On Sept.16 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Bartels Alumni Lounge over fifty University of New Haven students gathered to present research they conducted throughout the summer as part of the Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program.
(Photo by Karina Krul/Charger Bulletin photo)
The summer research was laid out on posters that lined the whole room, catching the attention of both faculty and students who were perusing the research while enjoying provided refreshments.
The event was a huge success, showcasing the hard work and dedication of the student participates while capturing the high academic standard held and met at UNH.
The SURF program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct hands-on research under the guidance of a faculty member.
They remain on campus all summer and work on their own research questions. Eventually they get the opportunity to present their research as well as the potential to be published as an undergraduate.
Along with the experience, SURF offers participants a $3,000 stipend as well as a budget for all needed materials. These benefits attract many undergraduate students to the program, explaining the growth the program has undergone since its start. SURF began in 2007 with only fourteen participants, since then it has had over two hundred participants.
The program, along with the students, was showcased during the university’s SURF presentations.
The SURF presentations allow for students to showcase their hard work and take pride in their accomplishments. It also gives students the opportunity to learn about their field and themselves, especially when things do not go as planned.
Sophomore Nate Lanning says “Sometimes it’s more fun when research doesn’t work out, it gave me the experience of a lifetime.”
The world is not perfect and the SURF program allows students to gain experience in the real world environment before they even graduate college.
The research always turns out differently than expected and the students take great pride in showcasing their finished product with the bumps ironed out.
The program itself aids undergraduate students in their everyday lives as well as their professions, Lanning even says “It definitely helped me grow up.”
The students who participate learn to manage their own time and take responsibility for their own research, giving them an advantage in the real world.
The SURF presentations captured the educational and mature atmosphere fostered within the University of New Haven and the dedication and pride students have in their work.
