College students will get the chance to teach state leaders today about cutting edge research in areas ranging from aviation safety to hospital-based infections.
It's not simply what they're studying in their undergraduate courses, but rather their own research.
"I think they'll be surprised on how relevant some of this work is for the state of Ohio," said Chris Dunn, associate dean of the college of health and human services at Bowling Green State University.
Mr. Dunn and Thomas Kvale, director of the University of Toledo's office of undergraduate research, have organized the new event called "Posters at the Capitol: Undergraduate Research in Northwest Ohio."
About 40 students from UT, BGSU, the University of Findlay, and Bluffton University will take a bus today to Columbus, where they will present their posters explaining their research in the Statehouse atrium.
While legislators go to and from committee meetings, the students will be able to speak to them about their work. The students wrote to their local senators and representatives telling them they'll be there."I'm honored to do this. It's a tremendous opportunity," said Ryan Zeller, a UT senior studying physics. "I'm confident I'll be able to show them there is some solid work being done, and the research of under-graduates is a great experience and addition to the curriculum."
Mr. Zeller's research involves finding a better way to measure the thickness of films of layers of chemicals - specifically cadmium telluride and cadmium sulfide films put on pieces of glass to make photovoltaic arrays, which harness energy from sunlight.
The thickness of those chemicals are important to the effectiveness and currently cannot be measured until after the arrays are made in a high vacuum deposition chamber, Mr. Zeller explained.
His research looks at creating a laser system that would test the thickness while the arrays are being made in the chamber to get the exact levels.
"It's really bolstered my interest in this," Mr. Zeller said. "I didn't know I'd have such a responsibility and get in the environment and get my hands dirty, so to speak."
Putting the spotlight on undergraduate research in northwest Ohio was inspired by the national "Posters on the Hill" event of the Council on Undergraduate Research when projects are displayed at the U.S. Capitol.
Several states have successful local presentations as well.
Mr. Kvale approached the UT/BGSU office of research collaboration about coordinating the effort in the fall.
With the short notice, not all of the invited colleges and universities participated, but Mr. Kvale hopes the event will grow next year.
"This is a great opportunity for the students to go down and present their research and just say thanks for supporting the opportunity to be able to conduct meaningful research," he said.
Contact Meghan Gilbert at:
mgilbert@theblade.com
or 419-724-6134.
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