Undergraduate science research at the College of the Environment is an exacting task, full of dirt, worms, and deadly toxicants. As they prepare their experiments, carry out the replications and pour over the results, SMOCS journalism, science and policy students are beside the science students asking questions and documenting the process in video and podcast format. Browse these fun features to hear and see what undergraduate science research looks like at the College of the Environment.
In 2017, Micheal Hitchner and Courtney Kjelland interviewed a team of toxicology students examining the effects of synthetic worm gut juice on how well sediment amendments would clean up lead in sediment.
In 2016, Nolan Reese and Lindsey Soha tested the mobility of arsenic in sediment. Their experiments — full of dirt, worms, and deadly toxicants — had journalism student Jesse Nicols excited to join them in the lab and report on their findings.
In 2016, Miranda Aiken analyzed data collected from the Former Scott Paper Mill cleanup. Sitting in front a computer didn’t initially seem as exciting as gathering lake sediment or lacing soil with arsenic, but the results of her work wound up fascinating reporter Sarah Mikkelborg.
In 2014, students Kelci Holten, Ryan Lefler, and Kent Quickstad interviewed undergraduate science researchers Gerald Kitsis, Alayna Nieman, and Ethan Tracy about their experiments designed to test how oyster mushrooms, combined with surface active chemicals, may help degrade and cleanup PCBs in soils.
In 2014, students Beth Calrson, James Leder, and Jordi Johnson talked with undergraduate toxicology researchers Courtney Fung, Jenna Rheuben, and Christopher San about their fate and transport modeling work which was used to better understand how PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) accumulate in mussels, a popular shellfish eaten in the Puget Sound region.
In 2014, students Elena Bary, Meg Duke and Brooke Warren interviewed undergraduate science researchers Bodi Cabiyo, Tommy Craig, and Shannon Daughtrey about their experiment on how environmental factors shape the ability of activated carbon to sorb PCBs.