Experiential Learning

Where Academics and Research Meet: Experiential Learning at SAAS

A CORE MISSION OF LANGSTON UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND

STORY

APPLIED SCIENCES (SAAS) IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO COMPETE AND EXCEL

IN TODAY’S DEMANDING PROFESSIONS. FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRA

TORS AT SAAS KNOW THAT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ALONE DOES NOT PROVIDE THE

FULL COMPLEMENT OF TOOLS AND CAPABILITIES STUDENTS WILL NEED TO THRIVE. TO

PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND REWARDING LEARNING EXPERI

ENCES, SAAS PAIRS THEM WITH SCIENTISTS WORKING ON ADVANCED RESEARCH INITIA

TIVES SO THAT THEY CAN GAIN DEEPER KNOWLEDGE, SHARPEN ANALYTICAL SKILLS, AND

ENRICH THEIR UNDERSTANDING. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BUILD FOUNDATIONS THAT

WILL ENSURE THAT SAAS GRADUATES HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO DRIVE INNOV

ATION, COLLABORATE EFFECTIVELY, AND EARN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN GOVERNMENT,

ACADEMIA, OR INDUSTRY.

During spring 2020, SAAS faculty and research scientists mentored a total of 41 students, who assisted with research projects and related activities in their disciplines. Beyond the classroom — in laboratories, greenhouses, farm fields, pastures, and at professional symposiums — they honed their abilities in socioeconomic analysis, genetics and genomics, bioinformatics, technology development, computer programming, professional presentation, and more.

BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH: FROM DNA TO DATA

Research scientist Dr. Yonathan Tilahun teaches molecular biology

techniques to students working in the SAAS Teaching Laboratory. His research mentees from the natural resources management program — Jahlin Williams and Talia Alexander — performed DNA extraction for microbiome research and prepared samples for gene sequencing. Research mentee Charles Lett, Jr., a computer science major, focused on bioinformatics and the uses of various software applications for data analysis. “Each student made contributions to the growth and development of the Teaching Lab’s capabilities,” Tilahun said, “from helping complete wet laboratory bench work to finding answers to computational problems before even taking a (continues on page 30)

Rob Hoskins learns laboratory techniques from Dr. Chanelle Hayes.

“Mentoring students … allows me to inspire inquisitiveness, passion, discipline, and dedicated effort. ... The undergraduate research experience profoundly changes the student’s

outlook. ...” — DR. ERICK LOETZ, AIGR RESEARCH FARM MANAGER

Dr. Yonathan Tilahun teaches laboratory procedures to Monica Mascarenas and Audia Jones (center).

computer science course.” Lett offered a student’s perspective. “Research is as important in the classroom as in the lab,” he said. “The knowledge I gained working in bioinformatics has helped me tremendously in my classes, especially in problem solving.”

Dr. Kanyand Matand, associate professor, stressed transferable laboratory skills with the plant biotechnology student-researchers he mentored. “They were trained in gene isolation as a general concept and then isolated ‘death genes’ in daylilies specifically. In addition, they gained experience and skill introducing foreign genes into plant cells to develop genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Over the course of their training, they gained hands-on technical experience with such processes as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), total RNA isolation, mRNA purification, cDNA synthesis, genomic library construction, and gene screening during plant transformation processes. All of these laboratory skills are directly transferable to career opportunities,” Matand concluded. Matand’s mentees — Kameron Lindsay, Maya Williams, Zoe McGowan, and Meordrick Shoemake — expressed the excitement they felt discovering the integral relationship between agriculture and core STEM disciplines. Lindsay noted, “My knowledge of research and fundamental laboratory protocol has been greatly enhanced. In our newest research project, the team and I received results we weren’t prepared for. That made us think in different ways and ultimately made me want to acquire more knowledge.” Thanks to his work with Matand, Shoemake gained a new appreciation for plant biotechnology and has re-focused his vision for the future. He is more confident than ever that new skills sharpened in the field, greenhouse, and laboratory will be in demand in industry or a graduate program.

LEARNING TO FLY, WITH DRONE

TECHNOLOGIES

In some cases, students took on integral duties in a SAAS scientist’s research, and Dr. Terry

Gipson, extension leader for the American

Institute for Goat Research (AIGR), has long made that a part of his grant

“In our newest research project, the team and I received results we weren’t prepared for. That made us think in different ways and ultimately made me want to acquire more

knowledge.” — KAMERON LINDSAY, SAAS STUDENT

and project planning. “In all my recently funded proposals,” Gipson said, “I made it a point to include student roles in research because I firmly believe we must do all we can to train the next generation of scientists.” Gipson’s research mentees were Brenda Hollins, KaTerria Williams, TeLecia Young, Johnathan Schanufer, and Joshua Mason. All five were involved in two of Gipson’s projects — Sky Wrangler, a drone equipped with cameras and an on-board computer that will provide livestock producers with real-time information and actionable recommendations for herd management, and PastureDrone, a drone project focused on pasture management. The students attended classes to learn the Python programming language and helped develop the Python scripts that will control the drones and analyze data from the near-infrared and thermal cameras onboard. They also investigated and reported on ways to commercialize and market the systems. In addition, Gipson’s mentee team studied the design of the drones, helped build the unmanned aerial vehicles, learned to fly them in autonomous and semi-autonomous modes, and interpreted collected data based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index in order to make practical recommendations. At the end of their experience, the students presented their findings at regional and national meetings.

