University of Wyoming and Jackson State University Students Study Ecohydrogeophysics in Mississippi

Rain could not stop University of Wyoming and Jackson State University students from going into the field Wednesday. Although Mississippi isn’t known for cold temperatures in May, wet weather came in mid-week to chill and soak students working in an area called Buck Chute, north of Vicksburg and near the Yazoo River in Mississippi.  Despite the elements, the field work continued, and smiling faces still peeked through shrouded raincoat hoods as students used geophysics tools to better understand what lies beneath their feet in a lush green wetlands enclosed by an important levee system.

“I was very impressed by all our students,” said Dr. Ezat Heydari with a grin. Dr. Heydari is a professor in the Department of Physics, Atmospheric Sciences, and Geoscience at Jackson State University, and an important partner to the Wyoming Center for Environmental Hydrology and Geophysics (WyCEHG) for the Ecohydrogeophysics Field Course and educational exchange between UW and JSU.

Professor Steve Holbrook instructs students placing
geophysics equipment in an area called
Buck Chute in Mississippi

The day before the rain, students learned how to use the seismic and resistivity equipment in a large yard on the Jackson State Campus in bright 80 degree weather. This equipment allows scientists to “see” what is underground and help answer important questions about the properties of the earth. Although the two days were different by way of conditions, students felt the exercise was very interesting and didn’t mind getting a little wet in the field.

“I really liked using the seismic equipment and then seeing the data in the computer lab later,” said Naomi, a senior at Jackson State.

This is the second year for the Ecohydrogeophysics Field Course. Last year, students from JSU came to Wyoming, and this year UW students left on May 10^th for Mississippi. The two week course is made up of Ecology, Hydrology, and Geophysics sessions and field experience.

By Elizabeth Nysson

Photo by Elizabeth Nysson

New Field Course Begins for Wyoming and Mississippi Students

When it comes to the natural environment, Wyoming and Mississippi do not have a lot in common. The arid plains and mountains of Wyoming contrast drastically with the humid plains of central Mississippi. The differences, however, offer ample opportunity for an expansion of knowledge. Tomorrow, students from both states will join together to begin a two week field research course focused on hydrology, ecology and geophysics.

This field course is the beginning of a collaboration between Jackson State University (JSU) and the University of Wyoming (UW) through the Wyoming Center for Environmental Hydrology and Geophysics (WyCEHG). The goal is to offer students from both institutions a chance for exposure to new environments while increasing knowledge of field techniques and equipment use. Dr. Scott Miller, one of the principal investigators for WyCEHG and a lead for the camp, believes that such a collaboration offers important new opportunities for everyone involved.
“The collaboration is compelling for several reasons,” says Dr. Miller. “For one, the geologic and hydrologic settings of the southeastern United States and the Rocky Mountains provide an excellent contrast for field studies and environmental interpretation. Second, students from both institutions will gain familiarity and exposure to very different physical and cultural geographies. Third, faculty and students at JSU and Wyoming have shared research interests, and this field course will provide a mechanism for academic exchange. Students will be trained on various critical techniques, including field observation and use of hydrogeophysical equipment that will prepare them for both the job market and academic research.”
Faculty from UW that will be teaching parts of the course include Dr. Miller, from ecosystem science and management; Dr. Steve Holbrook,from geology and geophysics; from Dr. Dave Williams, from ecosystem science and management and the director of the Stable Isotope Facility; Dr. Brent Ewers, from the botany department; and Dr. Brad Carr, manager of the Facility for Imaging the Near and Sub-surface Environment.  Together, the team will create a dynamic, interdisciplinary research experience.
More information about the field course and the JSU-UW collaboration can be found at: http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2013/05/jackson-state-university-contingent-to-study-hydrology-at-uw-this-summer.html

 By Kali S. McCrackin

Faces of Science: Overcoming the difficultly of a path made in leaps and bounds

This is the sixth of a series of blogs about women in science at the University of Wyoming, as we initiate our new NSF-funded program.Throughout the year we will be blogging about women in engineering, earth sciences, biological sciences and beyond. 

Every scientist’s experience and career path is different. For Dr. Indy Burke, director of the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, the path was made in leaps and bounds rather than with careful, cautious steps. As Dr. Burke began her career as an ecosystem ecologist she was offered rare opportunities because she was a woman.

Dr. Indy Burke.

“At the time, there were very few women ecosystem ecologists,” says Dr. Burke. “Less than a handful.”

Dr. Burke started her PhD at Dartmouth, but when her adviser there, Dr. William Reiners, moved to Laramie to fill the Department Head position in Botany at tUW, she decided to change her graduate institution to UW as well. From UW, Dr. Burke went to Colorado State University for her post-doc and that’s when her career began to fast forward.

A year into her post-doc, she was offered a faculty position at another university. CSU countered their offer.

“CSU said, ‘Don’t go. We don’t have any women in our College of Natural Resources,’” Dr. Burke explains. “So, I got a job because I was a woman entirely. I didn’t have to compete for the job and that really interfered with the college relationship for a long time. I felt that I really had to over-earn respect.”

In addition to the challenge of strained collegiate relationships, Dr. Burke’s area of expertise did not quite match with her new position.

“I was a rangeland ecologist hired into a forestry department,” Dr. Burke says. Her area of interest is soil nutrient dynamics.

To overcome the difficulties of this opportunity, Dr. Burke worked to be the absolute best she could be.

“I was just really, really focused on trying to bring in more money than anyone else did, write more grant proposals, publish more papers, be a better teacher, and do more outreach,” Dr.  Burke explains. “It was clear to me that I needed to demonstrate that I was excellent.”

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Dr. Burke earned respect in many other ways. In the course of furthering her science career, she married another faculty member in the college, began to raise a family and served on several national and international science boards, including the National Academy of Sciences Committees and Board.

