CURN Quotes: Will – Canadian Undergraduate Research Network

Quotes from the Student Team

Will Primrose, Bachelor of Science, major in Chemistry, 2020

1)When first joining the CURN team and beginning any initial planning, what did that look like to you?

Joining the CURN team was a familiar scene in many ways; I knew the people on the team, I had research experience as well as project management experience, and I was excited to begin. However, I first started on the project in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, so it was very strange to be working on such a large project from home and amidst so much turmoil. For me, most of my work was reading through resources and then brainstorming creative ways to translate that knowledge, and all from the comfort of pyjamas thanks to remote-working!

2) What has the impact on your learning been from the process?

Being able to work on this project remotely helped me learn a lot about my self-motivation and helped me develop better strategies for staying on top of my work. This project granted each of us a lot of creative freedom and autonomy, which is very different from typical school learning that is more regimented and scheduled. Now, I am in graduate school which in many ways is also very self-directed, so the CURN project helped me stay self-driven and has taught me a lot about project-based learning.

3) What role has Undergraduate Research played in the journey of your degree?

Undergraduate Research played a huge part in my degree and the steps beyond; it gave me the tools, skills, and experiences that have let me follow a path I’m really passionate about. After graduating with a BSc in Chemistry, I have begun my Ph.D. at UBC in chemistry and I couldn’t be happier! I am extremely excited to be able to pursue research and I intend to make research a major focus in my career.

4) What has been most meaningful to you as a student co-creator of CURN?

Research at the undergraduate level changed my life. It has opened me to new opportunities and let me meet new people– I may not have been able to do those things without getting involved. I’m very fortunate that I took the time to ask around about research, but I may have gotten on track sooner if I had heard about its accessibility to students earlier in my academic career. The most meaningful part about this project for me is that I can, in a small way, impact how the messages around research are conveyed to students from a student perspective. Plus, being a co-creator was a lot of fun, so I’m glad more students will get to be involved in the project going forward!