Three undergraduate researchers are penning – or more accurately, keyboarding – their  way into the blogosphere.

Pauline Capelle, Megan Wightman and Holly Unruh – all Undergraduate Student  Research Award (USRA) winners – are sharing their summer experiences on a new blog located on the School of  Graduate Studies website.

As USRA recipients, the students will spend the next few weeks immersed in research  life. The blogs provide a platform for them to share those hands-on experiences with  the broader community.

Capelle is examining the effects of pollution on the learning behaviours of the round  goby, an invasive species of fish that has made a home in the waters of the Great Lakes.

Working with her supervisor Sigal Balshine in psychology, neuroscience & behaviour,  Capelle will spend time in both the lab and the field.

Wightman’s summer research will contribute to an experiential-based seminar focused  on helping students see a connection between classroom learning and a potential  teaching career. She will complete her research in the French department, under the  supervision of Elzbieta Grodek.

Unruh’s research looks at patient home care in Ontario, and the correlation between  patient satisfaction and the level of communication they received during their home  care. Unruh is completing her USRA work under supervisor Philip Savage in  communication studies.

In all, more than 110 undergraduate students from across all faculties are taking part in  the USRA program this summer.

Allison Sekuler, associate vice-president and dean of the School of Graduate Studies,  home to the Office of Undergraduate Research, says the hands-on aspect of helping  create knowledge, rather than just reading about it, is an eye-opening experience for  the students.

“Undergraduate research is a critical complement to what students learn in the  traditional classroom. It’s the best way for students to discover their true passions,” said  Sekuler.

“Our undergraduate researchers learn so much during those months – both about their  areas of inquiry, and about themselves. It’s really a transformative experience for so  many students, and it provides a great opportunity to build close relationships with  faculty and graduate students.”

On November 12 the annual USRA Poster Session will be held in CIBC Hall. The session  will highlight many of the discoveries from this summer’s research.

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards are sponsored by the Natural Sciences and  Engineering Research Council of Canada; the Office of the Vice-President Research and  International Affairs; the faculties of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Business; the Arts & Science program; and the School of Graduate Studies.