Students present at 21st annual Research in the Rotunda

More than a dozen University of Wisconsin-Platteville students participated in the 21st annual Research in the Rotunda event on April 2 in the State Capitol. They were among hundreds of undergraduate researchers from across the Universities of Wisconsin who presented their work to state legislators, business leaders, alumni and the public.

"This event is a testament to the power of investing in undergraduate research,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “We are cultivating the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation, advance knowledge and help shape the future.”

The students presented a total of six projects, representing all three colleges.

“I have seen significant interest in my project, and I’ve really enjoyed sharing the topic with people today,” said Jade Fitzgerald, a senior English and engineering physics major who presented research on AI’s ability to create narratives.

UW-Platteville projects included:

• The Ellenboro Drummer: Gender, Justice, Wisconsin, and the US Civil War
  Olivia Schweiger, Ashley Weis, Madilyn Henderson-Allen; Dr. Gene Tesdahl

• Cycling Infrastructure in the Netherlands
  Ella Imhoff, Jak Kielpikowski, Lauren Lodico, Cameron Joseph; Dr. Kristina Fields

• Synthesis and Antibacterial Properties of Copper Metal-Organic Frameworks on Modified Cotton Fabrics
  Faith Rothkopf; Dr. Mark Levenstein, Dr. Mohammad Rabbani

• Photo-mediated Hexafluoroisopropoxylation of Unactivated Aryl Halides
  Cohen Wojnowiak, Alex Cutty; Dr. Ian MacKenzie

• Evaluating AI Capacity for Creating Successful Narratives
  Jade Fitzgerald; Dr. Amanda Tucker

• Assessing the Efficacy of Plant Essential Oils for the Management of Aphanomyces Root Rot in Alfalfa
  Anna Hagemann, Esther Vertein, Lauren Young, El Dalbey, Jamie Voegeli, Melina Debreaux; Dr. Muthu Venkateswharan, Chance Huberty