Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowships Projects: 2004-05

The following eleven projects were awarded for 2004-2005.

My Favorite Book
Joseph Agoada, Associate Professor Anne Lundin (Library & Information Studies), Atwood Community Center Safe Haven Program. To inspire a love of reading, this project will help children with low reading levels to write a book. The book’s story will be based on field trips to a farm and the UW-Madison campus. The final product will be published and distributed to the children at Safe Haven.

Sexual Assault in the LGBT Communities of Dane County
Kristen Bertling, Amanda Evenstone, Leah Stoecker, Assistant Professor Anne Enke (Women’s Studies & History), Rape Crisis Center. The goals of this project are to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sexual assault, research how sexual assault affects the LGBT community, and promote support of LGBT sexual assault victims. Data will be gathered through meta-analysis of existing research and personal interviews, and results will be presented in an article and informational pamphlet.

Diving Deeper: Venturing into Science with Rural Wisconsin
Allison Bichler, Annika Swenson, Associate Faculty Associate Michelle Harris (Biology Core Curriculum), Wisconsin Heights & Hayward High Schools. In order to enhance science education in rural high schools, this project will conduct interactive in-class presentations to introduce high school students to the concept of scientific research, share research done by college students, and present future research opportunities. The goal is to expand rural student awareness and understanding of scientific research and to foster partnership between rural schools and UW-Madison.

Meeting Basic Needs in Muramba, Rwanda: A Sustainable Water Project
Matthew Bretl, Timothy Miller, Evan Parks, Professor Peter Bosscher (Civil & Environmental/Geological Engineering), Engineers Without Borders – USA. This project will improve upon existing water distribution facilities and identify sources of biological and chemical water contaminants in the rural community of Muramba. Students and faculty will travel to Rwanda to assist in retrofitting the distribution system to provide clean water.

Sarvodaya Builds the Students and Students Build Sarvodaya: An International Field Placement Program for the School of Social Work
Colleen Condon, Lecturer & Field Instructor Susan Kidd Webster (Social Work), Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement. To meet the increasing demand for international field placement opportunities through the School of Social Work, this project will form a partnership with a nonprofit social service agency in Sri Lanka. Potential field placements at Sarvodaya will be identified and described through a guide for students. A partnership handbook for Sarvodaya and Social Work also will be published.

The Art of Change
Melissa Cooke, Assistant Professor John Hitchcock (Art), Clean Wisconsin. This project will research nontoxic, ecologically friendly methods of making art to create original environmental illustrations. The illustrations will be used in Clean Wisconsin’s public education programs and sold as a fundraiser. Information about the environmental and health effects of art materials also will be shared with the UW Madison Art Department.

Beauty from Ashes: Faith-Based Sexual Assault Awareness and Healing Project
Melissa Coonen, Professor Gary Sandefur (Sociology), Rape Crisis Center. This project plans to offer survivors of sexual assault a faith-based outlet to promote healing and support. Faith leaders and the community will be educated on issues surrounding detection and support of sexual assault victims.

The Stories of Rural Health in Wisconsin
Christopher Miller, Professor John Frey III (Family Medicine), Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. Qualitative and quantitative data concerning the status of Wisconsin’s rural health care system will be collected from rural residents. The “stories” will be compiled as a resource to improve medical student education and rural health services in Wisconsin and the U.S. (Funded in part by Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin.)

Building a Dialogue Between Farmers and Agricultural Pest Researchers
Kara Raymond, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist Eileen Cullen (Entomology), Rock County UW-Extension. A behavior variant of the Western Corn Rootworm is threatening corn production in southeastern Wisconsin by larval feeding on corn plant roots. Farmers are reluctant to use the existing management decision sampling protocol because of time and cost. Through interviews with farmers, a sampling protocol will be developed that better meets farmers’ needs.

Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Toward Math: Impact of a Tutoring Program
Danielle Ries, Professor Molly Carnes (Medicine), Wright Middle School. This project will tutor middle school students in mathematics, introduce an incentive program, and evaluate change in students’ math self-efficacy and attitudes toward math. The project focuses on both internalization of motivation and actual skill improvement.

“Politics for US:” Engaging Young Adults in Political and Civic Life
Erin Rushmer, Assistant Professor Katherine Cramer Walsh (Political Science), WSUM-FM. A weekly radio show will be developed that will focus on issues in the 2004 elections related to young adults, with the goal of fostering political and civic participation among 18-25 year olds. The show will allow listeners to discuss current issues with guests.