Paul Edmiston and Deanna Pickett '10 Headline Capitol Hill Hearing Today

Topic is "Undergraduate Research and American Innovation"

WOOSTER, Ohio, Oct. 26, 2010 – Associate Professor of Chemistry Paul Edmiston and Deanna Pickett, one of his former students, are among the featured speakers today at a Capitol Hill briefing for Congressional policy makers and staff, organized by the Council on Undergraduate Research and the House Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Caucus. The topic is “Undergraduate Research and American Innovation.”

Edmiston will describe Wooster’s Independent Study program, making the point that at Wooster, undergraduate research is not simply a teaching tool, it also produces substantive research results that add to the sum of knowledge in a field, and sometimes leads to practical applications as well.

Pickett will then describe her I.S. project, which Edmiston mentored, and how methods she developed for the treatment of contaminated water are being used to remediate tricloroethylene in the groundwater at a former munitions plant in central Ohio, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Environmental Protection.

"Research done by faculty and students at the College of Wooster and other undergraduate schools across the nation is first rate and adds significantly to the body of knowledge while leading to new innovation,” Edmiston said. “Deanna's work is a perfect example of how a young person's talent and energy can be harnessed to help solve a difficult problem.  Remediation of TCE in groundwater at the depths she worked on has been described as a nearly impossible task.  As a young scientist, she never knew that it couldn't be done and as a result did not give up.  She has transitioned her work from theory to practice."

The other speakers at today’s briefing are Robert Full, professor of biology at the University of California-Berkeley, and Tonia Hsieh, one of his undergraduate students. The panel will be moderated by Beth Paul, provost of Stetson University.

The College of Wooster is an independent liberal arts college, nationally recognized for an innovative curriculum that emphasizes mentored, independent research. Each Wooster senior works one-on-one with a faculty adviser to create an original research project, written work, performance or art exhibit. Founded in 1866, the college enrolls approximately 2,000 students.