CARS Notables. . .ARCHIVES
March 2013
DE AG SECRETARY SPONSORS STUDENT SCHOLARS PROGRAM
DSU College Of Agriculture & Related Sciences
Hosted event to showcase Ag careers to DSU, UD, Del Tech students
There is more to agriculture than farming, and that is just what the Secretary’s Scholars Program demonstrated to students on March 2, 2013, at Delaware State University (DSU). The annual event, hosted by the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences and sponsored by Secretary Ed Kee, Delaware Department of Agriculture, exposed students to career opportunities in the agricultural and related sciences. Forty students attended, representing DSU, Delaware Technical Community College and University of Delaware; the event was held from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Ag Annex building at DSU.
“We need more young people and college students in agricultural careers, from farming to research to agri- business,” said Secretary Kee. “This program is just one way we can help to educate and encourage them to explore the many options that are available for our students at Delaware State University, the University of Delaware and Delaware Technical Community College.”
“We continue to seek ways to link our academic studies to invaluable resources like Secretary Scholars that provide students with access to professionals in agricultural fields,” said Dr. Dyremple Marsh, dean of the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences. “Such access encourages students to persist as they prepare for the challenges of an evolving job market.”
The students listened as young farmers from each of Delaware’s three counties offered their perspectives on the state of agriculture in Delaware. Beginning Ag professionals on the agenda shared how they transitioned from college to careers, while Ag industry insiders from DuPont, USDA, Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, Mountaire Farms, and DDA advised students about careers with their respective agencies and companies. Professors from DSU and UD discussed graduate school opportunities offered by each institution.
According to Dr. Sathya Elavarthi, event organizer and assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources at DSU, the program provides students with access to industry insiders and producers whom they otherwise might not meet. “I want to provide the best possible opportunities for my students and prepare them for their careers after graduation; the Secretary Scholars Program is a great way to do just that.”
“Delaware has a strong and vibrant farm and agricultural industry, located within eight hours of a third of the nation’s population,” said Secretary Kee. “I am especially impressed with the agriculture industry professionals who commit to help today’s students see the career options and possibilities at all levels of the industry, and am also thrilled to see so many high quality students participate who are so vital to the industry’s future.”
Contact Dr. Elavarthi, assistant professor in the College of Agriculture for more information on this program: selavarthi@desu.edu; 302-857-6418.
January 2013
THE CONVERSATION CLUB: PANEL DISCUSSION ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Thirty-four freshmen in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources attended a panel discussion on academic success as part of the department’s Conversation Club series. The event was held January 29; the five panel members included seniors on track to graduate in May and one recent graduate. The event was held to facilitate peer-to-peer discussion about the challenges students face while in college and strategies to overcome them. The event drew strong participation from both the panel members and the audience. The panel members shared their experiences and provided pointers for academic success. Dr. Elavarthi, assistant professor in the department, moderated the event and Dr. Melmaiee, research scientist in the department, organized it.
December 2012
PROFITING FROM A FEW ACRE$
This two-day educational conference, which was held at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, DE, introduced small farmers to new opportunities and provided education in risk management, and training in pesticides and nutrient management.
(Associate Dean Albert Essel with Cliff Slade, one of the guest speakers. )
Click to read more
(2012 Bioenergy and Bioproducts Workshop at DSU)
Dr. Mingxin Guo
Associate Professor
DSU $5 MILLION, MULTI-INSTITUTION SUSTAINABLE BIONERGY EDUCATION GRANT
Delaware State University is part of a $5 million, multi-institution, USDA-NIFA Sustainable Bioenergy Education project, “Northeast Bioenergy and Bioproducts (NBB) Education Program." The grant is a collaborative effort of DSU and Cornell University, Ohio State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Pace University, and Boyce Thompson Institute.
This five-year project aims to prepare public education students seeking bioenergy and bioproduct careers by training science educators with the appropriate cutting-edge science teaching tools. Bioenergy and bioproduct teaching fellowships, workshops, internships, and training lessons are being offered to science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math (STEAM) teachers through the project. Project activities at Delaware State University include five-week teaching scholarships, a one-week training workshop, ten-week summer internships, and real-time classroom support.
