Posted on Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Westminster College will host "Investigating Watershed Issues: Supporting Student Research through Public/Private Partnerships" Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the McKelvey Campus Center. The event is free and open to the public.
The symposium is a collaboration of Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition (SRWC) and Westminster's environmental science program.
"Westminster and the SRWC have worked together for many years," said Dr. Helen Boylan, Westminster associate professor of chemistry and 1995 Westminster alumna, who will give the welcome. "This event is a great showcase of environmental research that is occurring in our region."
The program will include a poster session and oral presentations by graduate and undergraduate students from Westminster, Slippery Rock University, and California University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. David Swerdlow, Westminster professor of English, will open the session with "Reflections on Environmental Studies."
Westminster students participating are:
Lynn Elliott, a senior English major, is a daughter of Myron and Deborah Elliott of Hookstown and a graduate of South Side Area High School. She will read "Minnows," a poem she wrote.
Vanessa Kriley, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Kenneth and Nadine Kriley of Parker and a graduate of Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School. She will present a poster on her research, "The Productivity of Passive Treatment Systems on Acid Mine Drainage of Slippery Rock Creek."
Amber Okert, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Patrick and Cheryl Okert of Latrobe and a graduate of Derry Area High School. She will present a poster on her research, "The Effectiveness of a Passive Treatment System for a Western Pennsylvania Stream Affected by Acid Mine Drainage."
Tara Pregibon, a senior biochemistry major, is a daughter of Nick and Linda Pregibon of Niles, Ohio, and a graduate of Niles McKiley High School. She will serve as moderator of the oral presentations.
Michael Romeo, a senior biology major, is a son of David and Devina Romeo of Bessemer and a graduate of Mohawk Area High School. He will present a poster on his research, "Teratogenic Effects of EthyleneGlycol and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole on Zebrafish Central Nervous System Development."
W. Fred Romeo, a junior environmental science major, is a son of Frederick and Kim Romeo of Lowellville, Ohio, and a graduate of Poland Seminary High School. He will give an oral presentation of his research, "Investigating a Local Fish Kill."
Contact Boylan at (724) 946-6293 or e-mail boylanhm@westminster.edu for more information.
