It's such a waste that students put so much effort into academic work only to turn around and throw the product in the trash. There has simply been no logistical way to promote and encourage that effort. There needs to be a place where students can say "hey, I've put a lot of effort into this and it's actually awesome." Papermache hopes to be that infrastructure where that conversation takes place.
It's time students started taking pride in the work they've completed at the undergraduate level. They should start promoting their work to their peers who can take part in this celebration by furthering their own perspectives.
A universal assignment, the resarch paper, is the one opportunity that students have to contribute to the subjects they are studying. Exams look for retained knowledge, homework crafts that knowledge, but a research paper allows students to provide their input and perspectives.
It's quite a beautiful thing.
