- While all Laidlaw Scholars will be presenting their research at the Columbia Undergraduate Research Symposium in the fall, what are the more immediate expectations that you have for your research? Are you writing a paper? Will your research be part of a larger scientific study? Do you hope to produce an annotated bibliography that you reflect on down the line? Is your research now the first phase of a project you’ll continue to work on throughout the year, and/or next summer? Now that we are nearing the one month mark of the program, please write about your expectations for your research.
I'm writing a paper, and I'm contributing to a book on political history. I hope to keep the material I've wrote about to reflect down the line once the book is published. I don't expect to continue advancing my research in the near-future since it's a prof. led project, but I know the skills I've obtained so far will prove invaluable to future experiences. Specifically, I'm excited to continue sharpening my data analysis skills to contribute to meaningful projects that help explain dynamics such as the ones explored by my prof.
- Why does your research matter? Explain the significance of the question you are investigating, and why you are interested in it.
The democratic party drastically shifted during the 60s and 70s, and these changes continue to affect current politics and governance. By understanding these dynamics, political scientists will become better acquainted with political trends often inexplicable.