What is undergraduate research and why do research at a predominantly undergraduate institution?

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Thomas J. Wenzel, twenzel@bates.edu, Chemistry, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240
The Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation funded a recent initiative known as the Undergraduate Research Summit. The Summit brought together various stakeholders to examine the research enterprise at predominantly undergraduate institutions and issue a series of recommendations aimed at improving the quality and quantity of research in chemistry at those institutions. The way in which the Summit participants answered the title question will be discussed as a rationale for the value of research at undergraduate institutions.