History:
The Ecological and Social Change (ESC) Undergraduate Research Group was started at Western Washington University in January 2022 by Cameron Whitley. This group was designed after, and in honor of, the Ecological and Social Change (ESC) Graduate Research Group at Michigan State University run by Distinguished Professor Thomas Dietz and Professor Linda Kalof. The ESC Graduate Group was an interdisciplinary environment for graduate students to share research ideas, processes and build community. It also included the graduate students from the Animal Studies Specialization Program, known as the Rhizomes.
ESC Undergraduate Student Group at WWU Overview:
The ESC undergraduate group at WWU consists of roughly 3-7 students at any given time. All of the students involved in the group are actively engaged in a research process as a research assistant, doing an independent study, or working on an undergraduate thesis directed by Dr. Whitley. The group meets for one hour each week to give short overviews of progress and challenges. Students are often placed in teams coordinated by Dr. Whitley based on research interest and personality, which provides students with additional support.
ESC Undergraduate Student Group Mission:
To create a collaborative environment for undergraduate students to learn and engage in research.
ESC Undergraduate Student Group Goals (The 5 Es):
1) Expose students to the research process.
2) Engage students in interdisciplinary communication and research.
3) Encourage students to engage in iterative writing processes.
4) Enhance the ability of students to collect and analyze data.
5) Prepare students to apply for graduate school or an entry level position in doing research.
Joining the ESC Undergraduate Student Group:
There are three processes for joining the group.
1) Students may be invited to work on a project as a research assistant with Dr. Whitley. Selected students can elect to do 1 to 5 credits as a research assistant per quarter, which corresponds to the following work load:
-5-credits you are expected to do roughly 150 hours of work or about 15 hours per week.
-4-credits you are expected to do roughly 120 hours of work or about 12 hours a week.
-3-credits you are expected to do 90 hours of work or about 9 hours a week.
-2-credits you are expected to do 60 hours of work or about 6 hours a week.
-1-credit you are expected to do 30 hours of work or about 3 hours a week.
2) Students invited to participate in grant funded research who are being paid instead of receiving credit are included in the group.
2) Students completing an undergraduate honor's thesis with Dr. Whitley as chair may also be invited into the group.
3) Students completing an independent student study with Dr. Whitley as chair may also be invited into the group.
The Ecological and Social Change (ESC) Undergraduate Research Group was started at Western Washington University in January 2022 by Cameron Whitley. This group was designed after, and in honor of, the Ecological and Social Change (ESC) Graduate Research Group at Michigan State University run by Distinguished Professor Thomas Dietz and Professor Linda Kalof. The ESC Graduate Group was an interdisciplinary environment for graduate students to share research ideas, processes and build community. It also included the graduate students from the Animal Studies Specialization Program, known as the Rhizomes.
ESC Undergraduate Student Group at WWU Overview:
The ESC undergraduate group at WWU consists of roughly 3-7 students at any given time. All of the students involved in the group are actively engaged in a research process as a research assistant, doing an independent study, or working on an undergraduate thesis directed by Dr. Whitley. The group meets for one hour each week to give short overviews of progress and challenges. Students are often placed in teams coordinated by Dr. Whitley based on research interest and personality, which provides students with additional support.
ESC Undergraduate Student Group Mission:
To create a collaborative environment for undergraduate students to learn and engage in research.
ESC Undergraduate Student Group Goals (The 5 Es):
1) Expose students to the research process.
2) Engage students in interdisciplinary communication and research.
3) Encourage students to engage in iterative writing processes.
4) Enhance the ability of students to collect and analyze data.
5) Prepare students to apply for graduate school or an entry level position in doing research.
Joining the ESC Undergraduate Student Group:
There are three processes for joining the group.
1) Students may be invited to work on a project as a research assistant with Dr. Whitley. Selected students can elect to do 1 to 5 credits as a research assistant per quarter, which corresponds to the following work load:
-5-credits you are expected to do roughly 150 hours of work or about 15 hours per week.
-4-credits you are expected to do roughly 120 hours of work or about 12 hours a week.
-3-credits you are expected to do 90 hours of work or about 9 hours a week.
-2-credits you are expected to do 60 hours of work or about 6 hours a week.
-1-credit you are expected to do 30 hours of work or about 3 hours a week.
2) Students invited to participate in grant funded research who are being paid instead of receiving credit are included in the group.
2) Students completing an undergraduate honor's thesis with Dr. Whitley as chair may also be invited into the group.
3) Students completing an independent student study with Dr. Whitley as chair may also be invited into the group.
Current ESC Undergraduate Research Group Members:
-Kaitlin Barrallier
-Beau Jay
-Olivia Drajeske Winter 2022-present
-Mylo Kolterman Winter 2022-present
-Eva Meglathery Winter 2022-present
-Jay Robles Winter 2022-present
-Emma Sundance Winter 2022-present
-Abe Vanselow Winter 2022-present
-Roman Vieira Winter 2022-present
-Beau Jay
-Olivia Drajeske Winter 2022-present
-Mylo Kolterman Winter 2022-present
-Eva Meglathery Winter 2022-present
-Jay Robles Winter 2022-present
-Emma Sundance Winter 2022-present
-Abe Vanselow Winter 2022-present
-Roman Vieira Winter 2022-present