Since 2011, more than 120 Northeast STEAM teachers have received the training and various bioenergy and bioproduct teaching tools and materials. For more information, please contact Dr. Mingxin Guo, Associate Professor and Delaware Site Director, College of Agriculture and Related Sciences: (302) 857-6479; mguo@desu.edu.
KaLonna works in the Human Ecology food science lab
with her mentor Assistant Professor Jung-lim Lee.
KaLonna Maull: A Land-Grant Legacy
KaLonna Maull is no stranger to Delaware State University (DSU). Even before she enrolled as an undergraduate—even before she participated in the 4-H program offered by DSU Cooperative Extension—KaLonna frequented the campus and became familiar with the university. She was a legacy kid: “A lot of my family attended DSU…it’s just kind of in me. It was like home.”
KaLonna’s experience with and connection to the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences at DSU epitomizes the land-grant mission—research, teaching and outreach—which has helped mold her into the young woman she has become. KaLonna participated for several years in Cooperative Extension programs as a youth, enrolled as a DSU student upon graduating from high school, and conducted food science research for her master’s thesis alongside faculty in the college.
Now that she has two DSU degrees under her belt—a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutritional Science and a 2012 Master of Science degree in Food Science—KaLonna reflects on how far she’s come.
“I was groomed for leadership,” she said, beginning with her connection to DSU through Cooperative Extension’s 4H and Youth Development program. As a student at Sussex Central Middle School in Sussex County, Delaware, KaLonna became familiar with the faces and places that would continue to impact her life as a young woman.
“4H taught me to be open to all types of people from across the country, to different things and experiences,” KaLonna explained. “I learned to seek common ground with others. At the end of the day, we are all the same and want the same things.”
She credits Harry Thayer, Cooperative Extension’s 4H and Youth Development program leader, for the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Club that provided her with the polish, citizenship skills and drive that give people an edge in the professional world. She also credits, among other factors, the nutrition education she received from Donna Brown, Extension Family Life agent, that helped her make her career choice.
“One focus for club members was nutrition because that’s what Extension pushed,” said KaLonna. “We had different nutrition workshops presented by Ms. Brown. And later when my younger sister was diagnosed with diabetes, it changed my family’s outlook on food. We really had to start thinking more consciously about what we ate. That kind of pushed me to go into a nutrition and food science field.”
KaLonna admits that it helped to have familiar faces on campus when she decided to follow in the footsteps of family members by enrolling at DSU. As an undergrad, KaLonna worked closely with Thayer in support of the very 4H program that helped shape her leadership qualities. In the classroom, she found herself again under Brown's tutelage, this time in pursuit of her degree. Upon completing her B.S. degree, KaLonna was encouraged by Dr. Samuel Besong, Human Ecology department chair, to attain her M.S. in Food Science. KaLonna believes she left her mark on that program.
“Food Science was a new program,” said KaLonna. "It appealed to my pioneer spirit, plus I was offered a fellowship. I must say that the land-grant family does take care of you. The family feeling I experienced at DSU is what kept me there.”
Her academic experience and success at DSU has prompted KaLonna to seek a career in food policy and regulation. She currently works as a food safety supervisor for Perdue Farms, Inc. in Georgetown, DE. She also plans to seek a doctorate degree.
KaLonna credits the 1890 land grant/HBCU experience for teaching her to be ‘on top’ of her business. She encourages students and her younger siblings to always follow up and show up in person to resolve issues.
“When the going gets tough, you must persevere,” said KaLonna. “When I first enrolled at DSU, Mr. Thayer told me that I would graduate with a degree in perseverance.” According to KaLonna, he was right.
“Go Hornets! Del State has been good to me.”
October 2012
CARS Seminar Series
Dr. Phillip Darby
Snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilisis) is an endangered bird of prey feeding exclusively on freshwater snails in Southern Florida. Effective wildlife conservation mandates the knowledge of how wetland changes influence snail kite distribution by altering snail availability. On October 5, 2012, Dr. Phillip Darby, Professor of Biology from University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL presented “Sampling discrepancies in wetland environments: Kites vs snails vs humans” at the College Seminar Series.
