A research university like Penn State is an exciting place for undergraduates. Many students are partners in active learning with faculty and other students engaged in the quest for new knowledge. Faculty serve as mentors for students, helping them identify critical research issues and structure approaches to experiments, fieldwork, or expressions of creative ideas. Participation in research as an undergraduate often has far-reaching effects on students career choices and future successes.

Undergraduate research has long been an important activity at Penn State, and many majors require either a thesis or a capstone project. Since the creation of the University Scholars Program -- now the Schreyer Honors College -- research has also become a regular element of these undergraduates' activities. Across the University, nearly 500 undergraduates complete a research thesis every year. Several of these are formally published, and some gain fame for the impact of the discoveries that are reported. In addition, hundreds of undergraduates each year are supported financially by faculty members' sponsored research projects, and many others volunteer their time to collaborate on a fascina-ting array of topics.

This special edition of Research/Penn State exhibits some excellent examples of recent undergraduate research. This issue is unique, not only because it is devoted entirely to undergraduate research, but because it is written entirely by undergraduates as well.

There are opportunities for undergraduate learning that can only be fulfilled at a research university like Penn State. We want to ensure that an increasing number of avenues for research are open to our students and that more undergraduates avail themselves of these experiences.

Research/Penn State is published by the Vice President for Research. Contents copyright 1998 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-3303. Contact the editor for permission to reprint.