A Publication of
The University of Montana
WINTER 2010
From Mice to Men
Damage-reducing stroke drug moving
to human trials
Voluntary Kin
Research studies friends who
become like family
Hot Topics
Native American Research Lab
hunts answers at the edge of life
Protein Picture
Research offers magic carpet ride
to the atomic level
undergraduate research conference
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Research View is published twice a year by the offices of the Vice President for Research and Development and University Relations at The University of Montana. Send questions, comments or suggestions to Cary Shimek, managing editor, 330 Brantly Hall, Missoula, MT 59812, or call 406-243-5914. Contributing editors and writers are Brianne Burrowes, Brenda Day, Rita Munzenrider, Jennifer Sauer and Allison Squires. The photographer is Todd Goodrich. Web design is by Shimek. For more information about UM research, call Judy Fredenberg in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Development at 406-243-6670.
RESEARCH
Campus to host major
undergraduate research conference
UM has accepted more than 2,500 abstract proposals for the 24th annual National Conference of Undergraduate Research, to be held on campus April 15-17, according to conference chair and chemistry Professor Garon Smith.
“Just because we’ve accepted them doesn’t mean we’ll get them to come, so this represents the highest possible number of presentations,” Smith says. “It’s worth noting, however, that some of these presentations involve more than one presenter … It’s going to be big.”
NCUR is the nation’s premier venue for undergraduate research. It typically boasts presenters from 45 states and 300 institutions. Besides traditional science topics and poster sessions, it includes fine arts, humanities and social science offerings such as student dancing, musical performances, plays and films. Presentations at this year’s NCUR range in topic from “Low Cost Solar Water Heating System Design and Comparison” to “The Rehabilitation of Former Child Soldiers in Africa: What Makes for a Successful Program?”
UM last hosted the conference in 2000, when 1,500 people attended. The event has grown in popularity since then, with 2,400 participating in the 2009 conference at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“There is hardly a better way to showcase your university than hosting NCUR,” Smith says. “If you want to highlight UM as a place where undergraduate research is a hallmark, this is the way to do it.”
He says the 2000 conference turned a profit, which funded a program that offers $1,500 grants to UM undergraduate research and humanities projects. The program is administered by the Davidson Honors College.
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