So You Want To Do Research...

Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi once said, “Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.” When I was looking at colleges to attend, research opportunities for undergraduates was one of my top priorities. I had done science fair projects throughout both middle high school—from dead snails to dying sunflowers—and was excited to expand my research horizons at a University (my parents were also excited to reclaim the dining room table and garage, both of which had been taken over by strange contraptions and even stranger smells).

 Throwback to tenth grade when I drilled a hole in the dining room table. Sorry, mom!

I was elated to find that over 60% of students at UVA are involved in research of some kind! While many consider research to be strictly for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, my short time at UVA has already revealed the plethora of research opportunities available to all majors—STEM or otherwise! UVA was awarded $285 million for research in 2015; of that, $187 million is from the federal government (“Research by the Numbers”, 2015). This total research is split between all schools and disciplines at UVA, with the majority (57%) going to the School of Medicine.

It would be almost impossible to list all of the research currently being conducted at the University. However, I can confirm from my research on research (*insert laughter*) that it is varied in scope and content. For instance, the Alderman Scholars’ Lab is combining technology and the humanities to conduct research into fields such as Art History, Classics, and English! Across Grounds, researchers at the Curry School of Education are analyzing various aspects of student-teacher interactions in addition to conducting research on sports injuries and exercise physiology. Furthermore, the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department has several projects currently underway with NASA.

The Alderman Scholars' Lab is an interdisciplinary study and research space available to all students

These are just several of the MANY projects being conducted at the University. For more information, feel free to check out UVA’s Center for Undergraduate Excellence, which has a plethora of information on various ways to get involved in research at UVA, as well UVA’s Office of the Vice President for Research. In keeping with UVA’s spirit of student self-governance, we also have several student-run organizations dedicated to the promotion of research, including several internal undergraduate research journals. The pinnacle organization is the Undergraduate Research Network, an umbrella group aimed at enriching the undergraduate research experience through workshops on how to get involved, grant writing assistance, and showcases for various student projects.

As for my personal experience with research at UVA, I have found professors are very receptive to undergraduate students who are interested in research. Like I said before, I knew coming in that I wanted to do research—however, I had no idea what field. I emailed a few different professors in various fields, expecting one or two to respond. I was thrilled when all responded, and even more so when they invited me to tour their labs! While I ended up only choosing one, the amount I learned talking to the different professors about their research is one of my favorite memories I have so far at UVA.

As one of my favorite teachers* once said, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” At UVA, research is the ultimate venue to do these things—to take a step out of your comfort zone and try something new and unfamiliar! We have a multitude of ways for you to get involved in research, no matter your experience, prior knowledge, year, or major—the only requirement is a willingness to learn and a passion for innovation. Who knows…you may make the next big discovery.

So what are you waiting for?

Catherine Pollack is a rising second year biomedical engineering and cognitive science double major. She has competed in science fairs around the country since sixth grade, including the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and International Sustainable World Energy, Environmental, and Engineering Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP). Her projects have varied in scope, including a three-year long analysis on various aspects of a Mediator-Less Microbial Fuel Cell. She has also recently been a judge at several Virginia regional and state science fairs. She is currently working with a team at the UVA Center for Applied Biomechanics. She loves talking about research, and would love to talk to you if you have any questions or concerns (her email is ccp3qz@virginia.edu).

*Does Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus count? I think so. J

Interdisciplinary Majors

Prospective students are typically familiar with the many academic disciplines and majors offered at UVa. However, interdisciplinary majors, which incorporate a variety of fields into their study, are somewhat of hidden gems at UVa. Unfamiliar to many prospective students, they afford students the opportunity to focus on an area of study that spans the breadth of multiple departments. Two of our interns are pursuing degrees in interdisciplinary programs, and will elaborate on their respective programs. Additionally, a full list of interdisciplinary majors can be found below.

Colby: Political Philosophy, Policy, & Law (PPL)

Coming into the University, I knew I wanted to major in Political Philosophy, Policy & Law (PPL for short).  This interdisciplinary major was part of the reasoning behind my decision to attend the University of Virginia.  Decision-making is not my biggest strength and therefore the opportunity to major in something that covers a range of disciplines was enticing.  Given its interdisciplinary make-up, PPL allows students to map out their track, using just about any subjects, ending in a thesis the spring of their fourth year.  There are two parts to the PPL major: Theoretical Foundations, which focuses on the philosophy behind law and decision-making and Policy & Law which is self-explanatory in its focus.  A few examples of the subjects covered by the PPL major are politics, philosophy, sociology, economics, and history.  

