Undergraduate emphasis

Students present research in Brazil

After nearly a year of research, Ohio State undergraduate Erin Horton concluded that certain overripe tangerine tomatoes contain higher levels of cancer-fighting agents than tomatoes that weren't as ripe. Potentially, this type of research could change the way farmers produce their crops and people manage their diet.

Horton, a senior food science major, is one of just four Ohio State undergraduate students who recently presented research at the University of Sao Paolo's undergraduate symposium in Brazil. The trip, which lasted from Nov. 3 to 11, is intended to become an annual event for Honors and Scholars students, and is the beginning of a new collaboration for undergraduate research between Ohio State and the University of Sao Paolo.

For her research project, Horton examined the chemical compounds, called carotenoids, that give tomatoes their orange color. She looked at three varieties of underripe, ripe and overripe tangerine tomatoes to determine which contained the highest levels of these compounds. After running almost 80 test samples, she concluded that some varieties of tangerine tomatoes take longer to ripen sufficiently to produce the chemical compound. Horton said she hopes the results from this experiment will be used in future research to determine the effects of these tomatoes against different types of cancer.

Horton said she was excited to present her research at the University of Sao Paolo and to learn about the topics her counterparts in Brazil are examining.

"I think their research projects will show what the students view as important to their society," she said. "It might bring the values of different countries closer together."

Through this experience, the Ohio State students are learning to present their research and to communicate with people who speak a different native language, and gain better insight into the Brazilian culture, said David Strauss, associate director of Honors and Scholars Co-Curricular Programs.

"It (this trip) gives our students an opportunity to broaden their research reach, and allows us to continue our focus and pride on the excellent undergraduate research being conducted by Honors and Scholars students," Strauss said.

Three other Ohio State students who presented their projects at the University of Sao Paolo are: Michael Stiffler, a senior biochemistry major who has researched "gene knockout," a technique for removing a gene from a genome to better determine its function; Paul Matter, a senior engineering student working to reform methanol into hydrogen, a process that has applications for fuel cell systems; and Matthew Foley, a senior history major who has examined federal policies that affected Native Americans, including alcohol prohibition.

Since there were four scheduled research symposiums -- engineering, agricultural, humanities and biological -- at the University of Sao Paolo, students were chosen from each discipline by the associate deans of their colleges to take part.

Kay Halasek, associate provost for Honors and Scholars, said this trip combines two thrusts of Ohio State's Academic Plan -- undergraduate education and research.

"These young people illustrate that, although Ohio State values its research mission, its mission is not separate from strong undergraduate research and curricular activities," she said.

The collaboration between Ohio State and the University of Sao Paolo has historical roots, said Jerry Ladman, associate provost for international affairs. Beginning about 40 years ago, Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences started working with faculty members from the University of Sao Paolo on an "institution-building project" for their agricultural college. Among other things, the collaboration worked to increase the faculty members' education levels and to improve the curriculum.

Recently, Ladman said, a new collaboration was organized that involved students from both universities. Students from Ohio State stayed in Brazil for about a week in November, and University of Sao Paolo students are coming to Columbus this spring.

"I think it's a real boost for our Honors program to have an international component," he said. "I think the benefits are for the students who are participating. We're very pleased in our office to be able to play a role in making this happen."

For his research project, Foley discovered that many Native Americans were subjected to nearly eight decades of alcohol prohibition until 1953. As a history major, he was surprised to learn that Native Americans were prohibited from purchasing alcohol long before and after the general public in the United States faced these restrictions.

Foley said he was eager to present his research and to show the students in Brazil that this indigenous group's history is important to him as a U.S. citizen.

"The whole history of the indigenous populations has been of interest to people abroad," Foley said. "There are a lot of other nations that have had this sort of problem. I am interested in learning about that."

Silverman leads post-bac program

Kay Halasek, associate provost for Honors and Scholars, has announced that Allan Silverman, associate professor of philosophy, has agreed to serve as the coordinator of the post-baccalaureate initiative through the Honors and Scholars Center.

The initiative will identify, recruit, mentor and assist Ohio State undergraduates in competing for post-graduate fellowships and research opportunities sponsored by some of the most respected organizations in higher education, such as the Rhodes Scholarship Trust, the Mellon Foundation, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (Fulbright) and the National Science Foundation. The initiative will include the development of programming that will benefit students during their undergraduate careers and as they pursue post-baccalaureate options.

As coordinator, Silverman will work with Halasek to articulate a strategic plan for a post-baccalaureate initiative; develop and implement a budget for the initiative; identify, recruit and assist undergraduates who are strong candidates for post-bacs; develop curricular and co-curricular programming to enhance these students' undergraduate experiences; coordinate work of faculty currently involved in mentoring students; identify methods of assessing and benchmarking current practices at OSU; and promote the post-baccalaureate initiative within the University.

Silverman will continue to hold a full-time faculty appointment in the Department of Philosophy. He is a 1978 summa cum laude graduate of Ohio State, and earned his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.