SCIENCE AND TECH IN SMALL RUMINANT AGRICULTURE

Animal science majors Sierra Garrett and Tyrone Bowman were mentored by Dr. Arthur Goetsch, research leader at AIGR. Garrett assisted with sample preparation and lab analyses, including gross energy, fiber, and dry matter determinations, as well as data entry for blood chemistry analyses for metabolites such as albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Bowman’s research, focused on goats and sheep, involved the quantification of feed and water consumed, collection of blood and ruminal fluid samples, and measurements of body weight and body condition scores. Goetsch remarked, “I started involving undergraduates in my research projects years ago at the University of Arkansas and have been excited to continue that practice here at LU. My aim is to mentor students so they can develop into top-notch scientists or excel in other professions. Both Sierra and Tyrone have shown considerable motivation and drive to deepen their knowledge and make new discoveries.”

At the AIGR farm, farm manager Dr. Erick Loetz guided Joshua Farris and Alexia Thurmond in working with small ruminants to collect, evaluate, and (continues)

Sierra Garrett inserts a sample for nitrogen determination.

Felicia Johnson prepares to pipette samples in the SAAS Teaching Laboratory.

freeze semen; collect blood samples; detect estrus in female sheep and goats; and carry out other management and production procedures. “Mentoring students in research,” Loetz said, “allows me to inspire inquisitiveness, passion, discipline, and dedicated effort, which are the building blocks of career success. The undergraduate research experience profoundly changes the student’s outlook on every aspect of their lives because it teaches them how science uses facts to understand and work with reality.” Farris added his own angle on his mentor’s ideas. “Conducting research on the farm challenged me to think more deeply about my own vision,” he said. “The opportunities I enjoyed have pushed me to aim for a graduate degree after I finish my bachelor’s.”

Jaliyah Flowers worked with Dr. Roger Merkel on a project entitled Certification in a MoodleBox. She and her mentor used a novel method to provide web-based information to producers when they are without internet connectivity. “I worked with a small handheld computer called Raspberry Pi,” she said. “My objectives were to beta test the programs, have input on integration with wireless tablets and other project components, and clarify technical guides so the system is easier for farmers to use.”

ECONOMICS AND FOOD PRODUCTION

Two projects — Food Insecurity Intervention Strategies in Selected Oklahoma Communities and Assessing the Potential Factors Affecting the Demand for Goat Meat Consumption in Oklahoma — were the focus, respectively, of agribusiness majors Adolfo Escoto and Taylor McNair. Both worked with Dr. Nirodha De Silva, assistant professor. Prior to starting his project in fall 2019, Escoto served as an intern with the Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA in summer 2019. When he began working with De Silva, Escoto realized that combining research and academic goals fit perfectly with his long-term plans. “My experiences had a lasting impact on my personal growth,” Escoto said, “and I give credit to Dr. De Silva and the agriculture and natural resources department for their support. I wanted to show that a degree from

“…I made it a point to include student roles in research because I firmly believe we must … train the next generation

of scientists.” — DR. TERRY GIPSON, AIGR EXTENSION LEADER

Langston University provides a high degree of value and career opportunity,” he added. His primary responsibilities on the project included conducting literature reviews on food security issues in Oklahoma and the U.S., collecting data and entering it into an economics database, and analyzing results. Through his project, Escoto strengthened his abilities to compete in the job market at the highest levels.

Isaiah Gordon and Naomi Daniels, horticulture majors, worked with Dr. Tracey Payton performing field research trials for tomato, squash, and other vegetable varieties. Their objectives included implementing monitoring equipment, maintaining and checking irrigation systems, positioning and removing insect nets to thwart pests, setting up hoop house ventilation systems, and gathering test results. “Working on the squash research project last summer opened my eyes to things I never noticed before,” Gordon said. “After I analyzed the data, I was able to see how something as small as a squash bug could completely alter a plant’s physiology and significantly reduce fruit production. Our goals were to control the pest and improve production.”

PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITION

Without reports and presentations of results, research is incomplete. For this reason, SAAS provides opportunities for students to take their experiential learning to the next level by presenting research results in poster and oral formats. In 2019, 22 students presented posters or gave oral presentations at the 19th Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD) in Jacksonville, Florida. Several SAAS students won awards, including Brenda Hollins, Brendon Foster, and Joshua Farris. SAAS students have also been awarded prizes at the Oklahoma State University Research Symposium in multiple years. Langston University Research Day and Oklahoma Research Day are other venues where LU students present their research results.

For Hollins, earning an award was one of her most memorable achievements in her college career. “Presenting my research results and winning my competition at the ARD symposium in 2019 was one of the highlights of my research experience at LU — in addition to the enriching experience of working on research projects and learning a lot from my mentor, Dr. Gipson,” she said. Talia Alexander added her own perspective on her integrated learning experiences. “My professors in SAAS pushed me to work hard in my classes and my research assignments,” she recalled. “Now I want to go to graduate school to continue that work.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Wesley Whittaker, wesley. whittaker@langston.edu

Bradley Wilkinson presents a poster of his research and poses with a group of his peers at the 1890 ARD Research Symposium in 2019.