Research Your Way: Meet Alec Anderson

“Practical experience [in research] is important because you don’t get everything you need just from taking classes and doing coursework,” said SPSCC research student Alec Anderson. “Research isn’t confined to a lab. There’s a lot of different contexts you can perform it in.”

SPSCC launched its undergraduate research (UGR) program in 2015, pairing students with mentors from different sectors to conduct original research. Focusing on unique projects, students learn the scientific method, ethics, research methods, proposal writing, presentation techniques, and more as they earn credits toward graduation.

“UGR is an interactive experience,” said Alec. “There are people to guide you through it, people with hands-on knowledge. It gives you the resources to go in whatever direction you want rather than just following a predetermined path or curriculum.”

Alec’s project explores ethnobotany, the study of how people of a particular culture use indigenous plants, in the context of Native American perspectives and how plants are used medicinally.

“Indigenous science is underutilized,” said Alec, inspired by his Native heritage and practices that have endured the test of time. “But it’s every bit as knowledgeable and useful as traditional Western science.”

Alec enjoys the community that UGR provides at SPSCC. “I feel better connected after one quarter of UGR than I was from my entire bachelor’s degree,” he said. “It’s about having those academic resources in professors and people in the field. It’s been helpful having a mentor guide me through connecting with the right people to kickstart my research project.”

In addition to professors and mentors, UGR students get the opportunity to connect with others in the scientific field. In fall 2021, several local agencies, including the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team and Pierce County Water Treatment Plant, visited SPSCC to share about the unlimited directions in which student can take their research.

Alec is excited about what the future holds as he continues in UGR. He would like to gain more field experience by attending tribal gatherings and eventually pursue a graduate degree. One day, he hopes to take his research abroad by visiting Central and South America.

“I encourage everyone to get involved with UGR,” said Alec. “You can go in-depth and learn what you want to learn about. It’s a good opportunity to expand on what you’re already doing in a way that’s personalized to you.”