Several levels of academic inquiry at The Ohio State University at Lima will be on display during a research-focused day on Thursday, April 3, 2025. All events are free and open to the public.
Undergraduate research shines first at the Undergraduate Research Forum from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the Lima Campus Library. 29 students will present their findings across a variety of subjects in biology and psychology. Topics include:
- Small mammals of south Asia
- Parasitoid flies
- Plants of the Tecumseh Interpretative Nature Preserve
- Colias butterflies
- Tree species of the Ohio State Lima campus
- Microorganisms of the Miami-Erie Canal
- Bioassessment of the Lost Creek
- Narrative comprehension in preschoolers
- Smartphone usage patterns and suggestibility
- Executive functioning in children
Each student or group of students will display research findings on a poster and talk about their projects. Spectators are welcome to read the posters and ask questions in an open-house format. Lima students can also present their research at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, the Spring Undergraduate Research Festival and at many discipline-specific events.
Two students will also present their Second Year Transformational Experience projects.
The 2025 Undergraduate Research Award, which is presented by Charles River Laboratories, will be announced at 1:30 p.m. during the research forum. The Charles River Labs Outstanding Student Researcher Award will go to an exceptional undergraduate student on campus with a successful record of research success, which can include presentations, thesis completion, publications, creative works, awards, work in research labs, research-relevant service, or leadership among undergraduate researchers. The faculty mentor will also receive an award.
One of the inaugural Violet I. Meek Scholars, psychology’s Dr. Virginia Tompkins, will present “Examination of Factors Influencing Young Children’s Narrative Comprehension,” a study on the effects of race and gender on preschoolers’ story comprehension, at 3 p.m. in the Special Collections Room of the library.