Considering I just (officially) declared my major this past semester, I will start taking classes specific to the PPL major this fall, but I have already taken many I enjoy that pertain to my major.  My favorite class that I have taken at the University so far is Commercial Law (both I and II) with Sherri Moore.  Aside from the class being incredibly informative whether you are interested in law or not, Professor Moore rocks and makes this class engaging and fun!  Even if you are not interested in Commerce or Law, Comm Law I teaches students their rights and much about the law that people ought to know in their everyday life.  There is something for everyone in this class and 10 out of 10 would recommend (at least in my humble opinion)!

Visit PPL’s website: http://ppl.virginia.edu//

Casey: Political and Social Thought (PST)

I originally came to the University intending to pursue a degree in Public Policy. However, after having the opportunity to engage with a variety of classes and areas of study, I became increasingly aware of the comprehensive nature of policy and the many fields that it encompasses. This awareness sparked my interest in Political and Social Thought, which allows students to study topics in the context of politics within several disciplines, primarily History, Politics, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Economics, and Media Studies, among others. Students participate in a year-long seminar in addition to studying three distinct areas of study of their choice. Students use these classes to explore a more specific topic or event in a thesis project in their fourth year, typically around 100 pages in length.

Since students apply to this program at the end of their second year, I have yet to take many of the classes that constitute the program. However, at this point in time, perhaps my favorite aspect of PST is its flexibility. As a student in the program, I have almost complete academic freedom, and with guidance from the program’s director, the ability and responsibility to shape my educational experience. This flexibility is perhaps best demonstrated in the wide variety of focuses of PST students, writing theses on anything from the role of American media in the Arab Spring to race dialogue in Charlottesville. Despite diversity in their academic interests, PST students all share passion for learning and leave the program with critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills, all of which I hope to benefit from during my academic career and beyond. 

Visit PST’s website: https://pages.shanti.virginia.edu/pst/

Interdisciplinary Majors, a complete list: African-American & African Studies; American Studies; Archaeology; Asian Pacific American Studies; Bioethics; Cognitive Science; Computer Science; East Asian Studies; Echols-Interdisciplinary; Environmental Thought and Practice; German Studies; Human Biology; Jewish Studies; Global Development Studies; Latin American Studies; Linguistics; Medieval Studies; Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies; Neuroscience; Political and Social Thought; Political Philosophy, Policy and Law; Media Studies; Women, Gender and Sexuality; and self-designed interdisciplinary major.

What You Need to Know About The English Major

Here's a picture of me demonstrating my love of English by sitting proudly on a throne of books. 

I've always loved reading and writing, so coming into college I knew I wanted to major in English. I was familiar with Shakespeare, Dickens, and the like, but I had no idea how many centuries of literature I'd have to cover in order to fulfill my major. When I read up on the English major, I was overwhelmed by the number of required courses and I didn't know where to begin so I just picked a course blindly: American Fictions taught by Stephen Railton. I absolutely loved the course and soon asked Professor Railton to be my advisor, but to those of you who'd like a little more direction than I had right off the bat, here are some fast facts about the English major:

• Before you declare your English major, you must do one of two things: either take one ENLT or ENGL 2000-level course OR take two upper-level English courses (3000-level or higher). I took an ENLT with Professor Railton called Contemporary American Drama in which the class read about eight different plays, writing two papers on any two productions of our choosing. Not only did I enjoy reading the plays, but watching select scenes in lecture offered a neat perspective to the written works that helped strengthen my arguments in my essays. 
• Of the 30 required credits in the English major, six must come from two "survey" courses: ENGL3810 (literature from the Anglo-Saxon era to 1800) and ENGL3820 (1800 - present). 
• You will also be required to take one course in literature before 1700. For this requirement I highly recommend the Shakespeare Courses taught each semester by Katherine Maus. Her lectures are incredibly interesting and Professor Maus's enthusiasm for her subject is contagious. I took the course offered last semester, Tragedies and Histories, and I recommend it to everyone - English majors and others! 
• Another requirement is a course in literature from 1700-1900. I took Eighteenth-Century Women Writers with Alison Hurley and loved it! The reading was pretty heavy, but Professor Hurley is a wonderful lecturer and grades pretty fairly. Also, there are plenty of opportunities to raise your grade if you don't do well on the papers because of weekly quizzes which are often open book! 

One of the greatest hidden gems within the English Department is UVa's Creative Writing program. I was looking for a way to continue non-academic writing in college and the Creative Non-fiction course I took last fall was the perfect place to do so! The course, taught by Sydney Blair, met once a week for two and a half hours - a seemingly long time, but the class always flew by. It was a workshop setting so each week we'd write one two-page paper on various topics (a childhood memory, an object, an art piece in UVa's Fralin Museum, and more) and take turns reading the works of our classmates. The class was only twelve students large so we all got really close and Professor Blair took us out to lunch on the last day of class! 

