The research projects of 354 undergraduate students will be on display today at the 12th annual Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.
The Denman is designed to showcase research done by undergraduate students at Ohio State and helps to recognize their contributions.
Today's event is a cooperative effort of the Honors & Scholars Center, Office of Undergraduate Research, Office of Research and Office of University Development.
"Needless to say, everyone in our office is very excited about the Denman Forum," said Allison Snow, director of the Undergraduate Research office. "It's a really huge celebration of all the fascinating research that the students have done with their mentors and that work takes place outside of regular courses."
Snow said students who compete in the Denman are also able to receive very strong letters of recommendation for graduate school and job applications.
At the forum, students present their research with posters and visual aids, and must answer questions from three judges, who are volunteer members of the faculty. Students are judged on clarity, knowledge of the subject matter and poise in answering questions.
Last year, Genna Duberstein, a senior in Spanish, won first place in humanities for her Denman presentation on the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. She said she enjoyed having the ability to present her research, because research becomes a labor of love and it can be exciting to talk about.
"I think any opportunity to explain what you're researching to other people is a good one," Duberstein said, "Research is about finding new knowledge and sharing that knowledge with other people."
Duberstein said the experience of Denman was a great close-to-home opportunity and allowed students to show what they have learned.
Elaine Yeh, a junior in biology, spent two years researching a new class of cancer agent drugs. Her research detailed the effects of the medications on the body and harnessed how to obtain only positive effects.
"It's great to let other people know what I've done," Yeh said, "I'll be able to bring it to a level that everyone understands, and that's the point."
Yeh is a veteran of the 2006 Denman and allotted the experience equally enjoyable.
"We are proud that OSU has held this event each year since 1996 to recognize the terrific contributions of undergrad research in the arts, humanities, sciences and professional schools," Snow said. "It is a nationally-known undergraduate forum, and everyone on campus is welcome to attend."
Judging is open to the public at the French Field House from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, visit denman.osu.edu.
Ashley Bass can be reached at bass.77@osu.edu.
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