KAS – The Gatton Academy News

Academy Students, Alumni Honored at KAS Conference

December 1, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

Gatton Academy students and alumni were honored for their research at the 2010 Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Annual Meeting. WKU hosted the conference Nov. 12-13.

The group’s 96^th annual meeting broke a record with 775 registered attendees. This year’s meeting focused on Careers in Science — what students need to know to be prepared and how faculty can help with the preparation.

Dr. Cheryl Davis, a WKU biology professor, was elected vice president of the Kentucky Academy of Science.

Derick Strode, the Academy’s coordinator for research, internships, and scholarships, explained that Academy students shared their findings alongside other undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals from across the Commonwealth.

“These students have taken on the additional challenge of research out of their passion for mathematics and science,” Strode noted. “To be honored among the best undergraduate scientists in the state of Kentucky is a true compliment to the level of commitment and hard work that these young students put forth in their research projects.”

Research, Strode explained, is a central component of the Gatton Academy experience. In all, three-out-of-every-four Academy students participate in a sponsored research project. Students are encouraged to share their findings at student and professional conferences.

“By sharing their research work at academic conferences and meetings such as the Kentucky Academy of Sciences, our students have a chance not only to share their findings but they also get to see and learn from other students and professional scientists from around the state,” Strode said. “These meetings give our students a chance to see the larger world of science and mathematics research and make valuable connections in the state’s STEM community.”

The following Gatton Academy students received awards for their paper and poster presentations:

2010 Undergraduate Paper Presentation Competition

Agricultural Sciences: Clarice Esch of Somerset, third
Ecology and Environmental Science: Victoria Gilkison of Lawrenceburg, second;
Geography: David Evans of London, England, first; Lee Campbell of Paducah, second
Mathematics: Anthony Bombik of Louisville, second; Justine Missik of Danville, third
Physics and Astronomy: John M. Wilson (Academy alumnus) of Hickman, third

For more information, contact Derick Strode at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students Present, Honored at Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Conference

November 30, 2009 | Academics, News, Research | No Comments

Several Gatton Academy students accompanied by WKU faculty members attended the Kentucky Academy of Science’s 95th annual meeting Nov. 13-14 at Northern Kentucky University.

For Alex Hare (Rowan ’10), simply choosing what sessions to attend was the hardest part.

“KAS had quite a number of interesting posters and presentations over quite a few interesting scientific fields,” Hare said. “Mostly I regret that I didn’t have more time to see more of them. I would gladly have spent two days seeing presentations and posters if that were possible.”

Students both made presentations at the conference and attended presentations from other faculty members and undergraduate students at other Kentucky institutions of higher learning.

Hare, along with three other Gatton Academy students, were honored with an outstanding for their poster Genomic Comparison of C. Scatologenes to M. Thermoacetica in the computer and information sciences division. Additional presenters on the post included P.J. Kasinski (Boone ’11), Jae Lee (Christian ’11), and Ben Neal (Estill ’11).

Clarice Esch (Pulaski ’11) was honored with an outstanding for her poster Is Collema sp., a Gelatinous Lichen, a Sustainable Source of Nitrogen for Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Production? in the agriculture division.

Justine Missik (Boyle ’11) believes the conference will serve as a springboard for pursuits both now and later.

“It was interesting and inspiring to learn about all of the various projects that were presented,” Missik said. “KAS was a wonderful opportunity to get experience in presenting scientific findings, which will be a very important skill later.”

Leah Frazier (Greenup ’10) added that the KAS conference was the best thing to happen to her since getting accepted into the Academy.

“Before going I was confused about my future plans, even though I am still relatively undecided, KAS helped me determine where I want to direct my life,” Frazier noted. “I enjoyed seeing researchers from all walks of life and ages come together at one event to present what they’ve been working on. It was inspiring to hear the achievements of older generations and imagine the improvements the younger generation is going to bring to society and life.”

Additional presentations included:

Justin Jatczak and Leah Frazier

The Effect of Endothelin-1 and 5-Fluorouracil on Wound Healing of Corneal Endothelial Cells

Kevin Andrew

Identification of DNA biomarkers for determining sources of fecal pollution in water

Torey Gilkison

Demographics of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in Mammoth Cave National Park

Justine Missik

Influences of Microbial Networks on Food Webs

For more information, contact Derick Strode at 270-745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice