LSU College of Science Annual Report 2021 by LSU College of Science

973

NEW FULL-TIME FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A DEGREE IN THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (FALL 2020)

1,581

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT (FALL 2020)

LSU College of Science

485

GRADUATE ENROLLMENT (FALL 2020)

TOTAL FULL-TIME STUDENT ENROLLMENT (FALL 2020)

3 ,0 3 9

(5% INCREASE FROM FALL 2019) Hello friends of the LSU College of Science,

ANNUAL REPORT 2021

In the past seven years, I have had the tremendous opportunity of sharing our vision for elevating math and science at LSU, and one of the themes that consistently bubbles to the top is “Science Can Take You Places.” I reiterate this to our graduates during commencement and share it with our newest Tigers as they begin their journeys at LSU. Some of you may have even heard me say this during alumni engagement and donor events or in casual conversation. It is a statement worth repeating because it is true, and the proof is in the experiences of our faculty and students and the work of our alumni. Our researchers can be found throughout the globe and beyond, working at national laboratories and internationally recognized research institutions. They are leading exhibitions to uncharted areas, collaborating in cyberspace, discovering the intricacies of molecules using virtual reality, and exploring our seas and the depths of space. Science can inspire the ultimate adventure, and it can take you to places that you may have only imagined. In our 2021 edition of the Pursuit annual report, we will take you on a math and science adventure with LSU herpetologist Christopher Austin on the trail of green-blooded lizards in New Guinea. Join us on a voyage with LSU physicist Jeff Chancellor and his team of students as they prepare us for the next wave in space exploration. And take a deep dive into computational mathematics with LSU mathematician Susanne Brenner, a foremost authority in computational mathematics recognized by research institutions in China, Germany, France, Spain, and India, to name a few. The world is our laboratory! We are not only answering the questions that matter to our local community. We are global problem solvers, innovators, and discovery agents moving beyond state lines and global boundaries to collaborate, share new knowledge, and provide solutions to the world’s challenges. I invite you to read on and view a sampling of the math and science research afoot in the LSU College of Science. Your Adventure Next. Sincerely,

Cynthia Peterson Dean of the LSU College of Science and Seola Arnaud and Richard V. Edwards Jr. Professor

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A Story Time Adventure Morgan Kelly, ecologist and Associate Professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences, reads “Kupe and the Corals” to a group of kindergarten through third graders during Geaux Science Explorations Story Time held February 2020.

Here in the LSU College of Science, we are answering the questions that matter to you.

THE COVER The Office of Communications in the LSU College of Science enlisted the help of LSU’s Graphic Design Student Office to visualize the places that math and science can take you. The result is a beautifully illustrated cover that invites you into an adventure across math and science disciplines. At center stage is the green-blooded lizard of New Guinea, along with an underwater vehicle exploring the marine life in the depths of the ocean, astronauts navigating the expanse of space, virtual imagery of floating molecules, and mathematical equations.

The college transitioned to a virtual story time in 2021 and will host another virtual story time Saturday, December 11, 2021. Visit lsu.edu/sciencestorytime.edu for more information.

Questions that impact your health. Questions that impact the world we live in — and the worlds beyond. Questions that spark your sense of adventure. These are the challenges we pursue. And we don’t mind difficult. In fact, we on it.

thrive

We know the most valuable discoveries can come from the most unexpected places.

Cover and interior Illustrations created by LSU GDSO Illustrator Andrés González.

We are driven to find the answers — because science is everywhere. We all have the power to achieve extraordinary things.

INSIDE:

This is the LSU College of Science.

YOUR QUESTION NEXT.

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LSU Tech Fees at Work

The Evolution of DEI

Control and Optimization

LSU-Mary Bird Perkins Medical Physics Cancer Center Named in Honor of Dr. Charles M. Smith

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Science is more than just questions and answers. Science is an adventure. It’s the pursuit of knowledge, the spark of intuition, and the explosion of curiosity that drives us forward.

WHERE CAN S C IEN C E TAKE YO U ? YOUR ADVENTURE NEXT. 2

It’s an attitude that we apply to the obstacles we face, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique potential. And the LSU College of Science researchers embody that bold, curious, and daring spirit, traveling to places and spaces where few rarely go. Our researchers, both faculty and students, place LSU across the globe— and beyond. From studying geological phenomena here on Earth to exploring “invisible” spaces made up of the tiniest building blocks to making out-of-thisworld discoveries, our researchers not only contribute to scientific discovery, but they also embody all that science— and the worlds around us—have to offer.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is home to more than 950 named mountains, with Mount Wilhelm being the highest point at 14,793 feet, or 4,509 meters. New Guinea, itself, is the world’s largest and tallest tropical island. In the big geological timeline of Earth, the island is relatively young at about five million years old—for comparison, the Amazon basin is about 35 million years old. “Because of the geological history of the island, the mountains of New Guinea go up and drop into a valley, they go up again and drop back into another valley and so forth. There are all these mountain and valley chains, and that plays a major part in the biodiversity of the island,” said Chris Austin, director of the LSU Museum of Natural Science and the John S. McIlhenny Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. While New Guinea covers less than one percent of the world’s land area, this geographical location is home to more than five percent of the world’s biodiversity—and it’s considered somewhat of a biological

