U. panel gives tips on doing research

During a research information session yesterday in Logan Hall, several undergraduates learned how to take the first steps toward fulfilling their dream of conducting independent research. Sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Resource Center, the information seminar entitled "How to Prepare a Research Proposal" involved presentations guiding students through the detailed, and sometimes confusing, process of writing proposals to elicit research funds. "Every undergraduate who has the time to do research should do it," said College of Arts and Sciences Associate Director Lawrence Friedman, the event's coordinator. "It is the best way to understand how knowledge is created." But students who want to do research must make sure their research proposal is "clearly articulated, with well-defined goals and objectives, and a well thought out plan of action." Aside from the numerous resources, helpful hints and research directories passed out during the meeting, Friedman also proposed a general outline for narrowing down a topic of research and then explained the essential parts of a proposal. Included in the proposal outline, he noted, should be an abstract, a purpose, a methodology and a budget outline. Keynote speaker Kent Peterman, the assistant dean for academic affairs in the College, then gave more specific information regarding the kinds of proposals that two funding sources at the University -- the College Undergraduate Research Grant program and the Nassau Fund program -- want to see. During his address, Peterman repeatedly stressed that every research proposal was different, and that no model proposal existed. Yet he also stated that proposals must "be concise and succinct, in which the objectives are crystallized." He also analyzed several previous proposals, citing their weaknesses and strengths. In addition to those two funding institutions, other centers that fund independent research include the University Scholars program and several departments in the College and graduate and professional schools. Although the amount of funding given varies considerably, he claimed that the average for the College Undergraduate Research Grant program is $750 per grant. Students responded positively to the guidelines and information. Many of them stated in a poll taken by Peterman at the event that they had already assisted in University research and were plotting out their next step in conducting independent research. A few were new to the process and wanted to use the information session as an attempt to learn the process. Although only 20 to 30 people attended the seminar, Friedman noted that "currently 20 to 30 percent of undergraduates do research. Our goal is to see over 70 percent do research at Penn."