Dr. William Brown
Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is a migration songbird in North America. The ecology of wood thrush, especially the strategies that the bird uses to adapt to the environment and preserve its species, is being understood. On October 26, 2012, Dr. William Brown, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Keuka College (Keuka Park, NY), presented an Ag College Seminar on a 35-year study on wood thrush reproduction and influencing factors. The presentation with title “How does Choice of Nest Substrate Influence Reproductive Success in the Wood Thrush?” Dr. Brown discussed the effects of tree species, nest height, return time, bird age, mating time, and mate choice on wood thrush reproduction.
September 2012
DSU students (L to R) Taysia Chatman, Skyy Lee, Dashera Richardson, and Teyona Thompson watching a race from the Grand Stand at Delaware Park.
CARS students and staff participate in Secretary Scholars Tour
Students and staff from Delaware State University’s College of Agriculture and Related Sciences (CARS) participated in the Secretary Scholars Tour on Saturday, September 29, 2012, along with students from University of Delaware. The tour was organized by Mr. Ed Kee, secretary of Agriculture for Delaware, and his staff to provide Delaware State University and University of Delaware students a glimpse into Delaware’s agricultural industry as a supplement to their classroom experiences. Students visited Delaware Park racetrack, stables and paddocks, and had the opportunity to learn about thoroughbred horse racing and equine business management in the state of Delaware. They also visited the Mountaire Farms grain facility in Townsend and Emerson Diary farm in Middletown.
“Students enjoyed the trip which was both fun as well as educational,” said Dr. Sathya Elavarthi, DSU assistant professor and tour co-coordinator.
Dr. Marsh, dean of CARS, credited Secretary Kee for organizing this program, which is in its third year of providing DSU and UD students a personal look at Ag careers in Delaware.
For more information about this program, contact Dr. Elavarthi, (302) 857-6418.
CARS receives nearly $700,000.00 in competitive grant funding to help strengthen agricultural education and outreach
The College of Agriculture and Related Sciences congratulates three faculty members who received funding through the USDA Capacity Building Grant Program during the FY 2012 funding cycle:
Grant Title: Integrating Agricultural and Cultural Experiences in Student Training: A Study Abroad Program to Ghana
PI: Sathya Elavarthi
Funding Amount: $299,975
Summary: Undergraduate education in agriculture tends to be limited in study abroad experiences, and minorities are disproportionately underrepresented due to the paucity of resources. This proposal builds capacity in Global food security and uses international education to enhance the global understanding and appreciation by students. This grant provides participating students with opportunities for direct interaction with individuals and institutions having varied interests in Ghanaian agriculture. This program will allow undergraduate students to understand and appreciate the culture, agriculture and economy of Ghana, while making themselves ready for the workforce and learning about contemporary problems and relevant issues in global agriculture.
For more information, contact Dr. Elavarthi, (302) 857-6453; selavarthi@desu.edu
Grant Title: Increasing Horticulture Based Outreach and Extension Program Activities by Delaware Cooperative Extension
PI: Rose Ogutu
Funding Amount: $247,230
Summary: This project will help increase the quality of extension programs that promote horticultural systems. Methods include strengthening the effectiveness of the DSU Outreach and Research Center in Smyrna by incorporating protective-culture horticulture technologies and converting six acres of land to organic production; Developing extension-wide connections with community organizations to promote clientele participation in sustainable production programs; Improve extension educational programs by developing effective communication among professionals and clientele through training on organized electronic and social media channels; and deliver workshops on topics that improve sustainable production, and utilize emerging horticulture technologies.
For more information, contact Dr. Ogutu, (302) 857-6397; rogutu@desu.edu
Grant Title: On-farm Training Program for Students from Non-farm Backgrounds
PI: Kalpalatha Melmaiee
Funding Amount: $149,900
Summary: Hands-on experience is the cornerstone of agricultural education. This program helps build capacity at Delaware State University in multifaceted ways by providing field-based experiences for students who are majoring in agriculture and related sciences, but hail from non-farm backgrounds. The on-farm training program runs eight weeks during the summer and provides opportunities for students to work in the field alongside a host farmer/ grower. This program will help strengthen the partnerships among farmers, K-12 institutions and land grant colleges. The grant will signal the founding of a first generation club and a student resource center in the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences at DSU, providing students with the guidance and resources needed to succeed in their studies and prepare them for their careers.
