Three Science & Technology Students Collect Awards from the Texas Academy of Science

The purpose of the Texas Academy of Science is stated as: "To promote scientific research among the colleges and universities of the State of Texas, to promote undergraduate research, and to enhance the professional development of its members."

Three A&M Corpus Christi students capitalized on the promotion and enhancement portion of the Academies goals this past month, using their oral presentations to collect awards from the Academy. Scott Large, Leslie Patterson, and Gabriel Ramirez (all of A&M's College of Science & Technology) took 1st, 2nd, and Honorable Mention awards away from the Academy's 111th meeting.

The wide array of topics presented in both oral and poster form varied from the Productivity of Phytoplankton in the Laguna Madre, to Acrylamide production in French Fries. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi graduate student, Scott Large, took 1st Place in Graduate Oral Presentations with his topic: Dogwhelks (Nucella lapillus ) Evaluate Predation Risk Using Chemical Cues from Predators and Predator Diet. Large says that each course he as taken in the College of Science & Technology has helped him focus on his research goals and interests, while still broadening his understanding of both local and global issues in the scientific community: "I could not have achieved any of my research without the help and guidance of my graduate committee, Thomas Shirley, Greg Stunz, and Lee Smee.

Placing 2nd in the Oral Presentation category at the Academy meeting was A&M Corpus Christi student, Leslie Patterson. Patterson credits the successful learning environment provided by A&M's faculty and staff toward her award for a presentation titled, "Phylogeographic and Temporal Analysis of Stiphodon cf. elegans and Stiphodon caeruleus from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)".

Also receiving recognition from the Academy was Gabriel Ramirez, who received Honorable Mention.

For more information about the Texas Academy of Science, please visit their website at www.texasacademyofscience.org.

Look for further successes by TAMUCC Science & Technology students at the Benthic Ecology Meeting in Providence, RI April 9-12.

- Will Piatt