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Spring 2007 Madison
Undergrad research takes heart, brains and stamina
U.S. News and World Report's recognition of the quality of JMU's undergraduate research offerings inspires this issue's focus on the lives of students who choose to conduct and learn research with a faculty mentor.
While JMU President Linwood H. Rose and College of Science and Mathematics Dean David Brakke make compelling intellectual cases for the vital role of undergrduate research at JMU, a more personal treatment beginning on Page 32 helps demonstrate just how much heart--as well as brains--go into an undergraduate's research.
Biology department head Louise Temple allowed Madison to follow several of her undergraduate researchers throughout the fall semester as they conducted their research into the poultry pathogen, Bordetella avium. These three--Brook, Seth and Alexis--welcomed a Madison writer and photographer fully into their lives outside of the lab--their other academic obligations, service projects, paid jobs, intramural sports, social lives, etc.
The commitment and enthusiasm of these students is readily apparent. For instance, Alexis explains that she opted to give up sleep when a professor counseled her to choose between undergraduate research and debate--one or the other--because of the vast time and energy required by each.
The students' mentors, Temple and post-doc Nathan Beach, are contributing to a research blog along with additional students who continue their pursuit of the elusive bacteriophage that feeds on B. avium.
The U.S. News recognition also mentioned creative projects in the same breath with undergraduate research. Anyone who understands the scientific mind knows that creativity is an integral part of the scientist's process of inquiry and discovery. On balance, in this issue, Madison also showcases another, more traditional side of creativity with the introduction of some student and alumni works of art and literature.
"Expressions" will be a standing department and will welcome submissions of art, photography, poetry, and (very) short fiction by students, professors, alumni and parents.
As always, the Madison staff invites you to express yourself. Please send a letter, an article, an idea, even a poem.
Pam Brock
Editor
Spring 2007 Madison
Ready for download
Download the pdfs to the Spring 2007 issue of Madison, the university magazine for alumni, parents, friends and the campus community. Find the table of contents on Pages 2 and 3. It’s your guide to the entire issue.