For more information, contact Dr. Melmaiee, (302) 857-6461; kmelmaiee@desu.edu
July 2012
The Poultry Science Association Annual Conference was held July 9-12, 2012, at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. There were more than 900 attendees and there were 190 students entered in both the oral and poster presentations. Dr. McCrea was the Section Chair and Moderator for the Extension and Instruction oral and poster presentation sections. Delaware State University faculty and students did an outstanding job of representing cutting edge research and extension within the poultry science community.
Ashley Shelton, an Animal Science graduate student in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, won a Certificate of Excellence award for her talk entitled “The Use of Chickens for Integrated Pest Management in a Pole Lime Bean Plot: Preliminary Results.”
Brittany Lister (center), a Pre-Vet major in the AGNR department, received a Certificate of Participation for her talk on “The Benefits of Keeping Chickens as Identified by Small Flock Owners in the Mid-Atlantic Region.”
Dr. Brigid McCrea, assistant professor and Extension poultry specialist, received a Poultry Science Association Early Achievement in Extension Award.
June 2012
Dr. Kevina Vulinec in the Amazon
Kevina Vulinec with a Blue-crowned Motmot caught in our bat net.
My trip to Brazil June 18 - July 23, 2012, under a DSU Academic Enrichment Grant, had two objectives: To present research from my Fulbright Fellowship and sabbatical (2011) at an international conference and to continue that research project.
Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) Meeting in Bonito, Brazil http://www.atbc2012.org/
With four other bat researchers, I organized a symposium in honor of Dr. Elisabeth Kalko, a preeminent bat researcher who passed away unexpectedly last October. I was able to get a grant from Bat Conservation International to help defray some of the travel costs for researchers from developing countries to attend the conference and participate in our symposium. My student Ileana Garcia Mayes also attended the conference.
Research Project: Seed-Dispersing Bats in Intact and Disturbed Tropical Rainforest
The primary objective of my research proposal to the Delaware State University Academic Enrichment Program was to partially fund scientific research on bats with a collaborator, Dr. Paulo Estafano Dineli Bobrowiec, at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, and two students: Ileana Garcia Mayes of Delaware State University and Adrià López Baucells, a PhD student at the University of Lisbon. We investigated the role of seed-dispersing bats in tropical forest maintenance and regeneration. The importance of seed-dispersing wildlife in regenerating tropical forests is of critical importance given recent rapid deforestation and concurrent loss of wildlife. Once tropical rainforest has been cleared and farmed or ranched it often is later abandoned due to decreased yield. Opportunities for reforestation then exist. Our study examined one of the most vital long-distance seed disperser groups – fruit eating bats – to determine their role in seed dispersal in disturbed landscapes. The factors that draw bats to particular trees for feeding will in large part determine what seeds are subsequently spread around the nearby landscape.
We tested hypotheses predicting bat activity at fruiting trees of differing crop sizes, in different vegetation cover, and with different predator risk. We were especially interested in the effect of these factors on seed dispersal and addressed the following questions:
1) Is bat activity different at high, medium, and low fruiting crop sizes?
2) Does bat activity differ under different vegetational cover in tropical forest?
3) Does bat activity change with the presence of predators?
4) What is the interaction of these three factors on bat foraging activity?
5) Does a difference in bat activity change the relative quantity of seeds being dispersed?
The benefits of knowing how bats are affected by disturbance will help in conservation and potentially restoration of tropical forests. We need to know the point at which bat populations are not large enough to perform ecosystem functions that sustain the local plant populations. If a population of bats that reflect a specific level of activity (as for example, 10 passes per hour leads to a seed rain of 1000 seeds per m2/night), we may eventually be able to assume that the forest is being reseeded at a rate that will keep the forest growing at a sustainable pace. We will need to link rainforest disturbance—bat activity—seed rain—plant growth—rainforest regeneration if we want to be able to understand the complex processes that rebuild rainforests. This project is a step in recognizing the link between bat activity and disturbance, which will lead to our estimate of seed rain and rainforest regeneration. Thus, we can further estimate the bat population size needed to sustain a thriving rainforest.
Personal Narrative
To get to our field sites in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon Basin, we drove for 2 hours on a paved road, then another 2 hours or more on up-and-down washed-out really rough dirt roads. Of course we were in 4WD vehicles. The soil of the central Amazon has a high clay content and when it’s wet, it forms a layer of slippery mud over compacted hardpan that can result in the same experience for a driver as black ice up here in Delaware. So we slipped and slid, up down and sideways, to our camps in the forest. During our research we lived in shelters and slept in hammocks, often getting wet when we got “horizontal” rain. We had no running water—had to bring water up from the nearest creek and filter it for drinking—and electricity only in the camps with a generator (but we had to be very frugal or we could not charge our cameras or computers!)
Our daily research schedule went like this: in the late afternoon, we would set up a series of mist nets (fine gauge nets that look like fishnets but up to 30 ft. high and 12 ft. long) in areas where we were likely to catch bats. We would also set up acoustic recorders with special microphones that would record ultrasonic calls of bats (bats emit sonar-like sound pulses that allow them to navigate at night and find food). We set these around fruiting trees to determine how much bat activity there was around that particular tree. We chose these locations to examine if there was a difference in bat activity when the fruiting tree was near a large area of rainforest or a small fragment of rainforest. Then, throughout the night we would untangle bats from our nets. Bats often use the same corridors during their commuting or foraging activities, and would often fly on “auto-pilot,” that is, without echolocating because they know the way. Then, BAM! Right into one of our nets. We identified these bats and when we released them, we recorded their ultrasonic calls to add to our library of bat calls. These recordings will allow us to identify bats from future passive recordings.
We were often up until 3 or 4 in the morning and occasionally our schedule conflicted with researchers studying birds. Those folks have to GET up at 4am! It was an exciting trip, where we saw much more than bats, including howler monkeys, black-bearded saki monkeys, a tapir, tayras (a weasel-like mammal), lots of snakes, agouti rodents, little tree opossums (see photo), and incredible brightly colored birds like the Blue-crowned Motmot (1st photo above), White-crowned Manakin, and Great Jacamar.
Pictured: Little tree opossum that stole our bananas. Photo taken with infrared wildlife camera.
Dr. Arthur O. Tucker retires, receives Emeritus status
Dr. Arthur O. Tucker, renowned botanist and professor, and now Professor Emeritus, has retired after 36 years of service to Delaware State University. Admired by administrators, staff and students alike for his wealth of knowledge and impeccable wit, Dr. Tucker has left his mark on the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, and on the world. More
No Cs for me!
Courage. Conviction. Confidence.
These ‘Cs’ may describe Janay Young, a 2012 graduate of Delaware State University (DSU), but these adjectives were the only Cs she was comfortable with while earning her undergraduate degree. A Washington, DC native, Janay maintained a high standard of performance as an undergrad, earning the Summa Cum Laude distinction for her Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutritional Science. Students earn this honor by maintaining a 3.75 GPA or better.
“I told myself when I came here (DSU) I wasn’t going to get any Cs. When I thought I was going to get a C, I dropped the class," Janay said. ”When I did that, I had a W on my transcript, so I decided no Cs and no more dropped classes.”
As the first in her family to graduate from college, Janay sees her family as her motivation. She said they count on her to succeed.
“I chose DSU because it’s not too far from home and family. I wanted a school that would provide one-on-one attention. I persisted because I like to complete what I start and I like the atmosphere here.”
Janay said that her degree from the Human Ecology Department provides her the flexibility of pursuing a food safety career or working in the nutrition field. She hopes that by pursuing a Master of Science degree in Food Science, under the tutelage of Food Science Assistant Professor Dr. Jung-lim Lee, she can increase her marketability when seeking a career with either the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) or Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), both USDA agencies.
“I’m interested in food safety and what to look out for regarding food for consumption,” said Janay. “I want to help my family and others understand more simply how unsafe foods can become when not handled properly.”
