Research Publications

Pinnacles and Pillars

 Michael Turner

 Indiana University of South Bend not only supplies the community at large with graduates that will be tomorrow’s business leaders, educators, social workers, artists, scientists, and politicians—it also produces significant scholarly achievements, the pinnacles of which are showcased in the annual Undergraduate Research Journal, and engaged by others at the Undergraduate Research Conference.

After a five year hiatus, the Undergraduate Research Journal and Undergraduate Research Conference reemerged in 2008, and has not only continued—but grown—ever since!  The Undergraduate Research Journal at Indiana University South Bend has the mission to be an interdisciplinary undergraduate journal that encourages responsible academic forum by propelling the exchange of diverse, novel ideas pioneered through undergraduate research.

A reflection by professor of political science, Dr. Jamie Smith, on the Journal and the Conference:

Outlets such as the Undergraduate Research Journal and the Undergraduate Research Conference allow students to showcase the work they do for courses at IU South Bend each year.  Research is an important part of the college experience, and in too many cases, the excellent work that students do is underutilized.  Whether it is published or presented, these two outlets allow students to demonstrate the extent of the work they do in their classes, as well as, build skills they will use after graduation—whether it is for a professional job or graduate school.

The projects in the Undergraduate Research Journal and Undergraduate Research Conference represent collaboration between students and professors.  In some cases, that means students are working as part of a research team.  Under other circumstances, professors may not be directly involved, but have provided significant feedback and guidance on a project.  In the end, research is part of a joint project among researchers, and the Undergraduate Research Journal and Undergraduate Research Conference allow undergraduates at Indiana University South Bend to join that project by contributing their own original work.

Each year, the Undergraduate Research Journal becomes a new pillar for the scholars of tomorrow.  Just as the researchers in the journal refer to and cite the scholastic achievements of past scholars, so too will the scholars of the future be able to cite the realizations found in the Undergraduate Research Journal. 

The Undergraduate Research Conference is a scene of engagement.  Knowledge is never a static product that is simply passed around like a football.  Instead, the construction of knowledge is an ongoing, ever-changing, and exciting process that depends upon the hard and difficult work of individuals plus the participation of a larger community sharing perspectives, asking questions, and testing ideas in the spirit of collegiality and collective endeavor.

Bibliography

Indiana University. (2008). Mission Statement.  Undergraduate Research Journal. Franklin D.

                Schurz Library Archives and Special Collections, South Bend, IN.

Indiana University. (2014). Welcome Message.  Undergraduate Research Conference Program.

 Franklin D. Schurz Library Archives and Special Collections, South Bend, IN.