oasis for scientists interested in species discovery. In 1969, two biologists traveled to the island and happened upon a lizard whose insides were tinged almost every shade of green. Some decades later, having been intrigued by the scientists’ mysterious find, Austin traveled to those same New Guinea mountains. “I first became interested in the island as a PhD student because of these mysterious lizards with green blood,” said Austin. “No one had researched them in depth before. They saw these odd lizards, wrote about them, but that was the extent of it. “New Guinea is sort of a black hole for biologists, and I thought it was a great place to make my own mark on the field of herpetology. I fully realized that not only was I interested in these lizards with green blood, but there were lots of other reptiles and amphibians that I was interested in working with at some point in time.”

In the past three decades, Austin has led 15 expeditions to the megadiverse island of New Guinea to discover and document reptile and amphibian diversity. In that time, Austin, along with his then-doctoral student Zachary Rodriguez, and their colleagues have investigated the evolutionary history of the green blood, which has evolved in several species of New Guinea lizards. They have examined a number of species of skinks, six of which were green blooded and two of which are species new to science. But it’s not just these skinks that continue to bring Austin back to the island. It’s the biological possibilities. Since his field expeditions began in New Guinea in 1990, he has described 37 new species and has a backlog of more than 30 species that he discovered but has yet had time to describe. Just in 2019, he traveled to a specific grassland area that no herpetologist had previously visited

Chris Austin

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and strongly suspected he would discover a new species of a specific frog. Not only did he manage to find that new species, but he came away with several new species of frogs, lizards, and even snakes. “I think all of us who are biologists, who stuck with it long enough to become professors or curators and who really got drawn into biology, stayed because of our love of the outdoors. It’s the aspects of the outdoors, the animals and plants, that drive us, even when it gets tough,” he said. “New Guinea fieldwork is very exciting. It’s arduous and there are lots of deprivations, as well. New Guinea is one of the most difficult places in the world to do fieldwork, and that’s one of the reasons why scientists have avoided it for so long. Getting up these mountains is incredibly difficult.” One major aspect that must be considered when planning out these expeditions is the very limited road system in the country, so transportation is a major challenge. Austin said transportation for his crew is almost never by land vehicle. Rather, they have to find alternative methods, including by airplane or boat, and if they can manage, by helicopter. “There is always a story to tell when you get home. One expedition, we hired out a captain and his boat. We went along the south coast of the island,

basically in the open ocean, for a day and a half, then up the Purari River for a day. The boat couldn’t fully make it to our location, so the captain was going to stay in this village for a month until we got back. The night we first got there, it rained all night long. The boat rose along with the river and got caught by a tree. Ultimately, the whole boat sank—and this is at the beginning of the trip, right?” “The reason why we took a boat in the first place was because the small airstrip there was closed because it wasn’t safe to land a plane. But we got the motor out of the water, and the captain disassembled it, cleaned it, and reassembled it completely...and it still wasn’t running properly. The other problem was that the captain grossly underestimated the amount of gas we would need to get there and back. The whole trip, we were just like, ‘How are we going to get out? How are we going to leave?’ But we did our field work, and after a month, we got back to the village, and the boat still wasn’t working. Eventually I had to use my satellite phone to call in a small aircraft to get us out. And yes, the captain was able to make it back home as well.”

“These specimens, if well curated, will be around hundreds of years from now, and they will allow future researchers to be able to look back in time, essentially, at shifts in species to see how they have migrated, evolved, speciated, or gone extinct.” Chris Austin Herpetologist and Director of the LSU Museum of Natural Science

“But what I know is that the field work that we do—however difficult it may be—not only benefits the research that I’m doing and that my students are doing, but it will benefit scientists of the future. These specimens, if well curated, will be around hundreds of years from now, and they will allow future researchers to be able to look back in time, essentially, at shifts in species to see how they have migrated, evolved, speciated, or gone extinct.”

“With discussions now leaning towards exploration on the Moon and Mars, there’s a lot of focus on radiation research, and it’s exciting to contribute to that.”

The Moon and Beyond

Next year will mark 53 years since the first blurry black-and-white images of Neil Armstrong descending the stairs of the Apollo 11 lunar module were etched into the collective memory of an entire nation. The astronaut’s iconic dusty gray footprint still remains pressed into the lunar soil—and will remain there for a long time, maybe as long as the moon itself lasts. Twenty twenty-two also marks the semicentennial since the last time the U.S. landed on the Moon. And NASA has plans to visit Earth’s only natural satellite again, this time with a multi-disciplinary university-industry collaboration in its Artemis program, which includes several commercial space flights that will bring science and technology to the lunar surface. While visits to the Moon are rare but not exactly new, what is it about this particular initiative that has captured the world’s attention? Among all those involved, LSU will be the first U.S. university or institute to put technology on the lunar surface, and leading that charge is LSU Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy Jeffery Chancellor. “Space radiation has been considered one of the biggest risks to space flight exploration since the beginning of NASA’s space flight ambitions in the ‘60s,” Chancellor said. “The environment outside lower earth orbit—and actually even in lower earth orbit—is unique to what we are accustomed to when we talk about radiation here in a terrestrial environment.” With commercial flights now taking off to explore the space above Earth’s atmosphere, understanding the effects of space radiation has become more important than ever, and Chancellor has spent his career working to

