University of Wisconsin Oshkosh education major Alexander Siebers, of Kaukauna, took second place with his presentation on math teacher training programs at the WiSys Quick Pitch State Final on July 22.

This year’s competition, which included 11 students and 10 “pitches” from nine different schools, took place at UW-Stout during WiSys’ annual celebration of research and innovation, known as WSTS.

Siebers’ project seeks to analyze secondary math teacher education programs at UW System universities by investigating how well they prepare teachers for the classroom.

“Traditionally, secondary math teaching programs at the university level have consisted of mainly upper-level mathematics courses that have little correspondence with the mathematics that is covered in middle and high school,” Siebers’ project abstract noted.

Siebers’ faculty adviser for the project is UW Oshkosh assistant professor Stephanie Bernander.

“Not only is Alexander’s research impressive, but also he was able to communicate it in a thought-provoking manner. It is safe to say that many were interested and impressed by Alexander’s work,” WiSys President Arjun Sanga said.

2019 Symposium held on UW-Stout campus.

The WiSys Quick Pitch competition allows students to hone their communication skills and increase exposure for their research and ideas. The competitors race the clock to expertly explain their project in three minutes or less to a panel of judges.

Students qualify for the state final through local competitions on campuses across the UW System.

The state final competition was sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The judges for the competition included WARF’s Jennifer Gottwald, UW System’s David Brukardt, Realityworks’ Timm Boettcher and Idella Yamben from the Center for Technology Commercialization.

UW-Stout graduate student Emily Lehmann’s presentation on the effects of secondary listeria contamination in cheese won first place. UW-Platteville software engineering and mathematics major Lucas Frey earned third place in the competition. Frey’s project explored the connection between user interface design and errors in electronic medical records.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries, and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.