“dh says he has rarely seen posters at meetings or read papers from professors at LACs in the most important journals in his field.” (Post #10)
A major reason is the comparative numbers of students/faculty at the large public & private research universities versus the LACs. Ohio State, for example, has 64,000 students and 6200 academic staff. But Earlham College has only 1,200 students. It would take more than 50 Earlhams to make up one OSU. Yet, on a percentage basis, Earlham is in the top 2% of higher ed institutions whose grads go on to get PhDs.
On our visits this past year to Earlham, Sewanee, Kenyon, Wooster, Union and several other LACs we have seen posters displayed in the science buildings describing the research work of undergrads. Our just-graduated tour guide at Union was moving to Philadelphia the following week to begin a graduate degree at Penn. He spoke directly about some of the research that was displayed in the hallway. Student tour guides at several of the LACs spoke of trips to conferences with professors to present their work.
I think OP’s point was that some LACs can be outstanding places to gain experience in significant scientific research. But as with anything, parents and students should be educated consumers. In choosing a college at which to study science, ask the right questions, speak directly to faculty members (admissions reps aren’t always knowledgeable or reliable on specifics in the sciences), see what alums have done, and pay attention to the vibe if you can visit the science departments while school is in session.