{"id":2678,"date":"2018-11-14T14:56:17","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T19:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugresearch.utk.edu\/?p=2678"},"modified":"2018-11-14T14:56:17","modified_gmt":"2018-11-14T19:56:17","slug":"eight-ut-student-recognized-by-undergraduate-awards-three-invited-to-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentsuccess.utk.edu\/urf\/2018\/11\/14\/eight-ut-student-recognized-by-undergraduate-awards-three-invited-to-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight UT Students Recognized by Undergraduate Awards; Three Travel to Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Three students traveled this week to Ireland, where their research was honored by the 2018 Undergraduate Awards, the largest international academic award program. From left to right: James Halliwell, Joseph Platt, and Siori Koerner.<\/p><\/div>\n

Eight UT students have been recognized for their research projects in the 2018 Undergraduate Awards, the largest international academic awards program, recognizing excellent research and original work across the sciences, humanities, business, and creative arts. The awards are sometimes called the \u201cjunior Nobel Prize.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research, three students traveled to Dublin, Ireland, this week for the organization\u2019s Global Summit.<\/p>\n

Siori Koerner<\/strong> received her bachelor\u2019s degree in modern foreign languages and literatures in May 2018. She was recognized as Highly Commended in the literature category, meaning that her work was in the top 10 percent of the 448 literature submissions this year. Koerner\u2019s project, \u201cSchoolgirls, Future Wives, and Rockstar Lives: Reconciliation and Resistance in Shoujo Manga,\u201d analyzes shoujo<\/em> (girl-oriented) manga and draws from economic and anthropological theories regarding gender and resistance to examine its popularity with young girls and women.<\/p>\n

James Halliwell<\/strong> and Joseph Platt<\/strong>, both seniors in the School of Architecture, received the Commended designation for their projects. Students at this level of distinction advanced to the second round of judging but did not receive an award.<\/p>\n

Halliwell\u2019s research-based design project, \u201cAnimus Installation,\u201d features a modern design of Norris Dam, located on the Clinch River. In his design, Halliwell revisualizes Norris Dam as a \u201csymbol of modernity and a hub for nature, culture, and energy systems.\u201d Norris Dam was one of the first major projects of the Tennessee Valley Authority in the mid-1930s, bringing economic development to East Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Platt\u2019s project, \u201cThe Integrated Matrix,\u201d explores the integration of new technology into hiking trails. Platt proposes that existing information kiosks placed along hiking trails, be transformed into location-tracking devices that transmit data to a central location.<\/p>\n

While in Ireland, Koerner, Halliwell, and Platt presented their work to students from around the world as well as panels of international educators, activists, and researchers. They also had the opportunity to attend lectures, workshops, and debates and to collaborate with students from across cultures and disciplines.<\/p>\n

This year, the Undergraduate Awards received 4,887 submissions from 46 different countries and 180 nationalities. UT students submitted a total of 19 projects. Five other students were named Commended but did not travel with the group:<\/p>\n