The Olentangy River really isn’t very pleasant. Its tributaries are contaminated with fecal bacteria from local septic systems.
That’s what research from Vanessa Burrowes indicated Wednesday at Ohio State’s 15th Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.
Burrowes was one of more than 540 students who presented research at the annual event designed to showcase undergraduate students doing research.
“There’s so much fabulous research being done, and a lot of times you only know what’s happening in your own department,” said Vicki Pitstick, the Honors Center program manager and a Denman organizer.
President E. Gordon Gee echoed her sentiments in the awards ceremony.
“You are a collective force of nature, a scarlet and gray army and an important part of one of this nation’s greatest universities,” he said.
During the awards ceremony, 60 projects were recognized and given prizes totaling $20,000.
Awards were given for projects including “Electroacoustic Instrument Control” by Nathaniel Hartman, “Nanofiber Growth” by Justin Bennett and “Wonder Woman” by Kati McGinnis.
Each project was evaluated for awards by at least three judges. Judging criteria included poster presentation, oral presentation and research achievement.
More than 350 faculty judges participated at the event, said Wayne Carlson, the dean of undergraduates.
Awards were also given to Charles Massey Jr. and Janet Weisenberger, who have advised students for each of the Denman’s 15 years.
Many students emphasized how helpful and educational professors had made their undergraduate research experience.
Andrew DeLong, a fourth-year in speech and hearing science, emphasized the educational value of the Denman.
“I’ve never presented at a research forum before,” he said. “Gaining that experience and being able to talk about what I’ve learned is nice.”
