College of the Pacific

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research means independent inquiry—engaging students in the pursuit of answers to their own questions that arise from an encounter with original sources, data or scientific experimentation.

Many of our students find this self-directed learning to be a transformative experience. Through this process, students take ownership of their learning and assess their strengths and weaknesses in new and unexpected ways.

At Pacific, student researchers gain access to the caliber of faculty scholars normally found only at a research universities while retaining the one-on-one attention our small, liberal arts college is known for. Faculty in the College are widely involved in mentoring student research, and students have many avenues for presenting their work:

• Many of these students present their research findings at the annual Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC) organized by Dr. Lydia Fox, Chair of the Earth & Environmental Sciences Department and long-time champion of undergraduate research in the College.
  • Students present posters and give oral presentations on a wide variety of topics from the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and engineering.
• Many students’ research is so outstanding that they are accepted at regional, national and international conferences to present their work.
  • Students have presented their work at conferences as far away as Pennsylvania, New Orleans and even Salzburg, Austria.
• For the past several years, the College has sent students to present their work at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, an increasingly competitive student research venue.

This scholarly and creative activity grows directly out of the close faculty-student working relationships that are characteristic of the College.

John Muir Center

Through the John Muir Center within the College of the Pacific, scholars have access to the papers of John Muir, one of California’s most important historical figures and a pivotal leader in environmental preservation. One of the goals of the John Muir Center is to provide greater opportunities for research and publication by Pacific faculty and students.