraduate Research Conference. “There are so many opportunities, but students need to simply open their eyes and ears, ask questions and use all available resources at their disposal.”