Keeping busy helps Janay stay organized. She credits her high school, DC’s School Without Walls, for preparing her mentally to succeed in college. That preparation caused Janay to aim for 100 percent in her classwork. She said she endeavored to stay on top of things from the first day of each class. For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Janay offers these words of wisdom:
“Don’t work too hard. Sleep. Balance work and play. You shouldn’t have too much of either one. Time management is very important.”
Janay reminds students to be friendly and people (classmates, professors, staff) will help you. Maintaining a professional demeanor can help students resolve any challenges that arise. And finally?
“Set a high expectation for yourself. Aim high.”
April 2012
Mr. Andrew Kluge is one of the two students who received the Outstanding Delaware State University Juniors Majoring in Agriculture award presented by the Delaware Academy of Science during the Annual Spring Meeting held on April 28, 2012.
Andrew, an intern under the tutelage of Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, is funded by the Delaware EPSCOR, provided through Dr. Venu Kalavacharla, and by USDA-NIFA, provided through Dr. Richard Barczewski. Since May 2011, Andrew has continued assisting Dr. Ozbay and her graduate students with various research projects in aquatic health and oyster restoration. Among them, Andrew has helped with the Delaware Oyster Gardening Program, which since 2003, has created relationships among several bay preservation agencies and inland bay residents who volunteer efforts to help replenish the oyster population.
Andrew’s research primarily focuses on Easter Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) recruitment on cultch for the Delaware Inland Bays oyster gardening project. As he stated in his poster, "In order to sustain Delaware’s oyster gardening program, a new cohort of oysters is required biennially." There have been two previous oyster set processes performed within this oyster gardening program, one in 2007 and one more recently in 2009. During the remote set process, one million eyed larvae, which are ready to attach to substrate, are purchased and are allowed to attach to a hard substrate in order to survive, typically recruiting onto other oysters. As part of the team effort, Andrew utilized cultch of sun-bleached oyster shell placed into mesh bags. The bags of shell were placed into a 5000-liter holding tank filled with water. The oyster larvae were then added to the water surface. After a two to four-week nursery period, the attached larvae called “spat” developed rapidly and were large enough for Andrew to count. He used the sub samples of cultch to monitor the larval settlement rate as well as the spat survival rate. He knows the key for a successful restoration program effort is to have a successful remote set process.
This summer, Andrew plans to continue assisting Dr. Ozbay and her graduate students with the oyster gardening program as a part-time, undergraduate research assistant while he interns in the environmental center.
Delaware State University
is
1st Tree Campus USA in Delaware
During Delaware's official Arbor Day Celebration May 3, 2012, at Delaware State University, DSU was named the first Tree Campus USA in Delaware! DSU is the only HBCU to bear this National Arbor Day Foundation certification. Less than 150 US higher ed institutions have earned this distinction!
Way to go, Dr. Susan Yost and the Claude E. Phillips Herbarium team!!!
Read more here...http://news.delaware.gov/2012/05/04/governor-markell-celebrates-arbor-day/
Dr. Susan Yost, DSU Claude E. Phillips Herbarium Educator, examines a recently transplanted Magnolia tree on campus.
Herbarium student workers Alisa Downes and Syrena Taylor plant an Umbrella-pine (Sciadopitys verticillata), native to Japan. A “living fossil”, with no close relatives (it’s not a true pine tree), and a fossil record going back ca 230 million years (to the early dinosaurs)! It is becoming rare in the wild (its status is called “vulnerable”). It grows to about 30 feet tall in cultivation (and taller in the wild).
Herbarium volunteers Mike Radebach (L) and Lou Calabrese attach a label to a Black Cherry tree on campus.
For a map and ID of trees on the DSU campus, download this brochure:
DSU Tree Walk Brochure
EARTH DAY at DSU
DSU celebrated Earth Day on Friday, April 20, 2012. Cooperative Extension provides the plants, raised beds and maintenance for the DSU Sustainability Garden, which includes varieties of vegetables and flowers.
Here, President Harry Williams (R) and Extension Program Assistant Tom Harmon plant flowers in one raised bed.
Above: Students from DSU's Child Development Lab School helped plant the Sustainable Garden. Front row, from left: Mrs. Covington, teacher; students Havyn Greene, Jordan Davis, Christian Holmstrup and Sophia Clayton; and Tom Harmon. Back row: Dawn Hopkins, Stephen Galloway, John Clendaniel, Erin Holloman, and Megan Pleasanton.