“Being one of the only women ecosystem ecologists for at least the first 15 years of my career gave me the opportunity to get invited to do things before I was really ready in my career, in a way that can actually depress productivity,” Dr. Burke says.

This level of service detracted somewhat from the time she could spend her own research, writing and publishing as well as her personal life.Nonetheless, while the first few years of her professional career were difficult, she has overcome every obstacle. She has published over 150 peer reviewed articles, book chapters and reports, earned numerous large research grants and received prestigious teaching awards.

“I felt that I had to balance all that pressure of representing all women,” Dr. Burke says. “It seemed as though I represented the gender for the whole college (and science field). Fortunately, I have an extremely supportive husband, who is highly productive as a scientist and could do even more than his share at home.”

Today, Dr. Burke balances research, service and family in a different way. As the director of the Haub School and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, she has the opportunity to focus her energy on areas of interest outside research.

 “We have one land grant university in the state of Wyoming. We have one four year institution in the state of Wyoming,” Dr. Burke explains. “When there is a natural resources issue, stakeholders and the decision makers look to this university. So, we have a real opportunity to do the relevant science and synthesize the science to inform decision makers in the debate.”

In addition to her work with science and outreach, Dr, Burke is focused on the future of science through working with students.

“Around 2000, I started to get very, very interested in teaching,” Dr. Burke says. “I felt as though my work was more likely to change the world if I affected people, rather than if I published another paper.”

Part of her teaching passion is encouraging young people from diverse perspectives and backgrounds to pursue science degrees and careers. Part of encouraging students is making them aware and helping connect them to the opportunities available.

Dr. Burke with her horse this summer in front of the Fontanelle Fire. 

“The Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources provides some great opportunities for students of all kinds,” Dr. Burke says. “I think that getting students into the field and overseas is one of the most important things you can do for anyone interested in the environment.”

The Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources provides students with field research opportunities as well as helps connect students to faculty and internships for research experiences. Encouraging students to participate in research, to develop their curiosity and institution, and to empower them to succeed in the science fields is important.

“I feel as though young women get told about challenges and young men get told about opportunities,” Dr. Burke says. “Every career is challenging. Every life situation is challenging. I don’t think emphasizing the challenges is the way to do it. I feel like showing your enthusiasm is the most important thing you can do.”

To all students, especially young women, Dr. Indy advises, “I would say that the best scientists are not those who are good at memorizing formulas or facts or definitions. The best scientists are the people with creative skills and talents. If what you’re interested in is questions and being creative, then science really is the place for you.”

By Kali S. McCrackin
Photos courtesy of Dr. Indy Burke

Evolutionary Ecology: Snail tails

Confidence building through science: A glimpse into SRAP research life
The Student Research Apprenticeship Program (SRAP) is a paid summer research program at the University of Wyoming for high school students in tenth through twelfth grade. It is sponsored by Wyoming EPSCoR and funded by the National Science Foundation. This is the sixth of eleven stories about the laboratories where this year’s SRAP students are working.

Courtney Gettel works in the Laramie River.

In the fall, the Zoology Department will add numerous students to its undergraduate class, but one student in particular will shine above the rest. Courtney Gettel is a newly graduated high school student, and she’ll be coming to UW with more than a high school diploma. She’ll be coming with a full research paper to her name and real life experience in the shoes of an evolutionary ecologist.

This summer, Courtney is working in Dr. Amy Krist’s lab studying snails with graduate student Brenda Hansen. The snails in question are an invasive mud snail from New Zealand. They are found in rivers all over the western states, but no one is quite sure how they got there. While this is perplexing, Courtney, Brenda and Dr. Krist are more interested in what makes them invasive and how they survive in Wyoming rivers.

Past research indicates that the snails excel because they can withstand being crowded, unlike the native snail spices. Additionally, they don’t produce tons of offspring. Rather, the individuals grow a lot, which means that they are adept at finding and utilizing phosphorous, which all organisms need to grow. Phosphorous is found on rocks in algae. The algae are high quality food sources when they contain a lot of phosphorous and low quality when they do not.

This is where Courtney’s research comes in. She is trying to find out how much variability there is in food quality in a single rock and within varying measurements in a river.

“If the snail really can choose (between high and low quality food), how relevant is that to the snail?” Dr. Krist asks.

This is what Courtney is trying to determine. If there is a high variability in food quality within a rock and within a given space in a river, then the ability to choose is very relevant.

“This variation in phosphorous content at such a small scale means that different quality food is available to snails without moving far,” Dr. Krist explains. “If snails can detect differences in food quality, they can increase their growth rates by choosing high quality food". 

To determine variability in phosphorous content, Courtney and Brenda are studying rocks in the Snake River and Laramie River in Wyoming. They scrub rocks and run tests on the algae to find out the percentage of phosphorous in the rock. Courtney is totally into it.

“She has a great attitude,” Dr. Krist says. “She is really motivated and on it.”

This is the first time Dr. Krist has done SRAP. She heard about the program from a colleague and immediately wanted to join, having been a mentor in the past to undergraduate and other high school students.

“It’s super interesting and super fun working with these students because of the outreach component, but also because you get to interact with this person,” Dr. Krist says. “You get to tell them about your work, get them involved, and get them excited about going outside and what’s going on in nature.”

Brenda was just as thrilled about SRAP as Dr. Krist. “She is really interested in outreach,” Dr. Krist says. “She really likes the idea of working with the public.”

While Courtney may have started out as a member from the community outside evolutionary ecology, she is on her way to being a future colleague of Brenda and Dr. Krist. Her research paper is off to a great start and she is making great strides into the life of a scientist.

“She’s amazing,” Dr. Krist says. 

By Kali S. McCrackin

Photo courtesy of Dr. Krist