What many people don't realize is that undergraduate research is a great opportunity to get out there and meet tons of people from all walks of life and hear about their research. I recently went to the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) which was held in San Francisco this year, I didn't have to pay for anything except for dinner, furthermore it was a great experience. I listened to talks from an astronaut, brain surgeons, and even a member of the little rock nine, the first group of African American students to integrate a high school. On top of that I was able to speak with undergraduates from around the country doing research just like me, one interesting research project I learned about was a venomous clam which actually harpoons its prey with a razor sharp tooth. I spoke with students from Berkeley and learned about how campus life was and more interestingly how much more expensive it is to live there! If your interested in getting involved in undergraduate research here on campus I suggest checking out:
http://www.uwlax.edu/ibisreu/