OSHKOSH—UW Oshkosh students Lauren Blume, Emily McGoon and Tyler Roscoe were recognized for their research communication skills in the WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW Oshkosh on April 26.

The student “pitch” competition inspires UW System students to consider the impact of their research and effectively communicate it to the public. Students have three minutes to impress a panel of judges with their pitch.

Blume, a senior, took first place and a $500 prize for the presentation “Beyond the Injury: The Association Between Physical Characteristics and Injury in Competitive High School Dance Team Athletes.”

Blume’s research worked to establish a link between physical characteristics and injury risk in competitive high school dance team athletes. This work could allow coaches to adapt their conditioning sessions and practices to prevent injury.

The win gives Blume the opportunity to represent UW Oshkosh in the WiSys Quick Pitch State Finals during the WiSys SPARK Symposium at UW Oshkosh, Aug. 6-8.

UW Oshkosh Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Dr. Brian Wallace was Blume’s faculty advisor.

SECOND PLACE

McGoon, also a senior, took second place and a $250 prize for the presentation “The Study, Preparation, and Performance of Barnets Vaardag (Op.42) by Agathe Backer-Grøndahl.”

McGoon researched the musical piece for a senior recital performance in April. The process included studying the background of Backer-Grøndahl, practicing the chosen pieces and learning the proper diction of the language for performance. McGoon was also interested in highlighting a composer who history has often overlooked because of her gender.

UW Oshkosh’s Associate Professor of Voice Dr. Anna Hersey was McGoon’s faculty advisor.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Roscoe, who presented the project “Seafloor Sub-Ice Ecosystems as Analogs for Enceladus and Europa,” was recognized with the event’s People’s Choice Award. That award is voted on by attendees.

The sophomore’s research focused on understanding the conditions on two moons, Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, and Europa, a moon of Jupiter, by looking at the lifeforms that colonized much of the ocean floor on Earth during a time when the planet was covered in ice 640 million years ago. By analyzing this period of Earth's past, Roscoe noted, a model can be made to these potential extraterrestrial ecosystems with similar conditions.

UW Oshkosh Professor of Geology Dr. Eric Hiatt was Roscoe’s faculty advisor.

Overall, nine students participated in this year’s WiSys Quick Pitch @ UW Oshkosh. Other “pitchers” included:

• Melissa Doersch, “Balance and Postural Control of Hearing-Impaired vs Non-Hearing Impaired Pre-Pubescent Children.”
• Eric Giese, “Reconsidering Wisconsin's Northern Kettle Moraine: How One Millimeter May Change Our Glacial History.”
• Ene Idoko, “The Way They See Us: The Historical Experiences of Black Women as Patients in Mainstream Health Care.”
• Madyson Majewski, “Positive Reward Conditioning 13-Lined Ground Squirrels.”
• Sheiana Taylor, “Prenatal Development of the 13-Lined Ground Squirrel (13LGS).”

In order to participate in the WiSys Quick Pitch, students must complete a training and mentorship session with WiSys and campus leaders. These sessions help students craft their presentation and instill confidence. 

All participating students receive the WiSys Research Communication badge to denote their newly developed skill. The digital credential may be added to the students’ resumes and LinkedIn profiles.

The judges for the competition were:

• Dr. Esther Eke, Director, Office of Sponsored Programs, UW Oshkosh
• Dr. John Koker, Professor of Mathematics, Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, UW Oshkosh
• Dr. Seon Yoon Chung, Dean, College of Nursing, UW Oshkosh.

PROGRAM HISTORY

As a nonprofit organization supporting research, innovation and entrepreneurship at Wisconsin’s regional public universities, WiSys set out to develop a program to incentivize and train student researchers to share their work to a lay audience including the public, mentors and policymakers.

WiSys first piloted the program at UW-Eau Claire in 2015. Since then, the program has been expanded to 10 other UW System institutions. The winners from the institutional competitions compete at the statewide finals held at WiSys’ annual summer symposium. Through the program, more than 80 students receive research communication training and experience each year. Nearly 500 UW System student researchers have participated since 2015.

The program’s objectives include:

• Encouraging student researchers to recognize the value of their work.
• Providing students tools for effectively communicating their research to the public without jargon.
• Highlighting the depth and breadth of student research taking place at public universities.
• Promoting information sharing to create new opportunities or collaborations.
• Celebrating student work and accomplishments.

For more information about the WiSys Quick Pitch Program, visit wisys.org/quickpitch.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.