While
many
students
used
the
summer
months
for
some
well-deserved
rest
and
relaxation
from
the
rigors
of
the
academic
year,
biology
majors
Colin
Rich
'19
and
Sophia
Mayer-Mack
'21
spent
the
time
focusing
on
plant
ecophysiology.
As
participants
in
BW's
new
summer
STEM
faculty-student
collaborative
scholarship
program,
Rich
and
Mayer-Mack
fully
immersed
themselves
in
research
experiences
outside
the
academic
year
and
presented
their
findings
at
the
Cleveland
Botanical
Garden
Holden
Forests
and
Gardens
S.E.A.R.C.H.
Undergraduate
Research
Symposium
in
August.
Investigating
invasive
impact
Rich's
project
was
designed
to
compare
the
invasive
bush
honeysuckle
to
a
native
competitor's
capacity
to
tolerate
environmental
stresses.
He
measured
antioxidant
levels
in
the
leaves
of
both
species
with
the
hope
that
his
findings
will
contribute
to
an
understanding
of
the
ways
invasive
plants
might
outcompete
native
species.
Rich
cites
the
opportunity
to
apply
his
classroom
learning
to
an
independent
project
as
integral
to
his
decision
to
pursue
a
career
in
environmental
or
ecological
management
or
conservation.
Student-faculty
collaboration
Working
with
Dr.
Natalie
Barratt,
who
serves
both
as
Rich's
academic
advisor
and
his
supervisor
in
the
greenhouse
and
botany
lab,
has
been
rewarding.
Rich
enjoys
the
challenge
of
searching
out
the
answers
to
questions
and
problems
with
Barratt's
expert
guidance
and
advice.
"The
best
thing
about
BW
is
the
people,
both
faculty
and
students,"
Rich
shared.
"The
faculty
get
to
know
you
and
have
a
genuine
interest
in
helping
you
succeed."
Exploring
pollution
and
plants
Mayer-Mack's
research
focused
on
plant
stress
physiology
to
demonstrate
human
impact
on
the
environment.
As
fuel
stations
are
the
leading
contributor
to
air
pollution
in
urban
locations,
she
targeted
her
work
in
this
area.
She
conducted
two
tests
to
measure
antioxidant
levels
in
plants
to
determine
the
stress
they
were
experiencing.
The
goal
of
her
research
is
to
highlight
the
need
for
sustainable
resources
to
lessen
the
negative
environmental
impact
of
many
of
our
everyday
activities.
Early
career
stepping
stone
Mayer-Mack
stated
that
the
summer
STEM
faculty-student
collaborative
experience
allowed
her
to
pursue
her
own
interests
and
be
challenged
outside
of
the
classroom.
The
research
she
engaged
in
enabled
her
to
take
the
initial
steps
on
her
intended
career
in
evolutionary
biology.
"I
love
the
small
class
sizes
at
Baldwin
Wallace,"
Mayer-Mack
said.
"At
a
larger
school,
I
may
have
never
had
the
opportunity
to
conduct
research
as
a
first-year
student.
The
fact
that
I
was
able
to
present
at
the
Cleveland
Botanical
Gardens
Symposium
was
something
else
I
didn't
imagine
I'd
have
been
able
to
do
as
a
sophomore.
The
experience
allowed
me
to
begin
planning
future
research
I
know
will
be
beneficial
to
my
career
goals."
