Classroom visit on summer research

[Sean Nash]

On Friday, the 20th of March, we will have three visitors from MWSU to do a quick talk about research projects they have coming up, or are currently engaged in.

All three professors (Dr. Koy, Dr. Mills & Dr. Hartman) are looking for 1-3 students to participate in this summer's research. Dr. Koy's project will be in soil description in the loess hills, Dr. Hartman's research will be in describing vegetation, seedbank, and soil correlations also in the loess hills, and Dr. Mills' research is in turtle demographics and movement on MWSU property ponds.

In anticipation of this visit, use the space below to make some guesses (inferences) about what sort of work these projects might involve. What are some of the variables possible for study? What are keywords you might use just from the very brief introductions I have provided here? What are interesting aspects of these general topics? What do you, personally, find most interesting about each research thread mentioned here? What questions might you have?

[Skylar N. Womach]

monday when we discussed why places like the huge cliff of dirt by Casey's on 22nd street doesn't collapse or wash because we live in a area that is only found in two other places on the planet i was like whoa! This is pretty awesome. I always wondered why Casey's hasn't been buried by it but even with this little knowledge it makes sense now. Really i learned a lot in a few brief minutes.

The researchers coming on friday should be a really cool and interesting class. I cant wait to hear what they have to say.

[Taylor Snider]

I'm really looking forward to meeting these professors. The Loess Hills project with Dr. Koy would be the one I would want to do. I want to be an acheologist so learning about the certain soils and whats in them could really help me in that area. When I heard about the Loess hills only appearing in three parts of the world including St. Joe, i was amazed. Having something that rare happening here is awesome. Dr. Koy's research would include what type of soil and what kind of things are in the soil. Dr. Hartman's research would include the types of vegetation and it would tie in to the Loess Hills. Dr Mill's sounds cool too. Learning about the turtles in the ponds and why certain turtles are in one pond while others live in another pond. Im very excited to learn about this projects from the professors themselves.

[Zachery Langdon]

(I was absent on the day these were discussed). All of them sound real interesting. I’m interested in the one with Dr. Mills' research in turtle demographics and movement on MWSU property ponds. I have always thought turtles were interesting, since I live out in the country and near LOTS of lakes, I see turtles everywhere. Even though I can only distinguish between box turtles and snapping turtles. I can’t wait to find out more information.

[Chris Michaels]

Well i was not here on monday so i didnt hear the whole discussion on what might happen on friday.... but i was here on friday to listen to the three professors and it made me think, two of the professors were very well spoken but the third well not as well towards kids now he spoke great and got people really excited but never told us exactly what his experiment was going to be, this is the only thing from there on out and i lost the fact of the next speaker and the message that he was trying to convey.

[Chelsie]

I thought all of these professors were interesting. Dr. Koy is going to be researching what types of minerals are in the soil of the loess hills and she will be comparing the soil of these hills to other locations. Personally I would not choose this because things like minerals and soil testing does not interest me really. Dr. Hartman is going to see what things can grow in the loess hills. After hearing him talk I really wasn't sure what else he would be researching or testing but I believe this would be interesting being able to study this and see what is out there because I have no idea what is. The on that interested me the most was Dr. Mills. I would love to work with him. Turtles or any type of animals interest me. I really think that this project would best fit me because I want to go into zoology or a biology field.