Three years of undergraduate research has enabled University of Mary Washington senior environmental science major Stephanie Andreucci to embark on two research projects, both involving intense fieldwork and laboratory analysis at the Jepson Science Center; and a chance to speak at two national geological conferences.
Andreucci recently returned from Portland, Ore., where she and Ben Odhiambo Kisila, associate professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, presented research on soil erosion to thousands of peers at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Geological Society of America (GSA).
Last year, Andreucci and Dr. Kisila presented their findings on the environmental evolution of the Chincoteague lagoon-marsh system at the annual 2008 GSA meeting in Houston, Texas.
“I think undergraduate research is very important,” said Andreucci, who was one of 150 students to receive undergraduate research grants from Mary Washington last year. “Not only does it help in preparing students to be involved in real science, it also helps in identifying your eventual career path.”
Andreucci, a Culpeper, Va., native, inherited sediment cores previously collected from three sub-watersheds in the upper reaches of the Rappahannock River Basin. Dr. Kisila encouraged Andreucci to take over the unfinished research project because of its similarity to her previous work and the opportunity to learn new research techniques.
“Undergraduate research gives students the opportunity to be involved in valid research endeavors that culminates in developing new scientific knowledge and opportunity to see the relevance of materials they cover in class settings,” Dr. Kisila said. “In essence, research is an integral part of the learning process in an academic institution like UMW and presentation at professional meetings is a forum for sharing research work with peers and relevant stakeholders.”
Their work involves both the use of isotopes in analyzing sediment accumulation rates at depositional site within watersheds as well as using GIS in soil erosion modeling. Spatial analysis also allows them to create maps which show the dominant sediment contributing areas and the associated land-uses and geomorphic characteristics.
The goal of the research is to identify erosion hot spots in the watersheds, whose excess sediment supply decreases water clarity and threatens the aquatic ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S. Andreucci presented her findings and answered questions about her research at the conference.
“Stephanie has become a better student, more focused, academically mature and more engaging as she talks about her research work,” said Dr. Kisila. “Research and professional presentations also have helped her transition from dependable assistant to more of a scientific colleague.”
Andreucci said the combination of her coursework that emphasized writing and understanding the linkages between environmental systems, and her hours spent in the laboratory helped prepare her for undergraduate research.
“In having such good professors who will all work with you one on one almost every day, UMW is a great place for undergraduate research and to really get involved in your major,” said Andreucci, who hopes to receive a Fulbright scholarship to conduct research in carbon sequestration in forest soils in Amsterdam before returning to the U.S. to obtain her doctorate in soil science.