Looking for another space to practice writing outside of the classroom? Check out the Cavalier Daily, UVa's student newspaper. There are numerous literary sections including News, Lifestyle, Sports, Opinion, and Arts&Entertainment that are always looking for new writers and fresh ideas. If writing isn't for you, but you're still interested in joining the Cav Daily team, check out the graphics, production, or business staffs. 

No matter what your literary interests are, UVa is sure to have a lecture, seminar, workshop, or student organization to meet your needs! 

Have any questions? Shoot me an email at jes6av@virginia.edu and I'll be happy to tell you more about the English major and reading/writing opportunities on Grounds! 

The Studio Arts Major and Arts on Grounds!

Ify and a sculpture she made during her January term art course

              Coming into UVa, studio arts was the furthest thing from my mind, let alone photography. I had come straight from a boarding school in Nigeria and I was interested in being a doctor. I had no idea that I could combine my second interest, art, in my college career.

              My path in studio arts started this way: I was frantically trying to fill my schedule with courses during my first year and someone mentioned that "Introduction to Drawing" was a good class to take. I decided to go with it.

              It was a great class and the professor was very informative and helpful. Based on my awesome experience, on a whim, I decided to take a photography class. Side note, for any concentration in a major in studio arts, you have to take a drawing class first (whether it’s a major in painting, sculpture, photography, and so on). 

             From one photography class, it became two then three. I decided in my third year that I would major in Studio Arts with a concentration in Photography.

Something great about UVa’s studio arts major, is that they require you to take classes in other artistic concentrations in order to complete the major. The department wants its’ students to be well rounded regardless of concentration. I myself have taken new media courses, cinematography courses and a sculpture course. All very interesting and worthwhile.

               Another cool thing about the major, is what 4^th years do for their “thesis”. A studio art major’s thesis is creating an exhibition based on their concentration. This would mean, that next Spring, I would have to create my own exhibition using photographs (since that is my concentration). I am given total reigns over my exhibition. This includes framing, location and so on.

All graduating studio art majors exhibit their theses in the art building, Ruffin Hall. These include sculptures, paintings, printmaking, anything and everything you can possibly think of.

               Unfortunately, the Arts community (including Drama) at UVa is not only physically separate from central grounds, most people do not know much about the arts program at UVa and art throughout the Charlottesville community. Strides, however, have been taken to tighten this gap between art and the student body. The Arts Council (a subset of the Uva student council), run by UVa’s students, email events to the student body about artistic events and opportunities not only on Grounds, but in Charlottesville. There are also plenty of art clubs to get involved with at UVa.

Even if you choose not the major in Studio Arts, there are still plenty of ways to get involved with the Arts at Uva. I encourage everyone to take at least one art class. It is definitely worth it!

             To find out more about the studio arts major, as well as the UVa arts in general, here are some great websites to check out:

The Studio Arts Major
UVa Arts and Events

The Arts Council

How About a Date with a Good Book?: Academic research in UVa's Libraries

One of the summer interns, Tyler Cox in front of Alderman Library

In the first semester of my first year, I took a class called “Crusades” taught by Professor Komornicka in the Corcoran Department of History. I came into the University of Virginia thinking that I was going to become an English major, but this class completely changed that. This is the class that really sparked an interest in change for me and allowed me the opportunity to shift my sails and pursue a double major in Medieval Studies and Religious Studies.

My favorite thing about studying at UVA is writing research papers and the process that goes into it. For the class on the Crusades, we had numerous different assignments that opened up opportunities for research using the UVA library system. The first step for me was to use the Virgo search database and the library stacks to find related sources to build a thesis.

“In the beginning phases of research, my curiosity was fixated on solidifying the textual history behind “The Saga of Sigurd the Crusader” which was featured in The Crusades: A Reader. The authors of this text, S.J. Allen and Emilie Amt, cited Thomas Wright’s Early Travels in Palestine, that was published in 1848, as their source material. Naturally, I wanted to find this source and after much determination I found the book on Virgo and pulled it from its dusty slumber inside Alderman, our main library. Gently taking it out of its protective box, the awe overtook me. Looking under “Contents” I quickly found “The Saga of Sigurd the Crusader, A.D. 1107-1110.” I flipped to the corresponding, delicate pages and immediately looked for Wright’s source. Under the title he writes “From the Heimskringla, or Chronicle of the Kings of Norway, By Samuel Laing, Esq.” Continuing my quest for the most precise origin I began researching background information on Heimskringla and Samuel Laing. Through the UVA Virgo resource I discovered a more direct English translation from 1844 without the editing by Mr. Wright. The original Heimskringla was written in Icelandic by Snorri Sturluson in c. 1225.

