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Students research together, look deeper into Waco water

Sept. 1, 2009

By Addie Aro
Staff writer

Correction:This article previously indicated an incorrect date of students' water quality research presentation. The correct date is Friday, August 28th. We apologize for the error.

A group of former biology students presented their preliminary research results on water quality, Friday Aug 28 at Waco City Hall.

In the spring semester, Dr. Marty Harvill, senior lecturer of biology, decided to give more undergraduate research experience for his BIO 1106 lab course. He took his class of 48 students and placed them into groups of three. From there, 16 experiments were generated, with each group responsible for coming up with their own questions, abstracts and data.

Harvill got the idea to start up the research program after 2008 Robert Foster Cherry Award winner, Dr. Stephen Davis, did similar research with his students.

"Last fall, Dr. Davis came to campus and taught a couple of classes, and I sat in on his class. [His] model was the type of model that I wanted to try to adapt for my class," Harvill said.

The students spent the spring working together, gathering research and recording their results.

Their topics ranged from bacteria growth to methane production and how different variables affected water quality at the Lake Waco wetlands.

Harvill then selected the five experiments he felt were most relevant to the City of Waco and the Lake Waco Wetlands.

Houston sophomore Alexeis Baqui and San Antonio senior Braden Wersonske were members of one of the groups selected to present to the mayor.

Their project focused on the how different variables affected the growth rate of algae in water.

The group took common decaying matter found in the Lake Waco wetlands that included crayfish, manure, plant matter and fertilizer.

They hypothesized that manure would provide optimal growth of algae in the water.

They found, however, after four weeks that crayfish gave off the most nutrients, which increased algae growth.

"Our results surprised us, but if we had more time maybe it would've been different," Baqui said.

Mayor Virginia DuPuy said the students' research and results far exceeded her expectations.

" One of the most encouraging, meaningful things was to see the work and high level of interest of the students. How they went about it was so intriguing," she said. "Also, the fact that they went home for the summer and came back to present speaks volumes of personal discipline and integrity. "

DuPuy also said that the results from each experiment would be shared with the right people.

" Because a lake is biological complex body of water, experiments like this help to contribute to the community body of knowledge. I assume this work will be shared with Tom Conry, Water Quality Adminstrator," DuPuy said.

Students also gained experience working on problem solving skills , grant writing and designing a project on a set budget.

Aside from the classroom , Harvill hopes that through the experiments the students also learned invaluable lessons in citizenship.

"I want them to be good citizens They could be sitting in the city council board one day,and [they] won't be afraid to address the problems they see," he said.

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