Various images of the Sustainability Garden
DSU Cooperative Extension participated in the second annual Earth Day activities with the planting of vegetables and flowers in the campus Sustainable Garden. The Sustainable Garden, located adjacent the Administration Building parking lot, has become one of the “Go Green” icons for the university. The Sustainable Garden was designed and developed by DSU Cooperative Extension under the direction of Dr. Dyremple Marsh, dean of the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, to support President Harry William’s “Go Green” initiatives.
With the help of President Williams, the Office of Institutional Advancement, Cooperative Extension staff and the children from the DSU Children’s Lab, the first flowers of the season were planted--marigold, vinca and pansy--to complement the spring planting of onions, lettuce and spinach in the Sustainable Garden.
March 2012
Ms. Amy Cannon (pictured left with Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay), senior Environmental Science major, won Second Place as Honorable Mention for her poster presentation, "Wastewater Discharge in Delaware Inland Bays Tidal Canal: A Case Study on Heavy Metal Contaminants," in the poster category “Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies,” during the NOAA Educational Partnership Program’s Sixth Education and Science Forum. The forum, themed "Developing STEM Talent: Increasing Innovation and National Competitiveness,” was held in Tallahassee, FL, March 26-28, 2012.
"I was fortunate to attend the conference and meet students, faculty, and professionals who were kind and helpful in sharing their perspectives of how we, as emerging scientists, can make a positive difference to sustain and protect aquatic and wetland species and ecosystems," said Amy. "Being able to network with so many great people was beneficial and rewarding on (both) a personal and professional level."
Amy is interested in removal of heavy metals from industrial water treatment. She seeks to improve the quality of water for future generations. She earned her associate’s degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Delaware Technical and Community College in 2009. She will graduate with her Bachelor’s Degree from Delaware State University, December 2012. Amy plans to pursue her dream of cleaning our water for future generations, and is grateful for the academic foundation she received as a DSU student.
Upon graduating from DSU, Amy plans to pursue a master’s degree while continuing to seek improvement of water treatment. She has helped coordinate two Water Quality Clinics--offered through DSU Cooperative Extension--and will help host another this summer, to ensure that all Delawareans have access to clean water from their wells.
Amy has been honored to work under the tutelage of Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, research professor, who has offered her the opportunities to expand her horizons while performing her research.
Dr. Stacy Smith has been an active collaborator, providing funding through the Living Marine Sciences Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) for Amy’s internship this semester and her attendance at the NOAA EPP Forum.
February 2012
FORENSIC BOTANY DAY at DSU
Do you have an eye for CSI?
Are you a high school junior or senior who enjoys watching C.S.I. shows on TV AND who likes plants?
If so, then you will love Delaware State University’s (DSU) Forensic Botany Day! This event, sponsored by DSU’s College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, promotes interest in plant science and its application in everyday life.
Two sessions will be held February 11, 2012, in the Claude E. Phillips Herbarium on the DSU campus: 10 am– noon and 1 pm – 3 pm.
Just like a real CSI, you will solve crimes like murder, accidental death or theft based on plant evidence. Using state-of-the-art equipment like DNA sequencing, Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry, and SEM (scanning electron microscope), you will analyze plant material evidence to solve six individual crime scenes. The evidence has already been collected. Now it is up to you, the CSI, to put the pieces of the puzzle together and solve the crimes! "Because plants are the backbone of most life on earth, it is essential that we prepare the next generation of plant scientists," said Dr. Arthur Tucker and Dr. Sathya Elavarthi, plant science professors at DSU. "This event will help high school students explore the possibilities of careers in plant science."
Forensic Botany Day is open to junior and high School students. Lunch will be provided for all students between noon and 1 pm. This event is free, but space is limited. Pre-registration is required by February 7, 2012. To register, contact Sandy Jacobsen at 302-857-6415.
The College of Agriculture and Related Sciences at Delaware State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in agriculture, natural resources, food science, and textiles and apparel studies. Contact us online at http://www.desu.edu/agriculture-and-related-sciences/college-agriculture-related-sciences-0, or by phone at (302) 857-6400 for more information.
