How Senior Inquiry helps students stand out
Every Augustana geography major has completed an extended, original research project since 1971, making geography the forerunner for Senior Inquiry.
Today, all Augustana seniors complete a substantial creative or research project. As a result, they gain both experience and an actual product — portfolio, performance, presentation, new data, etc. — to help them stand out to graduate schools and employers.
Geography's Dr. Jennifer Burnham graduated from Augustana in 1997. Her 1996-97 project, "The Spatial Distribution of Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in Tazewell County, Illinois," addressed that invasive species near the beginning of its "explosion."
Many of today's geography Senior Inquiry projects similarly focus on issues related to human life and the landscape. Students write a research proposal in spring of their junior year, collect data over the summer and fall, and complete the analysis and writing in winter of their senior year. Final presentation sessions allow time for probing questions that follow from faculty and others.
"The bones of the project haven't changed significantly over the decades," Dr. Burnham said, "but with newer computer-based technology like GIS (geographic information systems), we now have increased use of those tools in spatially displaying students' data."
Beyond library research, geography seniors collect empirical data — gathered through their direct observation — to support their research question. Along with the question, methods and results, each project includes implications for further research. Many also have practical tools for users, such as a map identifying levels of difficulty in a park's trails, or a chart showing the sedimentation rates in our nearby Lake George compared with other, similar lakes.
How running leads to river leads to research
Augustana's location on the Mississippi River is ideal for research in geography and many other fields. For her Senior Inquiry, Lorraine Stamberger '15 assessed riverfront accessibility in the Quad Cities. She said her initial idea was spurred by her love for the river.
"While I'm running with my track teammates at Augustana, I tend to gravitate towards the Mississippi River," she said. "There's something exciting about being near right near the water's edge. I think one of the most exciting things is that it is always changing. It never seems to be quite the same river on any given day.
"The idea (for the Senior Inquiry project) developed as I become more familiar with the development and planning along the city riverfronts," she noted. "I wanted to explore where and why some areas are easier to access the Mississippi than others, and I was interested in finding what residents think about the river based on which city they live in. "
Stamberger collected most of her data using GIS. The geography department has a dedicated GIS lab for student research.
"I analyzed and performed spatial functions on many data layers including bus routes, population blocks and bike trails," she said. "Outside of the lab, I biked about 60 miles along the riverfront trails to collect data, take pictures and make field notes. I also mailed out 800 surveys to QC residents asking about their perceptions on the image, use and accessibility of the riverfront in their city."
From both her qualitative (riverfront impressions) and quantitative (riverfront access) research, Stamberger found the city of Moline to have the best access. She said the results aligned with her expectations, yet her data can be used to spur conversations among city planners and non-profit organizations.
Stamberger is looking to publish her research in an academic journal. Meanwhile, her project has helped with her acceptance into the master's in landscape architecture program at the University of Illinois, where she plans to specialize in urban design.
The benefits of Senior Inquiry are shared by Augustana seniors all across campus today. Guided by mentors, they learn to conduct research independently through prolonged investigation in their field. They graduate with a project that will attract future employers and graduate schools. And they solve problems.