An Introduction – Range: Undergraduate Research Journal

2023 marked an important year for undergraduate research at the University of Utah. The Office of Undergraduate Research led campus-wide efforts to host a state-wide conference on undergraduate research through the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Over 600 students from 10 different universities in Utah presented their research at the University of Utah, representing a diversity of fields. Slogans proliferated social media assets pushed out through the Undergraduate Studies campaign, “inquisitive minds welcome,” “inquiring minds welcome,” and even, “what if we brought the best undergraduate research in the state. We did!” Concluded research that was presented at UCUR, maybe found sprinkled throughout this issue. Additionally, reflected here in the 148 contributions, are the 140 students who graduated this 2023 spring with an Undergraduate Research Scholar Designation, a scholarly designation that appears in student transcripts after conducting a minimum of two semesters of research, presenting their research, and submitting their research to this journal.

The dynamic research reflected in this issue has many forms: articles, abstracts, and research reflections. And the subjects covered here, cuts across the disciplines, representing the vital role that higher education has as a public good. Higher education, and educational environments that foster experiences and opportunities for students to participate in the research enterprise leads to not only students as ambassadors of our institutions. It also means, when they graduate they take with them the skills, curiosities, and important questions that will support them in their post-graduation endeavors.

I want to commend our students who conducted research this 2022 – 2023 academic year. While the US is emerging from global pandemic, the fatigue, the mental health impact, the real social, political, and economical realities impacting our communities, also impact students. Student researchers are the embodiment of persistence, where they materialized their research as publications, presented their work, worked in community, and beyond with research endeavors spanning the creative, scientific, humanistic,  social behavioral, and clinical. The challenges that continue to impact our society, were the inspiration for many of these projects, where mirrored in these contributions are resolve to solve today’s problems and answer societal questions through rigorous disciplinary and transdisciplinary research.

Therefore, this issue of RANGE: Undergraduate Research is an homage to the dynamic research occurring in the state of Utah. It is an invitation to inquiring minds to enter this 2023 issue.

To close, I end with gratitude to our contributors, research mentors (faculty and graduate student alike), Eliana Massey (undergraduate research leader 2022 – 2023), Eli Covarrubias, Cindy Greaves, Jude Ruelas, Shelly Parker, and Megan Shannahan, and OUR program partners, who have provided important support and leadership to undergraduate research that materialized in this issue of RANGE: Undergraduate Research Journal (2023), Volume 24, Issue 1, formerly known as the Undergraduate Research Journal.

Annie Isabel Fukushima
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
University of Utah