End-of-summer exhibit at UWL gives students a chance to show results of research projects

If you’ve attended school fairs where kids show off their classroom science projects, college students do the same thing, but at a much higher level.

Students at UW-La Crosse put results of their own summer science research on display, at a campus event on Thursday. The summer research symposium highlighted the work of nearly 40 UWL students, in psychology, exercise, and a broad range of sciences.

Assistant dean Whitney George from the College of Science and Health says the visual displays designed by students called attention to research at a variety of levels.

“They’re delving into research, both undergraduate and graduate, with a mentor,” said George, “often times coming up with original results that’ll be published, so it’s a good starting place. Some of these students are brand new to research, and some of these students have been doing research for multiple years.”

While many of the projects were on scientific topics, some explored social science. Psychology major Sayla Hernandez studied systemic racism in the workplace, and showed how a college in Georgia attempted to practice diversity, without much success. Hernandez says the college was “trying to…show diversity in their ads, or catalog.” However, “they just ended up reinforcing stereotypes, and reflecting ongoing organizational power imbalances, despite their efforts to diversify.”

One display at the symposium described research on how PFAS chemicals can disrupt the immune systems of fish. Students also displayed results of research into the effect sugary drinks can have on your body after you exercise, and how light pollution at night can disturb the sleep patterns of butterflies.