Jeffery Chancellor Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy

Jeffery Chancellor

understand—and to counter—space radiation’s effects not only on flight hardware, but also on human health. Aboard the craft designated for what has been dubbed the Tiger Eye 1 research mission will be a radiation detection device created by Chancellor’s lab, the Space Radiation Transport & Applied Nuclear Physics Lab (SpaRTAN Physics Lab). The data brought back will further the research on improved radiation shielding in both materials and design. “Right now, empirically, we can say there is not a negative effect to human health, but according to all of the NASA requirements, and the belief by some in the community, it’s actually one of the main health risks.” The heavily charged particles that make up space radiation place astronauts at significant risk for radiation sickness, and increased lifetime risk for cancer, central nervous system effects, and degenerative diseases. Research studies of exposure in various doses and strengths of radiation provide strong evidence that cancer and degenerative diseases are to be expected from exposures to galactic cosmic rays or solar particle events. “(These particles) are uniquely difficult to shield because most of their energy deposition is at the end of their range in a material, which is also what makes them so useful for clinical radiotherapy, where protons and carbon ions are used for treating cancer. So what I’m looking at is how these heavily charged particles and the

topology of their dose deposition will affect both condensed and soft tissue matters.” Life on Earth is protected from the full impact of solar and cosmic radiation by the magnetic fields that surround the planet and by the Earth’s atmosphere, but as humans travel farther from Earth’s protective shields, we are exposed to the full radiation spectrum and its damaging effects. So often in research, breakthroughs arrive when scientists are looking for one thing but stumble upon something unexpected, and that doesn’t exclude research surrounding space travel. “Discoveries do not always necessarily evolve from

focused research. The imaging analysis developed to analyze the structural integrity of the Space Shuttle heat tiles led to techniques that facilitated early detection of some types of breast cancer and possibly saved millions of lives. “The advanced CCD technology developed for the Hubble telescope has been used by physicians to image breast tissue more clearly and facilitated analysis by stereotactic biopsy, which is much less invasive than surgery. NASA predicted that this could reduce national health care costs by approximately $1 billion every year. The first pacemaker came from the technology that was developed from the precise fuel flow required by

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Haley Pellegrin (LSU College of Science), Katie Hostetler (LSU School of Art + Design, LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences), and Jacob Miller (LSU College of Engineering, LSU Honors College) are helping to lay the foundation for humans to return to the Moon.

the Space Shuttle engines. There are many instances where doing spaceflight research has led to unexpected realworld outcomes. “With discussions now leaning towards exploration on the Moon and Mars, there’s a lot of focus on radiation research, and it’s exciting to contribute to that,” he said.

The Intersection of Evidence and Imagination

Mathematics has a long history of defying expectations and forcing us to expand the way we view the world in both the physical and abstract senses. Mathematicians, themselves, are explorers in the world of ideas who are only constrained by the limit of their imaginations. Susanne Brenner, LSU Boyd Professor in the Department of Mathematics, is one such mathematician whose research focuses on designing, analyzing, and implementing reliable and efficient numerical methods for solving partial differential equations. Partial differential equations are used to mathematically formulate problems involving functions of several variables, such as the transmission of heat or sound, elasticity, and electrodynamics. Brenner’s work has applications in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, electromagnetics, and materials science. “(What motivates me is) discovering original algorithms for challenging

problems that can be analyzed in an elegant fashion, and to organize, clarify, and simplify emerging ideas for the benefit of future generations,” Brenner said. While her research is not what one might consider traditional “field work,” Brenner, who holds a joint position with the Center for Computation & Technology (CCT) and also serves as associate director of academic affairs at CCT, has become a seasoned traveler, having visited more than 25 countries during her career. Argentina, China, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, and the United Kingdoms are only some of those countries, with the most frequently visited being Germany, Belgium, and France. While attending conferences is a main reason for travel, Brenner has served on numerous European and UNESCO funding panels and has also taught short courses at universities in China, India, Italy, and the UK. Brenner is currently serving as the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics president and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the SEC Faculty Achievement Award and the Humboldt Research Award.

Originally pursuing pure mathematics, Brenner took a course in finite element methods and said she realized that a major branch of computational mathematics is based on what she had learned in functional analysis. “The mix of interesting applications and elegant mathematics is what enticed me to become a numerical analyst.” But, surprisingly, a career in science was not originally on the internationally recognized mathematician’s radar growing up. “Looking back at the path that I have chosen, I am amazed by the many opportunities that I found through hard work and persistence, and by the friendships I have with colleagues around the world,” she said. “It is gratifying to see that I was able to make a small contribution to mathematics, and that many of my students— graduates and undergraduates—and postdocs have established successful careers of their own in academia and industry.”