August 2011
DSU professor co-authors USDA Dried Botanical ID tool
Arthur O. Tucker, Delaware State University (DSU) professor and Claude E. Phillips Herbarium co-director, has co-authored the Dried Botanical ID for USDA’s Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST). This new identification tool, developed through collaboration among CPHST's Identification Technology Program (ITP), Delaware State University, and USDA/APHIS/PPQ Eastern Region, is designed for use by a wide variety of individuals and provides support for the identification of dried botanicals imported for varied uses including potpourri, decorative plant arrangements, and handicraft items. Other authors are Amanda J. Redford, Julia Scher, and Matthew D. Trice of USDA/APHIS.
Dried Botanical ID currently includes 245 different dried botanical products. Since most dried botanicals are highly modified (i.e. dyed, sliced, scented, or modified in some other way), the features available in this key focus on attributes such as shape, size, and texture. All features in the key include photographs, illustrations, and/or pages to indicate how the feature is intended to be used. The key is structured so that both the professional botanist and the amateur can achieve an identification for a specimen.
Dried Botanical ID can be accessed at: http://idtools.org/id/dried_botanical/
For more information, contact Dr. Arthur O. Tucker: (302) 857-6408, or atucker@desu.edu.
April 2011
DSU Ag students, professor, win at ARD
Dover, DE — A faculty member and students in the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences at Delaware State University (DSU) received awards for their poster and oral presentations during the Association of Research Directors (ARD) 16th Biennial Symposium, which was held April 9 – 13, 2011, in Atlanta, Georgia. More than 700 people attended the event representing the 18 universities in the 1890 land grant system.
Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, associate professor in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, received the Morrison-Evans, Outstanding Scientist Award for “Sustained Outstanding Achievement in Research.” The award is the highest honor given to an 1890 scientist by the Association of Research Directors, Inc., and carries a cash prize of $1,000. Dr. Dyremple Marsh, 1890 research director and dean of the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, nominated Ozbay for the award.
"The 1890 Institutions are making significant contributions to the development of new knowledge in several areas of science,” says Marsh, who currently serves as Chair of ARD. “That was evident with the presentations at the 16th Biennial Symposium. Delaware State University scientists figured prominently among those recognized for their contributions, as evidenced by the number of DSU award recipients.”
Awardees:
Undergraduate Awardee
Ashley Draper: Senior, Textiles and Apparel Studies Program
2nd Place (Undergraduate Oral Presentation) in Renewable
Resources, Bioenergy and Environmental Stewardship.
Presentation Topic: "Fiber Comparison of Lyocell, rayon, and Cotton"
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jungmi Oh, Assistant Professor, Human Ecology department
Graduate Awardees
Brian Reckenbeil: Graduate Student, Natural Resources Program
1st Place (Graduate Oral Presentation) in Renewable Resources, Bioenergy
and Environmental Stewardship
Presentation Topic: "Oyster Gardening" Where in Delaware's Inland Bays
to Focus Shoreline Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Rehabilitation Efforts?"
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, Associate Professor, Agriculture
and Natural Resources department
Melissa Schutte: Graduate Student, Natural Resources Program
2nd Place (Graduate Oral Presentation) in Renewable Resources, Bioenergy
and Environmental Stewardship
Presentation Topic: "Natural Succession: Examining Vegetative Composition
and Structure Progression on Restored Agricultural Land"
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mingxin Guo, Assistant Professor, Agriculture and Natural
Resources department
Jenna Warren: Graduate Student in Agriculture
2nd Place (Graduate Poster Presentation) in Sustainable Plant and Animal
Production Systems
Presentation Topic: "Use of Goats for Controlling Invasive Weeds in New
Castle County, Delaware"
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dahlia Jackson-O'Brien, Assistant Professor/Extension
Small Ruminant Specialist
The Association of Research Directors (ARD) Inc. is the federation of the eighteen (18) autonomous 1890 land grant universities that provides coordination of research initiatives among member 1890 Institutions in cooperation with federal, state and private partners. It provides visionary and enlightened leadership to member institutions as they continuously address issues impacting their ability to accomplish the food and agricultural research challenges facing the state, nation and world-at-large.
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