Undergraduate Research

What can a bonobo ape teach us about our humanity? How do Ponderosa pines develop resilience to wildfires? Can we design for greater accessibility in athletic sportswear? Undergraduate researchers at the UO are asking original questions—and their work is making a difference.

Marine biology and geology major Marcus Chaknova had a remarkable opportunity while on an Oregon research cruise in the South Pacific: He found an underwater ecosystem covered in ash from an underwater volcano that had erupted four months earlier. His published research holds big implications for deep-sea mining and has sparked international interest.

What can a female android tell us about the dangers of technology and authority? Plenty, according to cinema studies major Elsa Rogers, who researched the 1927 movie Metropolis. Her takeaway: Through its evil female robot, the dystopian film reflects a deep distrust of new technology and our ability to control it. In an era of burgeoning AI, the android’s lesson is more relevant than ever.

Human physiology major Tucker Orman didn’t know anything about scuba diving when he arrived at the UO. But he jumped at the chance to manage a study of how cold-water divers maintain core body temperatures. From coordinating participants to publishing a peer-reviewed paper, Orman embraced the role of researcher. His most important discovery? How to balance the technical and human sides of science.