OUR ORIGINAL RESEARCH DRIVES INNOVATION

LSU TECH FEES AT WORK

Semin Lee, assistant professor in the LSU Department of Chemistry, has received a $35,000 grant through the LSU Student Technology Fee (STF) Award, to establish a virtual reality learning laboratory in Choppin Hall. The lab will be outfitted with 30 Oculus Quest 2 VR devices that will allow students to directly interact with molecules as if they were right in front of them. Students will also be able to easily change the size and orientation of molecules and even walk inside of them. “It provides a totally different perspective to looking at molecules compared to traditional visualization tools,” said Lee. “VR gives visual and spatial experience of molecules, which no other media can. As a result, students will enhance their spatial abilities to translate 2D chemical drawings into 3D molecular structures better.”

Lee has been using VR in his graduate and undergraduate classes and at community outreach activities since he joined the Department of Chemistry in 2017. His innovative approach to teaching chemistry has garnered him a 2020 LSU College of Science Undergraduate Teaching Award. Other STF awards to the College of Science include: • $49,472.61 awarded to Brooke Trabona and Jane Reiland in the Department of Biological Sciences for the Solid Foundations in Introductory Biology Laboratories Program to provide more equipment and support better learning experiences for students in introductory biological sciences laboratories. • $8,815 awarded to Spencer Roby, Jonathan Gardner, and Julia Ledet in the Department of Mathematics to expand the newly created Virtual ALEKS helpline which offers five to ten-minute tutoring sessions on Zoom. LSU’s Student Tech Fee is dedicated to the acquisition, installation, maintenance, and intelligent use of state-ofthe-art technology solely for the purpose of supporting and enhancing student life and learning and of preparing graduates for the workplaces of the twenty-first century.

TOTAL STF PROJECTS FUNDED IN 2020-2021

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE PROJECTS FUNDED

Chemist Uses VR Technology to Take Students Inside the Molecular World

Susanne Brenner

19 $1 MILLION PROJECTS TOTALING JUST UNDER

3 $94,035 PROJECTS TOTALING

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L SU Q UAN TU M R E SE AR C HE R S R E ARR ANGE PHOTO N D ISTR IB U TIO N TO C R E ATE D IF F E R E N T L IGHT SO U R C E S

How do monsoons help shape modern-day Asia? Sedimentary and tectonic geologist Peter Clift has teamed with researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas to create a series of videos to explain how monsoons impact Asia’s evolving climate and continental landscape. (Videos like these are important) to inform the general public about the work we do, why it is important and worth supporting…also to generate excitement from high school students in the hope that they might apply to LSU to study geology,” said Clift, the Charles T. McCord Endowed Professor in the LSU Department of Geology & Geophysics. Clift’s research focuses on the evolution of Cenozoic Asia and the interactions between climate, tectonics, erosion, and weathering with reference to the Tibetan Plateau, Himalayas, and the history of the Asian monsoon. Clift and colleagues have produced two videos with a third on the way. The videos detail the massive impact monsoons have on the evolving climate, their link to mountain building in Asia, their role in shaping the great rivers of the region, like the Mekong and Yangtze, and even their impacts on human civilization.

Visit YouTube

to watch Asian Monsoon Basics, episode 1

W H AT’S TH E NEX T EVOLU TION OF COVID-19 TESTING? The latest innovation in COVID-19 testing may easily attach to our most cherished piece of technology—our mobile phone. Luan Vu, immunologist and postdoctoral research fellow in LSU’s Department Biological Sciences, has created a smartphone-based biosensor device to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigens and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in body fluids. Vu worked alongside LSU Wiener Professor and Endowed Chair Stephania Cormier and LSU Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Manas Gartia to create the device. An LSU LIFT2 grant provided Vu’s team with nearly $30,000 to complete the project. Vu was working on respiratory infections when the coronavirus outbreak began. He noticed how hard it was for people to get tested in the beginning, prompting the idea for this project.

“If I can get someone immediate test results, they can know whether or not to go to work and quarantine at home as opposed to having to wait 24 hours and going about their daily lives,” said Vu. What makes the biosensor unique from other testing kits is that it’s wearable at home or in the field. The smartphone-based device uses a nanostructure-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensor that can detect viral proteins. This device will not only make widespread testing available, it will also help decentralize COVID-19 testing; provide a costeffective solution for screening in large public venues such as airports, subway stations, stadiums, and shopping centers (therefore, aiding in economic reopening); and allow individuals to monitor their infectious status daily.

