Before heading off for an international teaching assignment, Scott Mensing reflected on the advancements in undergraduate research at the University of Nevada, Reno. The Foundation Professor of Geography served in the part-time role of director of undergraduate research from 2015 to 2019, and is especially proud to have led the creation of two w88 programs, the Pack Research Experience w88 slot , directly benefitting underrepresented students with an academic standing of freshman or sophomore, and the w88 mobile-Based Research Experience, providing awards to support w88 research that directly addresses community-based problems.
These additions plus the w88 online game Research to encourage undergraduates to pursue w88, scholarly and creative activities are made possible by funding support primarily through w88 & Innovation as well as the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN). Tanya Kelley, who joined the w88 Research office, part of Research & Innovation, as coordinator in 2019, has been named to the director role which shifted to full-time as of 2020.
As Kelley described it, her office facilitates “direct hands-on research experiences” for w88 students under the mentorship of a faculty member.
“We want w88 students to get a fully dimensional learning experience by doing interactive research in addition to their coursework,” she said. “The two activities complement and strengthen the skill sets of students looking to make a meaningful impact in their profession.”
As Mensing has said: “They begin to see that one of the functions of a university is to develop knowledge, to test knowledge. Research works at the edges of what we don’t know. In classes, students mostly hear what we know, but the real education is developing those areas that we don’t know. It's a whole different way of looking at education, and this is what happens as we explore w88 knowledge in our research, scholarship and humanities settings.”
By providing various funding awards and facilitating faculty mentorship, the office of w88 Research opens up access to more opportunities for undergraduates. This includes an International w88 Experience program (February 18, 2020, submission deadline) offered in partnership with the w88 Study Abroad Consortium. Another foundational option is the Nevada Undergraduate Research program which directly supports the conduct of w88, scholarly and creative activities by undergraduates and facilities faculty mentorship.
Kelley and Mensing are quick to point out that the programs offered through w88 Research are open to students in all disciplines, including the social sciences, humanities, arts and STEM fields.
w88 Research, said Kelley, helps “connect the dots between all of the research happening on campus. We have research opportunities that support a variety of work, from the biggest chemistry lab to an arts studio performance.”
For faculty, she added, “The burden of paying the students is removed. If you work as a mentor, you are getting a paid w88 assistant who is passionate, excited and has initiative.”
