They have conducted investigations into molecular biology and the genetic engineering of microorganisms, the ecology of prairies, and the genetics and ecology of amphibians. They have studied the geology of glacial deposits in Minnesota, analyzed the fossils and sediments of the Cretaceous Seaway in South Dakota, and contributed to faculty field research in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Idaho. They have conducted research on the breakdown of pesticides, the preparation of novel chemical compounds, and the development of new chemical reactions both at UMM and in universities and national laboratories across the country. Students are encouraged to publish results of their research with faculty or to present their findings at conferences or seminars. Nearly all seniors and most juniors at some time serve as teaching assistants, earning money while assisting professors in tasks ranging from helping with lab courses to tutoring beginning students.
Field trips are an integral part of the learning process.
Students and faculty have traveled to the Florida Keys, the volcanoes of Hawaii, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, western Canada and Alaska, and throughout Minnesota and surrounding regions of the Upper Midwest, in seeking a better understanding of our Earth's natural environments, landforms, and processes. Students will find other ways to enhance their studies in the sciences. The Geology, Math, ACM Computer, Chem-Bio, and Physics Clubs provide an opportunity for students and faculty who share mutual interests to meet informally and participate in related activities. In addition, visiting scientists frequently come to campus to discuss current scientific problems and topics with UMM faculty and students. The social sciences consist of the branches of study dealing with the structure of society and the activities of its members.