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"I tried the typical college student job after freshman year–scooping ice cream at Baskin-Robbins–and it got old pretty quickly," said Carolyn Mordas '00, a double major in chemistry and math. Two years later Mordas was ensconced in a chemistry lab for the summer, doing research with Associate Professor Tom Shattuck, trying to find binding constants for guest-host complexes. More than 40 students remained at Colby this summer to assist professors in research for publications, experiments and other projects. Every academic discipline was represented, from psychology to physics and music to anthropology. Although students remain on campus for various reasons, learning underlies them all. Concepts taught during the academic year are pursued in greater depth, and new ideas are investigated. Opportunities to acquire new skills and sometimes even get author credits while working closely with a professor are appealing. Mordas, who spent last summer doing research at the University of Vermont and this summer at Colby, said, "although their facilities were greater in number, . . . the quality of their instruments was actually not as good as ours. That is pretty impressive for Colby." Mordas said she remained in Waterville this summer because "it's much easier to get research done when there are no classes to worry about; January and the summer are prime times," she said. Wes Baff '99 stayed on Mayflower Hill after graduating to design a research Web site for the American Meteorological Society, working with Professor Jim Fleming (science, technology and society). Baff examined the history of the global warming-climate change controversy and designed a 30-page Web site. "The project seemed like a great opportunity to learn more about something I had an interest in," said Baff. "I've read so much I feel like an expert. Before, I only had a superficial understanding." Although Baff met regularly with Fleming, he researched and designed the site himself. "It's been nice to work on a project that's my own, and at the end of the summer I can sit back and say, ‘I did this' and be proud." Baff claims he wasn't comfortable with computers and had no programming or Web design experience. Now he sees the computer screen as an empty canvas. "I can do whatever I want." Fleming said summer research like Baff's can "give the student some national credentials." Having their findings published or making presentations is common for research assistants and bolsters their career prospects. Economics major Kirk Allen '00 spent his summer researching two topics with two economics professors–with Jim Meehan he studied "The Organization of Professional Baseball: The Relationship Between the Major League and the Minor Leagues," and with Hank Gemery he investigated U.S. internal migration in the 1930s. "I knew going into senior year I should do something that was a springboard to a career," Allen said. In addition to the academic experience, he spent one day a week with Ken Viens '73, learning about the brokerage business at A.G. Edwards & Sons downtown. He also worked at Dick Whitmore's (athletics) basketball camp. Two more reasons Allen stayed at Colby were the proximity of the Hume Center and the Outing Club cabin. Most student research takes place in a lab, at a computer or in the library. Betsy Loyd '01, an American studies major, got to watch movies on the job. Part of her research was for David Lubin's (art and American studies) book on the making of the 1933 film King Kong. Their goal, said Loyd, was "to use the film as a springboard for discussing what life was like for people in the early 1930s and what would provoke them to make such a film." She also watched the 1997 hit Titanic with the remote control in hand, to get the quotations right for another Lubin book project. She even edited some of the writing. "That part was really fun for me," said Loyd. "I enjoy editing, and it was great to learn how it works in the real book publishing world." Every researcher acquires skills they wouldn't get from a classroom lecture. Allen says he gained a better understanding of the research process by compiling and presenting data–valuable tools in most careers and for the analytical research paper required of senior economics majors. Mordas explained the value of her work this way: "Once I learn a concept and use it in my research, it sticks with me for good." |
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