In new findings published in Nature Communications, LSU researchers and colleagues at four collaborating universities have introduced a discovery that changes a paradigm in quantum plasmonics by demonstrating the potential of metallic nanostructures to produce different forms of light. Their paper, “Observation of the Modification of Quantum Statistics of Plasmonic Systems,” written by researchers from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Louisiana State University, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Iztapalapa, demonstrates that the quantum statistics of multiparticle systems are not always preserved in plasmonic platforms. It also describes the first observation of the modified quantum statistics. Lead authors, LSU postdoctoral researcher Chenglong You and LSU graduate student Mingyuan Hong, show that optical near fields provide additional scattering paths that can induce complex multiparticle interactions. “Our findings unveil the possibility of using multiparticle scattering to perform exquisite control of quantum plasmonic systems,” You said. “This result redirects an old paradigm in the field of quantum plasmonics where the fundamental physics uncovered in our discovery will provide a better understanding of the quantum properties of plasmonic systems, and unveil new paths to perform control of quantum multiparticle systems.” Research pursued by the Experimental Quantum Photonics Group at LSU for the new findings was conducted in the Quantum Photonics Laboratory of Omar Magaña-Loaiza, assistant professor in the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy. “We engineered metallic nanostructures, fabricated in gold, to produce different kinds of light,” Hong said. “Our

nanoscale platform exploits dissipative plasmonic near fields to induce and control complex interactions in many-body systems of photons. This capability allows us to control at will the quantum fluctuations of multiphoton systems.” The possibility of engineering light with different quantum mechanical properties has enormous implications for multiple quantum technologies. “For example, our platform enables the reduction of the quantum fluctuations of multiphoton systems to boost the sensitivity of protocols for quantum sensing,” MagañaLoaiza said. “In our lab, we will exploit this exquisite degree of control to develop quantum simulations of light transport. This will enable the eventual design of better and more efficient solar cells.” This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. Scan Here The Quantum Photonics Group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at LSU investigates novel properties of light and their potential for developing quantum technologies. The team also conducts experimental research in the fields of quantum plasmonics, quantum imaging, quantum metrology, quantum simulation, quantum communication, and quantum cryptography. The diagram illustrates the concept of multiparticle scattering mediated by optical near fields. The additional interference paths induced by confined near fields lead to the modification of the quantum statistics of plasmonic systems. This idea is implemented through a plasmonic multi-slit structure. The looped trajectories represent additional scattering paths induced by confined optical fields in the plasmonic structure.

Graphic by Mingyuan Hong

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IN REVIEW

CONTROL AND OPTIMIZATION Math Professor Michael Malisoff is applying his research on control and optimization to systems like thrusters for underwater robots that can be used to detect water pollution, quantify the effects of oil spills, or other environmental stresses in complex, dynamic, and unstructured marine environments. Malisoff’s collaborators include his student researchers; Corina Barbalata, assistant professor in LSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering; and professors at NYU and the Universite Paris Sud. “In addition to the potential for marine robots to help monitor ecosystems, the feedback controls that my team are developing have potential applications beyond marine robotics, such as in renewable energy networks and intelligent transportation systems,” said Malisoff. “For instance, in joint work with a power

electronics team in the LSU electrical and computer engineering division, we applied my delay compensating feedback control methods to a dc/dc converter dynamic, of the type that are widely used in electrified transportation and renewable energy systems. This could help improve the performance of environmentally-friendly electrified transportation systems, which may help make such systems more viable as alternatives to traditional fossil fuel based transportation.”

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MILLIO N RESEARCH FUNDING IN THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (2020-2021): Seventy-five percent of this support comes from federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, NASA, the U.S. Department of Education, and others.

Spring 2021 marked the return to in-person graduation, a recordbreaking number of NSF Graduate Fellows, and a physicist’s analysis of an Olympian’s signature move. LSU.EDU/PURSUIT

A SALUTE TO THE GRADUATES LSU held its first in-person diploma ceremonies since 2019. The colleges hosted ceremonies at venues across campus and each ceremony was livestreamed. The College of Science hosted two ceremonies Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Maddox Fieldhouse: one at 9 a.m. followed by another at 12 p.m. The graduates included 315 bachelor’s, 15 master’s, and two graduate certificates. Of the 315 bachelor’s degree recipients; 149 earned Latin honors; 21 earned the University Medal, LSU’s highest honor; and eight earned the Distinguished Communicator award.

STELLAR STUDENTS

SKILLED COMMUNICATORS Eight College of Science students graduated with LSU’s Distinguished Communicator (DComm) Medal during the spring 2021 commencement. This distinction is the first of its kind in the nation and is sponsored by LSU Communication across the Curriculum (CxC), a nationally-recognized program for its excellence in enhancing learning experiences and improving students’ communication skills across all disciplines. Alexis Booe, biological sciences

Rory Escobebo, geology

Megan Guilbeau, biochemistry

Nicholas Jones, biological sciences

Samantha Lee, biological sciences

Lucica Mai, mathematics

Nhung Ngo, biological sciences

Victoria Rittell, biochemistry

Rohin Gilman

Spring 2021 graduates take selfies outside of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Benjamin Thomas

Graduates mask up during the College of Science May 2021 diploma ceremony.

LSU OVERALL

4,675 BACHELOR’S DEGREES

1,399 MASTER’S DEGREES

292 DOCTORATE DEGREES

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE DEGREES AWARDED (2020-2021)

448 35 75 2 560 May graduates showcasing their hard-earned diplomas.

