Oct. 5, 2023
Exploring Death Through the Lens of Artistic Production
Part of the ASH Scholars Program, the Art of Death research project has allowed undergraduate students at the University of Missouri to normalize conversations about death and dying through the lens of artistic production. Photo courtesy of Katina Bitsicas. Since 2017, the Art of Death research project has allowed undergraduate students at the University of Missouri to normalize conversations about death and dying through the lens of artistic production. Students use a variety of media tools – such as virtual reality (VR), projection mapping, augmented reality (AR) and video art – to generate creative projects that explore death and dying.
Oct. 5, 2023
A Historical Dive into the Santa Fe Trail
A new project within the ASH Scholars Program, the Santa Fe Trail team is studying the importance of the entire trail, with a focus on its influence in the state of Missouri and beyond. Photo courtesy of Kyle Jackson. An important piece of Missouri history, the Santa Fe Trail connected the Show-Me State to present day Santa Fe, New Mexico, providing a valuable trade route through the middle of a still growing United States. The trail has been of interest to historians in the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy – and a new research project will now allow…
Aug. 2, 2023
Representing Mizzou on a Big Stage
When Brooke Bowman chose the biological sciences degree program at the University of Missouri her focus was on getting into the medical field, with the goal of eventually becoming a doctor. However, the more time she spent in laboratories across campus, Bowman realized that her career may not be in the clinic. She had started to develop an interest in research. That passion has connected Bowman with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities at Mizzou, as well as an exciting research program on the west coast this summer. Bowman is currently participating in the Bruins-In-Genomics…
July 28, 2023
Exploring Passions Through Creative Projects
The Cherng Summer Scholars program allows Honors College students at the University of Missouri to explore their passions through research projects aimed at questions they are interested in analyzing. Students who are accepted into the nine-week program participate in projects that are individually designed, with the support and mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. “What I love about this program is that you get to create your own project,” said Faith Quist, a senior double major in journalism and international studies. “You aren’t picking from a list of topics and doing something that you may not have much of an interest…
July 26, 2023
A Summer of Study
Late in his high school career, Lorenzo Ceccon had a bit of a radical idea. Ceccon grew up in Subbiano, a small town just more than an hour southeast of Florence, Italy. While he had never traveled to the United States, he decided he wanted to pursue an undergraduate degree there, nearly 5,000 miles away from home. As Ceccon began searching for potential universities, he happened upon the University of Missouri. It didn’t take long for him to hit the apply button. “Once I made the decision to apply to American colleges, it was a bit late in the game,”…
July 24, 2023
A Perfect Fit
There was little doubt where Margaret Beecher was going to continue her education after earning her high school diploma. Living just a couple hours from Columbia, in a family full of Tigers, Beecher knew the University of Missouri was going to be the perfect fit for her. Receiving the Chancellor’s Award scholarship from MU was a nice bonus, too. “I come from a family of Mizzou graduates, so it wasn’t surprising that I would follow in their footsteps,” said Beecher, who is from the Kansas City, Missouri, area. “Being familiar with what all the campus had to offer was really…
July 21, 2023
Following Her Passions
A double major at the University of Missouri, Michelle Woolridge’s degree programs are an extension of her educational journey. Part of a Spanish immersion elementary school, Woolridge spent her youth learning both English and Spanish. Once she began high school, Woolridge was part of the International Baccalaureate (IB), an extensive educational program that helps students develop a variety of skills for the future, where she was heavily involved in biology. At Mizzou, Woolridge is majoring in romance languages, with an emphasis in Spanish, and biological sciences. “I really enjoyed both areas of study, so…
July 19, 2023
Beginning Her Research Journey
The Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program paves the way for first-year students at the University of Missouri to connect with the exciting plant-related research taking place across campus. For Rachel Weber, the program opened the door for her to explore her own research interests. Weber grew up in Columbia, and attended Hickman High School. She chose MU because she knew there would be numerous research experiences for her to pursue. “I knew Mizzou had plenty of research opportunities, which is a big reason why I chose to come here,” Weber said. “I was fortunate enough to learn…
July 17, 2023
Finding a Love for the Lab
Growing up in a family of scientists, it made sense that Audrey Shively would eventually find an interest in the subject matter. Her specific interest developed in elementary school. Shively had a classmate with cerebral palsy. As her teacher explained what the condition is, and how the student was born with it, Shively was curious about why some individuals are born with certain disorders. It was the beginning of what has now become her primary research focus at the University of Missouri – genetics. “I always enjoyed science in general, but this was the first time that I became really…
July 14, 2023
Turning Curiosity into Research
Faith Quist’s research project is a perfect reflection of her interdisciplinary interests. A dual major in journalism and international studies at the University of Missouri, Quist is studying a variety of materials related to North Korean defectors. Her primary focus is researching when individuals leave the country, where they go and why they choose those locations. “This project allows me to combine my passions,” said Quist, who will be a senior this fall. “I’ve always been a very curious person, and I like to ask questions. I love hearing about other people’s stories. I have an…