Cadets share ideas at CSURF

  • Published
  • By Amy Gillentine
  • Office of Research
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY. Colo. --  Over 130 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets participated in the Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum April 4 at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

The annual event is the result of a collaboration between the Air Force Academy, UCCS and Colorado College.

The forum, in its 12th year, features the best of undergraduate research. Cadets showed up to talk about a wealth of research projects.

The cadets presented their research in capstone and independent study projects, ideas such as innovative ways to reach Mars, how to remove the threat of improvised explosive devices and the importance of a liberal arts education.

The daylong event featured 120 posters and 56 oral presentations from students. The forum was busy, with visitors from the community serving as evaluators and session chairs. For the first time, students received evaluations about their presentations.

"This venture is designed to highlight the accomplishments of undergraduates," said Esteban Gomez, a professor in the Anthropology Department at Colorado College. "It reflects the commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff to our students from all disciplines."

For Academy students, it was an opportunity to experience a different college campus and learn from other undergraduates to exchange research ideas and projects.

"This is a chance for all the universities to come together to talk about the projects, to get ideas what other undergraduates are doing and to improve their presentation skills," said Lt. Col. Candice Pipes, head of the English Department and Academy's committee chairman for CSURF. "It's something we look forward to every year because it gives cadets a chance to talk about their educational experience with counterparts in the community."

Lt. Gen Michelle D. Johnson, the Academy superintendent, opened the keynote speech by talking about the importance of research.

"We wear these suits," she said, indicating the uniform she and all the cadets were wearing. "And it doesn't really show everything that the Academy is about. This gives us a chance to show the community that we're a military institution, but we're also doing very innovative research."