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

MASTER’S DEGREES

DOCTORATE DEGREES

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEGREES & CERTIFICATES

Baton Rouge native Rohin Gilman has been named the 2021 Goldwater Scholar, LSU’s 38th Goldwater Scholar since 2006. Gilman is studying mathematics with a dual degree in computer science. This year the Goldwater Foundation awarded 410 scholarships, selecting from a pool of 1,256 outstanding undergraduates nominated by 438 institutions. Gilman along with fellow math major, Benjamin Thomas, were selected as 2021 Astronaut Scholars by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, becoming LSU’s eleventh and twelfth recipients. The scholarship recognizes the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity, and excellence in their chosen field.

38 15

LSU GOLDWATER SCHOLARS SINCE 2006

OF LSU’S GOLDWATER SCHOLARS HAVE COME FROM THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

LSU DISTINGUISHED COMMUNICATOR MEDALISTS (MAY 2021)

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE DISTINGUISHED COMMUNICATOR MEDALISTS (MAY 2021)

734

GRADUATES LSU HAS AWARDED WITH THE DISTINGUISHED COMMUNICATOR MEDAL AS OF MAY 2021

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT

“During my time at LSU and as a part of the ECP (Engaged Citizen Program), my volunteer service has given me many useful skills I can take into my future—skills such as organization, leadership, teamwork, and effective communication.”

The College of Science hosted its 2021 Choppin Honors Celebration honoring students, faculty, and staff who go above and beyond. STUDENT AWARDS

Heaven Harris, Outstanding Science Residential College Student, Biological Sciences Grace Sheets, Outstanding Sophomore, Biochemistry

Elise Hernandez

2021 CCELL Spring 2021 Engaged Citizen

Biological sciences graduate Elise Hernandez was awarded a 2021 Engaged Citizen Award by the Center for Community Engagement, Learning, and Leadership (CCELL) for her community service. Her service opportunities include St. Joseph Hospice, BR Health District, Girls on the Run, and Catholic Charities.

David Young, Alumni Professor of Physics, explained the physics of Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles’ signature moves to Inverse magazine. Young has garnered some attention explaining the physics of a number of athletic feats, including the physics of dunking, a high jump, and pole vault. Now, he explains “The Biles,” known as a triple double, which requires the athlete to complete three twists and two flips mid air.

Sanaa Alam, biological sciences major with a minor in Spanish, has been awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to learn Urdu. The CLS program is a study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. Alam hopes to use the language and cultural knowledge she learns during her study abroad experience in her public health career.

RESEARCH FELLOWS A record high of 11 LSU students were selected for the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, including nine from the College of Science. This prestigious fellowship supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $34,000 and $12,000 to cover tuition and fees.

Xinyue Yu, Outstanding Junior, Mathematics Nhung Ngo, Outstanding Senior, Biological Sciences Tara Fife, Outstanding Dissertation Award, Mathematics FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS

Ginger Brininstool, Dr. Marion D. Socolofsky Award, Biological Sciences Matthew Chambers, Undergraduate Teaching Award, Chemistry Ivan Agulla, Graduate Teaching Award, Physics & Astronomy Tad Dallas, Non-Tenured Faculty Research Award, Biological Sciences Frank Womack, Staff Excellence Award, Physics & Astronomy

to watch David Young’s “The Physics of” series

Chase Matthew Anselmo from Rosepine, La., is pursuing his Ph.D. in behavioral neurosciences

Nhung H. Ngo, Honors College student and biological sciences major

TOTAL NUMBER OF TIGER TWELVE MEMBERS FROM THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE SINCE 2015:

Ethan Burnett, Chemistry Eduardo Chamah, Biological Sciences Onesty Culpepper, Biological Sciences

Imogen Hoffman, Chemistry Samantha Lee, Biological Sciences Joshua Nguyen, Chemistry Cody Orvin, Biological Sciences

Brooklyn M. Squiers, Honors College student and biological sciences major

VIRTUAL STORY TIME In February, the College of Science held its first ever virtual story time for kindergarten through third graders. The budding scientists were treated to stories read by Jeremy Brown, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and co-creator of the CeCe Loves Science book series Shelli Johannes. LSU Chemistry Ph.D. graduate Alecia Gabriel closed out the event with a fun, hands-on learning experience provided by the Lab Drawer, an Ed-Tech monthly subscription box co-founded by Gabriel. Each Lab Drawer includes STEM and STEAM experiments curated for children.

Keilah Davis, a Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow from Durham, N.C., is pursuing her Ph.D. in astrophysics Tiffany Duong, a Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow from San Diego, Calif., is pursuing her Ph.D. in organic chemistry Benjamin H. Farmer from Lexington, Ky., is pursuing his Ph.D. in coral reef ecology Marvin Stewart, a Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow from St. Francisville, La., is pursuing his Ph.D. in chemistry

Two College of Science alumni are applying their NSF fellowships towards graduate degrees at other universities: Amy Elise Adair, Geaux Teach Math and Science graduate, is studying artificial intelligence at Rutgers University - New Brunswick, and Manon Bart, physics and chemical engineering alumnus, is studying quantum information science at Tulane University.

Alexander P. Landry, Honors College student and dual major in biochemistry with a concentration in pre-professional chemistry

SCI LEAD STUDENTS

Laymon Danamarie Ball from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is pursuing her Ph.D. in systematics and biodiversity

LSU YouTube channel

Three graduating seniors in the College of Science were named among LSU’s Tiger Twelve. The Tiger Twelve are undergraduate seniors who contribute positively to the life of the campus, surrounding community, and society and who demonstrate commitment to intellectual achievement, inclusive excellence, leadership in campus life, and service.

