Please join us in congratulating Justin Patty, the 2022 Recipient of the Larrie and Bobbi Weil Undergraduate Research Award!
The Larrie and Bobbi Weil Undergraduate Research Award recognizes a student research paper that demonstrates depth, breadth, and thoughtful command of library resources. The winning student receives an award at Honors Convocation and $500. The winning paper is placed in the SMU Archives and SMU Scholar and may be published in the SMU Journal of Undergraduate Research.
Justin’s paper, “Arthur Cotton and the Development of Public Works” was nominated by Dr. Jo Guldi, HIST 4300. In the nomination form we asked faculty to explain to us what makes the selected sources the best selections for the student’s research. Dr. Guldi shared that, “Patty uses Cotton’s original reflections upon infrastructure in India as well as personal correspondence with the Board of Revenue and the pamphlets of other engineers to reflect on the challenges to developing infrastructure in contemporary India.”
Members of the selection committee stated that “Justin made excellent and strategic use of the limited resources on this topic and he paid particular attention to the primary sources available. Justin’s research process was thorough, leading to a compelling paper.”
You can read Justin’s paper now by visiting SMU Scholar and searching the title, “Arthur Cotton and the Development of Public Works.”