GLENVILLE, WV—Four Glenville State College students have given scientific presentations at the 11^th Annual Undergraduate Research Day at the West Virginia State Capitol Rotunda.  The annual event was held on January 30^th and is sponsored by the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission Division of Science and Research and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.

‘How To Tell If Your Honey Bee Is Depressed’ findings were presented by GSC psychology junior Judith Urbanic.  “Undergraduate Research Day was undoubtedly one of my favorite events.  I seldom have the opportunity to present to a non-scientific audience. The opportunity to speak with a variety of students and legislators from different backgrounds was both challenging and rewarding.  Also, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I enjoyed getting to speak to all the students from other higher education institutions about their interesting research.  Considering the size of GSC, we were very well represented amongst the thirteen schools present,” said Urbanic, who resides in Chloe (Calhoun County), West Virginia.  Urbanic’s project advisor was GSC Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Alan M. Daniel.

GSC biology senior Morgan Scarpellini of Hamlin (Lincoln County), West Virginia studied the effects of warming water temperatures and its impact on the bleaching of coral reefs.  “Coral has a symbiotic relationship with algae.  If that balance is lost, they bleach and usually die.  My project was done right here in West Virginia substituting anemones for coral,” said Scarpellini.

GSC biology senior Aesha Peters from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands stated, “It was great to see students recognized for their efforts by legislators. Seeing other projects and experiments was inspirational and furthered my drive to eventually become a pediatrician,” said Peters.

Both Scarpellini and Peters were advised by GSC Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Sara Sawyer.

GSC natural resource management senior Adrian Patterson of Glenville (Gilmer County), West Virginia conducted preliminary research indicating that parenting birds visited their nests fewer times when simulated cats were present.  “An understanding of these effects may assist songbird conservation efforts and free-ranging cat management strategies throughout North America,” said Patterson whose work was overseen by GSC Assistant Professor of Biology Ross Connover.

For more information about the students’ projects, contact GSC Science and Mathematics Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Gary Morris at Gary.Morris@glenville.edu or call (304) 462-6305.