THIS YEAR’S FELLOWS ARE:

Rasidah O. Ali, a Bridge to the Doctorate Fellow from Dallas, Texas, is pursuing her Ph.D. in chemistry

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TIGER 12

Alecia Gabriel, LSU chemistry alumnus and co-creator of the Lab Drawer

Visit the LSU Science Next blog to learn how Gabriel is inspiring the next generation of scientists one lab drawer at a time.

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DISTING UI S HE D R ESEARCH M ASTER Robert Lipton, Nicholson Professor in the Department of Mathematics, has been named the 2021 Distinguished Research Master (DRM) for outstanding career accomplishments in research and scholarship. Lipton is known for his research into the mathematics of materials and their translation to engineering applications. Together with LSU students and colleagues, Lipton has been working under NSF support developing a new theory for

the design of composite media for controlling the flow of both light and sound in solids and liquids. Here the work is both mathematical, contributing to new math, as well as physical, contributing a new paradigm for controlling light and sound. His most recent project is funded by the Army Research Office and is a MultiUniversity Research Initiative. Focusing on the grain scale engineering of particle shapes for roadbeds. Lipton is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Mathematical Society, and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Lipton is also editor-in-chief of the “Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Journal on Mathematical Analysis.”

SO PHIE WAR N Y R E C E IVE S AASP’ S MEDAL F O R E XC E L L E N C E IN E D U CATIO N LSU Department of Geology & Geophysics Professor Sophie Warny was recently awarded the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists-The Palynological Society’s Medal for Excellence in Education. Warny is only the sixth person—and the first female—to receive this award since the inaugural medal was awarded in 1999.

FACULTY & STAFF AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Warny has more than a decade’s experience teaching micropalaeontology, and her research interests go beyond palynology and micropalaeontology and include historical geology, climate change, and stratigraphy.

Two College Of Science Faculty Receive NSF Career Awards Noémie Elgrishi, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Patricia Persaud, assistant professor in the Department of Geology & Geophysics, are recipients of the National Science Foundation CAREER Awards, one of NSF’s most prestigious grants for junior faculty with the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. Elgrishi received a $685,000 award to support her project, “Confined NanoEnvironments for the Stabilization of Molecular Electrocatalysts.” With co-funding from the Chemical Structure, Dynamics & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Elgrishi is uncovering the rules governing changes in electron transfer after encapsulation of redox active molecules in confined spaces.

FACULTY NUMBERS BROKEN DOWN BY GENDER AND ETHNICITY

GENDER Noémie Elgrishi

Persaud received a $589,134 award for her project titled, ”Fluid-driven Deformation in Underground Salt Caverns and Wastewater Injection Sites,” which integrates research and education to understand how human-driven changes may impact occurrences beneath the Earth’s surface in Louisiana. Persaud’s project will be the first to provide robust high-resolution seismic data and to map in 3D specific areas in Louisiana where the Earth’s crust is changing due to natural and human causes. These areas include northwest Louisiana with high wastewater injection rates; an underground salt dome storage cavern, where ground motions have been reported; and across the Baton Rouge fault that also acts as a barrier to the intrusion of saltwater from the gulf. “Louisiana and the region supplies the bulk of the U.S.’s oil and gas; therefore, it is critically important to learn how human activities are changing and deforming the Earth, especially in an area that is experiencing subsidence, or sinking, groundwater salinization and increasing seismicity associated with wastewater disposal from hydrocarbon exploration,” Persaud said.

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RAINMAKERS

Maheshi Dessanayake

LSU Chemistry Professor and Department Chair John Pojman has been named the Dr. William L. and Patricia H. Senn Jr. Endowed Professor in the Department of Chemistry. The endowed professorship recognizes a distinguished scholar with a proven record of outstanding achievement in chemistry research and education. Pojman has maintained a successful research and mentoring program for over 30 years and is passionate about providing meaningful research experiences to undergraduate and graduate students. His research interests include frontal polymerization, nonlinear phenomena in polymeric systems, cure-on demand polymerization, and the materials of art. He also studies the three-toed amphiuma, a large aquatic salamander that is native to Baton Rouge, and works to develop new polymers for cancer research.

Rongying Jin

Two faculty from the LSU College of Science received Rainmaker Awards for Research and Creative Activity. This year’s recipients are Maheshi Dassanayake, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, recognized with the emerging scholars award, and Rongying Jin, professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, with the senior scholar award.

“Working with undergraduate and graduate students is a sublime privilege that continues to give me great joy.” John Pojman Professor and Chair, LSU Department of Chemistry

Allison Hargrave, Science Residential College advisor and academic counselor for the College of Science, has received a 2020 LSU Foundation Staff Outstanding Service Award. This award was established to recognize the superior work performance and outstanding Visit contributions of full-time, non-academic staff employees of the LSU flagship campus and lsuscienceblog.com the LSU AgCenter. Hargrave has been with Finding A New the college since March 2019 and works Way to Connect predominately with first-year students in College majoring in the College of Science or pursuing pre-health.

