John Falconer
Sponsored Programs director, 308.865.8496
Twelve students from the University of Nebraska at Kearney who participated in studying the Platte River through the NCUR/Lancy Platte River Project will present their research with poster presentations on October 14-15 from 3-5 p.m. at the Nebraskan Student Union. This summer research project was made possible by a grant from the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and the Leslie E. Lancy Foundation. The project’s aim was to engage the students and their respective faculty mentors into multi-disciplinary studies about the Platter River.
The students worked on independent projects under the supervision of their faculty mentors. Students were recognized as Lancy Scholars based on their academic progress (grade point average, coursework preparation) and commitment to the program. Students’ presentations are listed below.
Biology:
Faculty Mentor: Wyatt Hoback
Shea Holman, Scottsbluff “Isopods of the Platter River Valley Differ in Their Response to Flooding and Drying”
Emily Munter, Bridgeport “Trap Success for Small Mammals and Carrion Beetles Differs Between Two Counties Along the Platte River”
John Madsen, Minden “Non-indigenous Nebraska: A look at the Non Native Species of Birds, Plants and Fish in the Big Bend Region of the Platte River”
Faculty Mentor: Julie Schaffer
Megan McKinney, Potter “Investigation of the Efficiency of Ephemeral Wetlands to Remove Pathogens from the Environment”
Chemistry:
Faculty Mentor: Chris Exstrom
Lancia Darville, Freeport, Bahamas “Chemistry of Iron Content in the Platte River Valley using 1,10 Phenanthroline and 2,2-Dipyridine”
Economics:
Faculty Mentor: Deb Bridges
Jamin Mrckvicka, Rosemount, Minn. “Is Poverty a Problem in Rural Nebraska? An Examination of Five Counties along the Platter River” Amanda State, Imperial “Land Converted into Conservation use in the Critical Habitat Area”
English:
Faculty Mentor: Charles Peek
Taffnee Faimon, Grand Island “Sustaining the Platte River: Appreciating All Aspects Along the Continuum”
Geography:
Faculty Mentor: Steele Becker
Nate Eidem, Kearney “A Comparative Study of Groundwater Nitrate Levels in Two South Central Nebraska Townships”
Allison Spicer, Hays, Kan. “Is There Enough Water? An Analysis of the City of Kearney’s Water Supply”
Political Science:
Faculty Mentor: Peter Longo
Mindy Boehr, Henderson “The Impact of Water and Water Legislation on Nebraska’s Family Farms”
Brian Meade, Papillion “Towards Cooperative Water Policy: Platter River Lessons for International Relations”
