Queen's University - case study

Celebrating inquiring minds

It’s not often that undergraduate students have the opportunity to showcase the fruits of their research or scholarship on campus. That’s why geological sciences and geological engineering professor Vicki Remenda, and head of Learning and Research Services in the Stauffer Library, Jackie Druery, launched an innovative new program at Queen’s University five years ago.

Inquiry@Queen’s fosters students’ curiosity and facility to ask important questions, and helps them develop the skills they need to find the answers. With inquiry-based learning, students can be their own teachers and take ownership of their learning.

“Queen’s is committed to supporting and encouraging all students who wish to pursue research,” says Vice-Principal (Research) Steven Liss. “Inquiry@Queen’s is a natural extension of a university that prides itself on the quality of undergraduate education and its scholarship and research.”

One of the main components of the program is the Inquiry@Queen’s Undergraduate Research Conference. Hosted by the Queen’s Learning Commons in Stauffer Library, the annual event allows undergrads to discover the satisfaction of sharing their research and learning from a variety of resources.

Students from all disciplines showcase their research and experience the process and procedures that characterize academic conferences. They submit an abstract, get exposure to keynote speakers, present in small themed groups chaired by Queen’s faculty, create posters and receive questions and comments about their work from individuals outside their discipline.

“This is one of the few places in Canada that I’m aware of, where undergraduate students have an opportunity to present in a really multi and interdisciplinary platform,” says Dr. Remenda. “More than a conference, Inquiry@Queen’s is an approach to learning where the teacher and the learner reside in the same person.”

From 35 student participants at the first event in 2007, Inquiry@Queen’s has grown to more than 100 presenters in 2011. Topics ranged from “Examining Gender, Motherhood and Career in a Century of Girl Guide Manuals” and “Nation-Building Through Language Policy: The Chinese Experience” to “Financing From the Perspective of Mining Companies” and “Sustainable Water Filters for the Developing World: A Focus on Cholera.”

Over a two-day period, students “think, share, learn and discover.” Projects come from their course work, theses, design projects or summer research opportunities. Others originate simply from an interest in a topic and a desire to know more and think more, notes Ms. Druery, who suggests the program’s uniqueness may explain its increasing popularity. “It really is integral to the students’ learning that they present and explain their work to a wide and varied audience. That’s a key part of the discovery process.”

Student feedback about the conference attests to its impact. Some noted it was an important element of their graduate school applications, and that it came up during interviews. Others noted the experience served them well when they began presenting at conferences during their graduate school career.

A student from the University of Otago, New Zealand – one of Queen’s partner universities in the Matariki Network – was able to participate this year using Skype. Dr. Remenda and Ms. Druery are currently working with other members to develop an international and interdisciplinary network of undergraduate researchers. They hope that one day undergraduates from the “Seven Sisters” (the seven founding members of the Matariki Network) will present their findings at the main I@Q showcase.

In addition to the two-day conference, Inquiry@Queen’s collaborated with the Office of Research Services in Fall 2011 to provide a forum where 20 Queen’s students from the social sciences, humanities and education presented their research resulting from their participation in discovery-based learning through the university’s Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship.

Noting that there is “no shortage of ideas and initiatives on which to build,” the two co-chairs of the Inquiry@Queen’s steering committee say they look forward to future expansion and enhancement of the popular program.