UW-River Falls students attend the 2010 ‘Posters in the Rotunda’ event in Madison.

From left is Bryan Bodrog, Rep. Kitty Rhoades, Brittany Lee, Samantha Jakel (a UW-Madison student collaborator on the UWRF Ice Cube project), Drew Anderson, Kyle Jero, and Ted Cannady.

Seven UW-River Falls students attended the seventh annual “Posters in the Rotunda” event at the Capitol Rotunda in Madison on May 5 to share their original research with legislators and other state leaders.

These students joined more than 100 University of Wisconsin System undergraduates from all 26 UW System campuses at the Capitol. State leaders had the opportunity to view poster presentations of the research projects, speak with students and faculty mentors to learn more about how high impact undergraduate research enriches the educational experience.

Students attending from UWRF include:

Bryan Bodrog, a senior psychology major from Hudson, presented his poster, “A Comparison of the Attitudes, Education Experience, and Engagement of Military Veterans and Nonveteran College Students.”

Kyle Jero, a senior mathematics and physics major from Marshfield, presented his poster, “The Oden Ice Breaker Calibration Cruise: Extending the Icetop Array for Solar Study.”

Jennie Maciosek a senior majoring in political science from Stillwater, Minn., presented her poster titled: “Do Specific References and Words Matter to the Public? State of the Union Addresses and Presidential Job Approval Rating.”

Brittany Lee, a senior animal science and biology major from Chatfield, Minn., presented her poster, “Modeling Complex Cervical Carcinoma Cell-Derived Structures in 3D ‘Artificial Tissue’ Cultures.” Brittany also represented the UWRF TCIC in presenting a poster for Victor Piazza, who was attending the Bio2010 International Convention in Chicago.

Victor Piazza, a post-graduate student with a degree in biotechnology from UWRF, had his poster,“Tissue and Cellular Characterization of Long-Term Cardiac Artificial Tissues Cultured in 3D Using Natural ECM Materials.” presented by lab partner Brittany Lee.

Ted Cannady a senior agriculture business major from Milwaukee, presented his poster, “Analysis of Estimated Costs and Investment Feasibility of Transitioning to an Ellepot Production System.”

Jennifer Haug, a senior TESOL major from Manitowoc, presented her poster, “2009 UWRF Climate Change Survey, co-authored by Jonathan Lyksett, and Cory Heaton.

As the UW System works to increase the number of graduates by 30 percent over the next 15 years, many campuses are expanding opportunities for undergraduate research as one way to boost retention and graduation rates. Considered a “high impact practice,” this kind of experience has been demonstrate to enhance student success in college, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement.

More information on the event, including a list of all participating students, is available at http://www.wisconsin.edu/posters.