At some universities, research is primarily
the domain of graduate students.
At the University of San Diego, undergraduate
research is not only encouraged, it is flourishing.
USD created Research Week to recognize the
hard work of our students and faculty, and
it has rapidly become a campus tradition.
Each April, the Creative Collaborations Undergraduate
Research Conference is a showcase of student-faculty
research, scholarship, and creative work.
Chemistry professor Mitch Malachowski has
involved large numbers of of undergraduates
in a variety of research projects over the
years.
Dr. Malachowski, its great to have you with
us today.
Thank you for having me.
Last year I had the chance to attend, and
there were wonderful projects that were presented.
What should we expect this year?
More disciplines, more students, more faculty,
we've even had to split it into two days,
its become so popular.
But it started with chemistry, biology, and
physics and the sciences, and now its expanded
into all disciplines at the university, with
business students involved, we have social
science students, philosophers, English folks,
any discipline you can imagine will have representation,
and not only representation, but amazingly
insightful work.
Research would demonstrate that the benefits
for our students are just remarkable when
they have this undergraduate research experience.
What are the benefits in your eyes for our
students?
To me, what really matters most is the student
becomes a practitioner.
That my chemistry students stop
thinking "I'm reading chemistry books, and
I'm just sort of in the chemistry world."
They think of of themselves as being a chemist,
and a political scientist thinks, "I'm a political scientist."
Or "I'm a philosopher," "I'm a writer," and
that's the place where they then can explode.
They really internalize it and become part
of the entire enterprise.
It's fabulous when you see it happen.
Is there any one project that excites you
the most this year, or a couple that you're
really looking forward to hearing?
To me, the ones that are most exciting frankly
are not the chemistry ones, I love the chemistry
ones, I love the science ones.
Its the folks who are really pushing this
area in English, and in natural languages,
and in philosophy and even my favorites in
theology and religious studies, so you'll
see that whole broad range of projects at
Creative Collaborations.
Its just so much fun.
I think the other part about research that
people forget is most of us do it because
its so much fun.
There's the great things, and students get
that pleasure too.
That to me is amazingly valuable for them.
Well, your enthusiasm is contagious, and thank
you so much for spending time with me today.
Thanks for having me.
Thanks for watching, and go Toreros.
