MARSHALL - Imagine grass, shrubs and trees growing on roofs. It could be the wave of the future, according to some students at Southwest Minnesota State University.

The fourth annual Undergraduate Research Conference was Wednesday at SMSU with more than 100 presentations. Some of the presentations were made by two or more students.

The day-long event included poster presentations in the lower level of the Conference Center with researchers available at various times to discuss their projects and findings.

In their presentation titled "Sustainability Through Green Building," Kao Kue and Jason Zahn pointed out that two SMSU buildings, Founders Hall and the Individualized Learning Center will need new roofs soon.

Kao Kue explained the different types of green roofs, and that they can last for 50 years, compared to 20 to 30 years for a regular roof.

Intensive roofs require a deep layer of soil for planting shrubs, she said, and a great deal of maintenance and costs. An extensive roof does not require an angled roof, she said.

"A green roof reduces the aging of the roof's membrane," she said, "and can divert 100,000 gallons of water from the sewer system a year."

Zahn showed pictures of the roofs of Chicago City Hall, which has more than 100 different species of plants, and the Minneapolis Central Library, which has three different types of green roofs and uses a wide variety of weather tolerant and indigenous plants. Researchers are studying how the Chicago roof affects the environment and are monitoring how the Minneapolis roof affects storm water runoff, he said.

The team acknowledged SMSU is not ready to construct green roofs. One reason is the cost will be more than a traditional roof and the funding isn't available now. Secondly, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities policy does not allow for green roofs due to leaking problems.

"We do recommend SMSU look at green roofs as a possible idea in the near future," Zahn said. "We propose an extensive green roof" which is more shallow and doesn't weigh as much."

The team recommended SMSU consider the project for the IL Center because the roof could be done in sections instead of needing to do the whole project at once.

The recommendation will be heard, said Dr. Emily Deaver, professor of environmental science and organizer of the event.

"Information from student projects and presentations at the conference will be used in a variety of ways," Deaver said. "The students who did the research on the sustainable issues have already been in contact with, and working with, SMSU staff so the information can be included in future planning and development of the facilities. Other research results, such as the two environmental science student projects related to East and West Twin Lakes, will be presented to the Lyon County Water Board the end of January so that they can use the information in their plans for development of the new county park in that area."

"Other projects/presentations will be done again at regional meetings in the specific disciplines; for example, theater students have taken their posters from here and presented them at a regional theater meeting," Deaver added. "Sharing the information with a broad audience is one goal of the event."

The conference was initiated in the fall of 2006 by Deaver, after she and Dr. Thomas Dilley conducted an Environmental Science program review in 2005-2006 and found the science students needed more experience conducting research, according to the abstract booklet on the conference. The conference has grown from 67 presenters in 2006, to 143 presenters in 2007 to 178 presenters in 2008, according to the booklet.

"Participating in this conference is really important for the students for a variety of reasons," Deaver said. "It enhances the student learning experience; they build a mentoring relationship with faculty (which is different from the classroom instructor relationship)."