The Griffon News

Recently, two Western professors were published in the well known Science magazine. The article came out Oct. 31 and was entitled Undergraduate Research: Genomics Education Partnership.

Dr. Todd Eckdahl, science professor and Dr. Jeff Poet, a math professor, co-wrote the article.
The pair worked closely with students, 24 students total, to do research for the GEP on DNA sequencing data. Dr Poet talked about the article,

“It’s about work Dr. Eckdahl and I did with students,” Poet said. “We were looking at strings of DNA information. It’s allowed the students to do the research and getting hands on experience.”

The GED gets the research, and the students get the experience. Poet went on to say that a class is offered the spring, as it’s only offered every other year, and that students from all backgrounds are welcome.
“Students from computer science, math, genetics or even with just an interest in the class are welcome,” Poet said.

It’s a great way to learn hands on and do research that’s actually important. Both professors actually take the whole applied learning idea seriously and hope more students get involved.

“We’re an applied learning campus, and more students should get involved,” Dr. Eckdahl said.

This was Dr. Poet’s first time to be published in the magazine and he was excited about it. It’s apparently rather hard to get into such a prestige magazine, so when you’re one of the few who get in, it’s a big deal.
The GEP is doing their part to help out students by providing the research for the students to gain experience.

“The projects typically come from Washing University, through the GEP,” Poet said.

He continued to say that Sally Eldin is the head of GEP and is doing current research on the DNA sequencing of fruit flies. 

This is a great opportunity for students, especially science and math students, to get experience in the field. Dr Eckdahl said that usually the only way to get such experience is by interning in a lab all summer long. By providing the classes at MWSU, it provides not only credits for the student, but a way to get the experience desired that eventually looks good on a resume. Poet and Eckdahl both insist that any student interested, even without a science or math background, to look into the class.

It’s a sort of once in a life-time experience to do something important. The next class is due spring 2009 and is sure to provide more research projects for students to enjoy. For further information about the classes, for any and all who are interested, please contact either Dr. Poet or Dr. Eckdahl about the classes.

The class itself would actually be worth while and would easily cover a science credit. Hey, real world experience instead of boring book reading and memorization. It would definitely beat the norm, and it would actually be fun. After all, there’s nothing to lose when it comes to learning.