There is no better way to learn science than by actually doing it yourself. To give students in the Natural Sciences at Pacific Lutheran University the chance to explore first-hand some of the questions that currently intrigue researchers here, the Division has been working for many years to establish a coordinated undergraduate research program. Foresighted Chemistry and Physics faculty began doing research one-on-one with undergraduates in the 1960s. Individual faculty in various departments continue to seek and receive grants that provide support for summer research with undergraduates.

The efforts of individual faculty have been supplemented in recent years by a move toward a division-wide program. Building on the foundation laid in earlier years, in 1995 the Division secured funding for three years under the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust College Science Research Program, under the leadership of then-dean Sheri Tonn and with the work of chairs, faculty, and staff. This grant provided research equipment and summer salaries for faculty and student researchers from all Departments in the Division. The Division continued the Program with a second three-year round of funding from the Murdock Trust.

Students in the NSCI Summer UR Program work closely with a faculty mentor, conducting scientific research for ten weeks. While most of the students' time is spent doing laboratory, field, or theoretical work, the division-wide program seeks to give a broader perspective on doing science, as well. Since scientific progress often involves collaboration with other researchers (sometimes across disciplinary lines), weekly seminars promote interactions among students and faculty from all NSCI departments. These seminars build a learning community and establish a research culture in the division. Because scientists need to communicate research plans and results verbally, the seminars provide a practice opportunity for students to give informal and formal presentations. Occasionally, an outside speaker introduces general topics of concern to scientists, such as ethics in science.

Other program components introduce students to standard methods of communication in science. Students write a research report at the end of the ten weeks. They prepare a poster (or an oral presentation, if selected) to present at the regional undergraduate research symposium sponsored in the fall by the Murdock Trust. Attending the symposium gives students experience with the format of professional meetings and encourages further exchange of ideas and development of communication skills in specific disciplines.

Student response to the NSCI UR program is enthusiastic, and students benefit from the program in many ways. Their competence increases as they gain experience with the techniques of their discipline, as does their ability to assimilate concepts in science. They feel more connected with faculty and their coursework, and their interest in science often increases. Their vision for their future may expand, as a career in the sciences starts to seem a realizable goal. Accompanying these changes is a new view of their roles as learners-they become independent problem solvers instead of relying on books and instructors to feed them answers. Summer research work continues to benefit students as they prepare for life after graduation, as it gives them a concrete experience to write about for scholarships, graduate school applications, fellowships, internships, and job applications. The benefits of the UR program may accrue even to those who did not participate, as summer researchers' new view of learning can influence the attitudes of other students when they return to class in the fall.

Faculty participate in the program for many reasons. Student researchers can provide additional insights and expertise. Their help in all stages of the research process furthers progress and may help lead to earlier publication of results. Students do background research, help formulate hypotheses, design experiments, run tests, collect and analyze data, and write up results. Increased publications improve chances that a future grant proposal will be funded. In addition to providing practical help, students also provide camaraderie and personal incentive for faculty, who enjoy working with them and seeing their intellectual growth. Often faculty report improved teaching because of the strong sense of connection with students fostered by participation in the summer research program. Courses and curricula may reflect a more conscious awareness of how doing science increases learning.

Beyond the immediate effect of the UR Program, larger concerns are also addressed. Because educators are recognizing the importance of independent problem solving as an important goal in higher education, undergraduate research opportunities are becoming the norm for science programs. Therefore, a well-established program should positively affect recruitment and retention. The engagement in learning promoted by the UR experience gives students greater self-confidence, helping them to recognize and investigate whatever problems they face. This increased confidence should lead to stronger graduates who are more likely to apply to graduate school, be accepted, and thrive afterwards. Those who choose to work in the sciences in non-Ph.D. positions will bring a richer understanding of the scientific process to their work, and those who go on in other fields will be well-rounded in their education and more able to participate fully in discussions of social issues involving science. In short, the Natural Sciences Undergraduate Research Program manifests core University values, helping produce graduates who are educated in the true sense, independent learners able to lead lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care.

An Undergraduate Research Task Force meets periodically to discuss policy and future directions, such as, integrating research into the curriculum and improving capstones. Research-active faculty meet to discuss Program elements, such as, supplementary activities and guidance on oral presentations, posters, and reports.