PURE research
PURE research awards keep undergrads learning
By Meghan Sired
The number of undergraduate students interested in conducting research projects outside the classroom is on the rise. This year, 176 students—46 more than last year—applied for a PURE award, a program that gives undergrads the opportunity to study alongside top University of Calgary researchers during the summer.
PURE—Programs for Undergraduate Research Experience—was implemented in 2006 as a way to encourage undergraduates to apply for graduate studies and undertake careers in research and teaching. The students’ research is a full-time commitment, fulfilled between May and August.
“The U of C has long realized the importance of experiential learning and PURE is a tangible example of how undergraduate students can be actively involved in their learning through engagement in substantive research projects,” says Rose Goldstein, vice-president (research).
“The best way to learn how to write research proposals, seek research funding, report results and gain discipline-specific skills is by doing it first-hand. This is especially important for students who plan to pursue graduate studies.”
Five of those students share their thoughts about their upcoming summer work.
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Owen ThelwellCombine a handful of moss from a hanged thief’s skull, a pinch of powdered newts’ teeth and a drop of blood from a sword victim’s cut and you get an eerie research project packed full of magical thoughts. “The evolution of human thought is an amazingly intricate puzzle that is really exciting to ponder,” says first-year English major Owen Thelwall. The 22-year-old’s PURE research project will focus on an old magical healing potion attributed to Paracelsus, a Swiss physician who lived in the early 1500s. Called the weapon-salve, a paste made from these ingredients was applied to the blade that made the cut, and was said to heal the wound.
“Over time questions did arise about how the salve worked and these spawned intense discussions among natural philosophers of the 16th and 17th centuries,” said Thelwall, who plans to unravel the complex assumptions that underlie the opposing sides of this debate. |
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Christina YangKnowing that diabetes has appeared in many generations of Christina Yang’s family helps one understand why the 20-year-old is so interested in learning about the diabetic brain. With the help of this year’s PURE award, Yang hopes to further her understanding of the development of cognitive and pathological changes in the brains of those suffering from Type I and Type 2 diabetes. “This work is important clinically due to the increasing incidences of diabetes across North America, an illness that can lead to a number of other problems, like neuropathy,” said Yang, a second-year Faculty of Science student.
“There is a huge opportunity to learn—and make mistakes—without the pressure of having to know everything already,” said Yang. “All the while, this research allows me to get a head start on exploring what I am really interested in studying after graduation.” |
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John LagascaJohn Reuben Lagasca hopes to gain a better understanding of the properties of ethylene, which has many industrial applications including being used as a hormone, insulation and cable sheathing. Lagasca, 19, will investigate this type of polymer by analyzing how the substance responds to heating and cooling. His research findings may have far-reaching effects since ethylene is the most produced organic compound in the world.
“My research will show clear tangible proof that the theory I learned in class has special and direct application in industry,” said Lagasca, a second-year chemical engineering student who emigrated from the Philippines in 2001. |
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Anthony ScottBy learning more about Buddhism, Anthony Robert Scott wants to obtain a greater understanding of Asian philosophy and the role of religion in contemporary culture. “This research adds another dimension to my academic experience and prepares me for turning my undergraduate experience into a life-time career,” said Scott, 22, who will graduate in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts. Scott’s PURE research is a union of philosophy and religious studies. He will focus on areas where Chan and Zen Buddhism converge and diverge, including meditation practices, religious ceremonies, philosophical positions and the interaction with society as a whole.
After graduation, Scott plans to pursue a master’s degree in Indian philosophy from the University of Poona, in India, and a master’s in Buddhist studies from the University of Hong Kong. Currently he is in China as part of a U of C exchange program. |
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Julie MartindaleAs part of her PURE project, Julie Martindale will participate in an archaeological dig to help her understand how trade with other cultures helps shape—or destroy—a society. The 22-year-old’s research will focus on early trade relations between Ecuador and Nicaragua. “If I can answer some questions about trade, I can determine how much energy went into the collection of goods for trade. I may also be able to determine the social status between cultures,” she says. “This research is important as it would help determine if there was trade between Ecuador and Nicaragua in pre-Hispanic times.” The dig is directed by Geoffrey McCafferty, a U of C professor of archaeology. Martindale will also be basing her research on the work of U of C archaeology professor Richard Callaghan.
After graduating with a BA in archaeology and a minor in Greek and Roman studies, Martindale plans on pursuing a master’s in underwater archaeology where she would like to study the cargo of shipwrecks. |