When asked about research at university, many undergraduate students say it’s something that graduate students and their professors are engaged in. They don’t often think that research is something they can experience for themselves at the undergraduate level. At Trent University though, research opportunities for undergraduates are very much part of the Trent experience.

From November 4-6, the Colleges at Trent presented “What Does Undergraduate Research Look Like?” – a series of presentations designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore the variety of undergraduate research opportunities at the University by engaging in conversations with Trent faculty, the Trent Centre for Community Based Education (TCCBE), and current students exploring research.

“I feel like students just aren’t aware of the opportunities available,” said Ashley Wall, head of Otonabee College, who facilitated the program on behalf of the four colleges. At the undergraduate level, Trent students have access to multiple research opportunities – from honours theses and internships to reading courses and TCCBE projects.

Over the course of three days, three information sessions on undergrad study were held. Topics for discussion included research opportunities, advice for when and how students should engage in conversations about research with their faculty, and what transferrable skills can be acquired through participation in research at undergraduate level. 

The topics for discussion on all three days remained the same, however the direction of the conversation was shaped by the faculty members and their disciplines. The primary focuses for each of the discussions were:

The consistent message from all of the facilitators in this discussion series echoed the importance of engaging in conversations about research early in your undergraduate career.

“The priority is to provide an opportunity for students to get engaged in learning away from the classroom,” said Ms. Wall.

In the winter 2015 semester, the Colleges, in collaboration with the TCCBE and various academic departments, will be offering a number of experiences to showcase the variety of undergraduate research opportunities and alternative learning experiences available at Trent. Stay tuned for the 3-Minute Thesis competition, Enweying: Extraordinary Ideas Forum, TCCBE Showcase, the Last Lecture, and more.