Poster exhibition highlights outstanding undergraduate research
Cutting-edge academic research produced by undergraduate students has been exhibited at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Fifty undergraduates spent 10 weeks working with scholars over the summer break to produce postgraduate level research and their work was put on display on the Preston Campus.
Antimicrobial resistance, oesophageal cancer, food waste, the use of carbon nanoparticles, stroke support and runners’ knee pain were among the topics covered within UCLan’s Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme poster exhibition.
The winner of the research poster competition was Nazmin Ali for her project entitled ‘Can thermal imaging distinguish cephalic from breech fetal position?’ The medical science student’s study concluded that thermal imaging is a non-invasive method of looking at pregnant women with many potentials in the field of maternity care and midwifery.
"The Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme has been a really good experience for me. One of the best things about this project was meeting the women involved in the programme and finding out what they thought about my research topic."
Nazmin, from Birmingham, said: “The Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme has been a really good experience for me. One of the best things about this project was meeting the women involved in the programme and finding out what they thought about my research topic.”
Mike Woods, who graduated from MSci Archaeology with a First in July, scooped the runner-up prize for his ‘Survey and investigation of watermeeting, Blacko and Malkin Tower, within the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership’.
The Darwen based student, who took part in the exhibition for the second year running, said: “I’ve uncovered a lot of interesting aspects while working on the project and I’m hopeful it will lead to another dig with fellow archaeologists next year.”
Two other students were given honourable mentions’ certificates for their work. Jessica Lawrence-Miller, from the School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, was praised for her ‘Colonisation and succession of beetles on carrion and their relationship with decomposition’ while Naomi Fallon worked with academics from three Schools on her ‘What affects student wellbeing?’ research.
"I’ve been really impressed with the unbelievable work produced by the undergraduates on the summer internship programme."
The Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme poster exhibition is now in its 10th year and Professor Colin Davidson presented the students with their certificates and prizes.
The Acting Faculty Director of Research in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences said: “I’ve been really impressed with the unbelievable work produced by the undergraduates on the summer internship programme. The diverse range of subjects and high quality research output is very impressive to see.”
For the first time since its inception, the top 10 student posters will go on display in UCLan’s Library for a week, starting on 6 November, to promote the students’ work and to encourage more students to get involved in next year’s scheme.
View images from the exhibition on UCLan's Flickr Gallery.