Undergraduate Research

The Carl R. Ice College of Engineering administrators, faculty and staff offer undergraduate students the chance to be part of research activities across the college. These opportunities include working with world-class faculty and graduate students in top-notch laboratories on cutting-edge research challenges.

Activities in undergraduate research and creative inquiry help undergraduate students in the following areas:

• Extend the learning experience beyond the traditional classroom setting, enhancing the overall experience within the major
• Stimulate additional problem-solving, critical-thinking and personal-reflection skills
• Encourage students to develop communication skills and investigative methods
• Provide more real-world experiences, increasing student interest and creating a more effective environment for learning all aspects of a discipline
• Promote participation in the continuum of learning — expanding the integration of general education and major-specific educational activities

The college has programs to help provide support of undergraduate research and creative inquiry activities. Current programs include scholarships and department coordinated undergraduate research funding. K-State engineering representatives work with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry to advance experiences for our undergraduate students.

Creative inquiry

Creative inquiry is the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering’s highly successful blend of undergraduate research and practice. Students work on teams to find innovative solutions to problems with challenging technical, economic and social components. Each year, hundreds of students participate on nearly 20 creative inquiry design teams to compete in regional, national and international events on topics ranging from wind power to unmanned aircraft.