Undergraduate Research Center
When you think of a student researcher, what comes to mind? At Binghamton, it's an archaeology major excavating a stone tool made thousands of years ago. Or a theatre major performing in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in the style of the Beijing Opera. It includes political science students investigating the involvement of ethnic minority group members in the American political process, and Creative Writing students composing poems and short stories. And it also includes students in white lab coats, surrounded by glass beakers and bubbling chemical experiments, computer science majors working on information security, and future bioengineers conducting research on biomechanics and bioinformatics.
All of these are examples of research. They are explorations and investigations - each creative in its own way. They are examples of students in different disciplines grappling with the academic and artistic challenges of their fields.
At Binghamton, we define undergraduate research as a mentor-supported inquiry, creative activity or scholarly investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline. Original can be defined as a meaningful contribution by the student; it should be entirely or partially novel; it may reveal more questions than answers.
The links on this page will help undergraduates learn more about the opportunities in their field for research, creative activity, and scholarly investigation. Undergraduates can explore the opportunities offered here at Binghamton, read profiles of our student and faculty researchers, artists and scholars, and learn how to become involved.
Starting in fall 2012, the Undergraduate Research Center is a new undertaking for Binghamton University, but one that recognizes the volume of undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity already taking place on campus. Check back during the year to discover information on research and the services we will offer.
