Interests Converge as Undergraduate Students and Faculty Collaborate for the Research on Research Showcase

Arts and Humanities faculty and undergraduate students are collaborating on research in innovative ways. On August 26, two pairs of Arts and Humanities faculty-student researchers were among a dozen teams to present their projects at the Digital Union's sixth annual Research on Research (R2) Showcase for which they collaborated on research projects and developed multimedia portfolios documenting their research process and findings. The students received TELR Research on Research Student-Faculty Partnership Grants, which allowed them to devote the summer to developing research experience with faculty members and new media skills. At the showcase, they presented their work and answered questions related to their research.

Rebecca Harvey, Professor of Art with a focus on ceramics, and Allison Buenger, undergrad Honors major in Art, collaborated on "Revitalization of Lithophane Technology in the Ceramic Arts." The lithophane is a 19th-century invention that enables cast porcelain to reveal an image when lit from behind and appear translucent. Allison's Web site sought to educate the public about the complexity of lithophanes from technical and historical standpoints and show their applications in contemporary art for new generations of viewers. Professor Harvey, who founded the Nonfiction Design Collective to work on bringing older technologies back through newer technologies, works on lithophanes. The collaboration included one of her pieces on exhibit in the Lithophane Show at the Lithophane Museum in Toledo.

Professor Judy Wu, Associate Professor of History and Women's Studies, collaborated with Women's Studies and Political Science undergrad major Hazel (Zel) Caldwell to create an e-portfolio of Prof. Wu's current book project on "Journeys Toward Peace: Internationalism and Radicalism during the U.S. War in Viet Nam." With the guidance of the OSU Digital Union staff, Zel created a Web site on Professor Wu's research, which was showcased. Zel, who could not be present because she had left for a study abroad project in Turkey, intends to utilize the skills she has gained to help her formulate an honors thesis, possibly on feminism in Turkey.

Take a look at information on all the Showcase 2009 projects.