From 1225, to English in 1844, being edited in 1848, to the 2010 edition assigned for this course it is evident that “The Saga of Sigurd the Crusader” evolved over time. The version in our textbook has been revised from the 1848-edited version. Sections were taken out and an even more positive light was shed on the crusades to construct the edition we have used in our classroom setting. It does appear that the revisions that Allen and Amt made continue this idea to propagandize the crusades.”

After completing this tedious sleuthing, I decided to write my report on the bias that was evident as this Saga was passed down and translated from the medieval era to present day. This is just one narrative of how the University of Virginia library system allows students to really go into depth with their studies and explore the huge selection and variety of sources. Whatever your area of study is, there is opportunity for research in one of our 16 libraries. Find you niche, find your passion, and experience discovery!

-Tyler Cox

Boredom is Impossible: Things To Do in Charlottesville

Charlottesville in the summer has a much different vibe than when school is in session. The Grounds are less bustling, libraries are virtually empty, parking is easier, and things are all around a lot quieter. However, having fewer students around doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. This summer the UVa Admissions Office interns are taking advantage of all the things there are to do in Charlottesville – revisiting favorite activities we’ve done with friends during the school year and doing some extra adventuring around town to places we haven’t checked out before.

This week the interns went to trivia night at Mellow Mushroom, a popular pizza joint located at the end of the Corner, a lively area full of shops and restaurants that’s always packed when students are around. Not only is Mellow known for its uniquely named and tasting pizzas, but also for its Wednesday night trivia, an incredibly popular event for UVa students – this activity has even landed on the UVa bookstore’s “Things to To Before You Graduate List”!

When we got to Mellow, it was already pretty crowded with customers chatting and eating and preparing their trivia teams. We ordered and then set out to create a team named based off of the theme of the night – non-princess Disney characters. Although we were far from winning the coveted $50 gift card at the end of the night, we had an absolute blast and are already planning our comeback next week.

However, trivia is far from the only thing to do in Charlottesville whether you’re here for the school year or for the summer as well. Here’s a list of some of our favorite (and FREE!!) Charlottesville activities:

Strawberry picking at Chiles Orchard

The rural areas surrounding Charlottesville are absolutely gorgeous and you don’t have to drive far to find great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and, even better, great food. Chiles orchard is only a 20-minute drive from Grounds and has rows upon rows of fresh strawberries and peaches for visitors to pick. If handpicking the fruit yourself isn’t for you, the Chiles Orchard store sells fresh fruits already boxed for sale as well as their famous strawberry cinnamon donuts!

Carter Mountain Apple Orchard

 Ok, I promise Charlottesville has more to offer than just really good fruit, but Carter Mountain is a famous destination for students and families alike. With hay rides, numerous apple flavors, great views, and mouth-watering cider donuts, this orchard is one of a kind and a wonderful place to visit year round. During the summer and early fall, the orchard stays open til 9:00, allowing visitors to dine on the mountaintop and listen to music as part of Carter Mountain’s Sunset Series (the interns are already planning a trip next week!)

Hiking Humpback Mountain

Did I mention the mountains? There are so many great hiking trails located around Charlottesville, but the most popular for UVa students is Humpback Mountain. This short hike is about 20 minutes from Grounds and offers a spectacular view from the summit. Most students hike Humpback in the wee hours of the morning to catch the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Fridays after 5

The downtown mall is always bustling with activity, but one of the most popular events for students and locals is Fridays after 5. Every Friday, starting around 5:30, the downtown mall offers free concerts at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion, delicious meals from food truck vendors, and even a few discounts and specials at shops nearby. This is an awesome event to attend with friends or family and whether you choose to stop by for only a few minutes or stay and enjoy the music and vendors you’re sure to have a good time!

The Farmer’s Market

Haven’t had enough of downtown Charlottesville? Come back Saturday mornings for the farmer’s market, a neat event where local vendors fill the parking lots outside of the downtown mall and sell everything from flowers to omelets to jewelry to woodwork to baked goods. The market is always full of students and locals and is a great place to get brunch or find unique gifts. The mall is just a couple miles from grounds so it’s not uncommon to see students walking there or taking the free trolley!

IX Art Park

Located a stone’s throw from the downtown mall, the IX Art Park is a really neat area where creativity meets innovation. Local artists create interactive projects that are completely open to the public. The most recent attractions at the park include a two-person bike in which the riders sit side-by-side, musical pipes, a throne built out of books, a chalk wall, and an enormous mural. It’s easy to get lost in everything the park offers for an hour or two, and no matter which project you choose to engage with, be sure to take a picture!!

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Like I said before, there are so many things to do in Charlottesville year round and these are only a few of the most popular and cheapest options. Check out the UVa Admissions Office intern Instagram, @uva_summer, to find more pictures of us exploring the town this summer!