Involvement of Plant Biologists in Undergraduate and High School Student Research

A survey of the ASPB (American Society of Plant Biologists) was conducted through its Education Committee to determine the extent of member participation in support of undergraduate research and high school research. Analysis of this survey indicates that, of 531 total respondents, the vast majority (88.5%) has supported undergraduate researchers in their laboratories, while a little less than half (49.2%) have supported high school researchers. More than 80% of each participant group found their experiences rewarding. Among the most prevalent advantages mentioned were the pleasure of mentoring, the creation of an enthusiastic lab environment, and general motivation/learning in plant biology for the student. Many surveys reporting great successes with young researchers mentioned strategies for saving time, maximizing productivity, and utilizing resources wisely. On the other hand, the vast majority of disadvantage comments dealt with time issues such as the time spent by senior researchers training students, the time restraints of students, and the effects of training students on lab productivity.