“I truly enjoy my advisor role because I am able to build closer relationships with a variety of personalities. I am a believer in what challenges you is what changes you. The challenge enables one to expand problem-solving skills and become more adaptable.” Allison Hargrave SRC Advisor and Academic Counselor

GR E G GU ZIK R E C E IVE S 20 20 N ASA O U TSTAN D IN G PU B L IC L E AD E R SHIP M E DAL T. Gregory Guzik, professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and director of the Louisiana Space Grant NASA EPSCoR (LaSPACE) programs, has been awarded the 2020 NASA Outstanding Public Leadership Medal (OPLM) in recognition for many years of exceptional dedication and public service inspiring and teaching the next generation of leaders in science, engineering, and technology. Guzik was nominated by Joyce Winterton, senior advisor for education and leadership development at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, and Debbie Fairbrother, chief of the NASA Balloon Program Office. Their nomination letters reference Guzik’s exceptional foresight and dedication in establishing and maintaining two distinguished scientific ballooning programs for students, the international High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP) and the Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) programs. Winterton and Fairbrother also call out his “enthusiasm for discovery, his longstanding partnership in the NASA scientific balloon community, and most importantly his love for teaching with a burning desire to instill that spirit of discovery in those he mentors.”

Mark M. Wilde, associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, was named among the 151 Outstanding Referees of the Physical Review journals for 2021, as chosen by the journal editors. Wilde also holds an appointment in the LSU Center for Computation and Technology (CCT). The Outstanding Referee program expresses appreciation for the essential work that anonymous peer reviewers do for the Physical Review journals. Each year a small percentage of the 78,400 active referees are selected and honored with the Outstanding Referee designation. Selections are made based on the number, quality, and timeliness of referee reports as collected in a database over the last 40 years. Wilde is a renowned researcher in quantum information science and author of “Quantum Information Theory,” a textbook that explores the connection between entropy and information at the quantum level. He is also the coauthor of another textbook, “Principles of Quantum Communication Theory: A Modern Approach,” on related topics.

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CYN THI A P E T E R S ON NAMED S P E C I A L ADVISOR O N SCIEN C E LSU College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson has been named LSU President William F. Tate IV’s special advisor on science. Peterson has served as dean of the College of Science since August 2014 and will remain in that role while also serving in this new position. “The special advisor on science ensures that the university’s priorities in science and research will always remain at the forefront, crossing campus boundaries to enhance collaboration, innovation, and impact,” Tate said. “Dean Peterson will serve as a critical member of my senior cabinet and help to build new relationships across the flagship campus and all eight LSU institutions.” This new position underscores Tate’s focus on scholarship and research and sets LSU on a new, strategic direction. “Now more than ever, we see the value of research and the importance of building a

H OW A RE WE S H APIN G C O N V ER SAT ION S next-level scientific community,” Peterson said. “It is an honor to serve my university in this new role as we work collectively to elevate scientific research and capacity at LSU.”

World-renowned evolutionary biologist and LSU Department of Biological Sciences Research Associate Mary Jane West-Eberhard is a recipient of the prestigious Linnean Medal for 2021. She was bestowed the medal for her “significant contribution to the science of natural history and to the wider natural sciences community,” according to The Linnean Society of London. She is one of seven women to have been awarded the Linnean Medal in Zoology, which was first given in 1888. West-Eberhard is an entomologist who first became fascinated with social insects and what they can teach people about the evolution of societies when she was an undergraduate student. Her decades long work with tropical social wasps focusing on careful field observation is a testimony to what a keen observer of natural history can contribute to evolutionary biology. “I was thrilled to receive the Linnean Medal, because it focuses attention on the role of fieldwork and the integrative role of natural history in biology. Also, in its very long history, it has been given to some of my heroes of the past. It encourages me to keep on working!” West-Eberhard said.

A B OU T D I V ER S I TY, EQU ITY, A N D I N C LUSION I N S C I EN CE? LSU.EDU/PURSUIT

THE EVOLUTION OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION While “unprecedented” seemed to be the keyword of 2020, the year was also a kind of reckoning when the social justice movement took center stage and activism became a part of more and more people’s lives. From all that happened in 2020 alone, it is vital to continue shaping conversations and movements in pivotal ways we haven’t yet imagined. So what does moving forward with diversity, equity, and inclusion look like for the LSU College of Science? Diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations require a great deal of nuance and sensitivity, along with critical self-reflection and courage to begin the work. The shifts we have sought to make in order to advance DEI in the college are an ongoing challenge, but welcoming unexpected and underrepresented voices as we pursue scientific excellence and leadership aids us in sustaining an environment that supports every participant’s success. In March 2021, the college’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion launched Faculty/Staff Advocates and Champions for Equity in Science, or FACES. Spearheaded by Assistant Dean for Diversity & Inclusion Zakiya WilsonKennedy, FACES is a series of seminars/workshops that serve as a learning space for faculty & staff interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some topics covered thus far include: Understanding sexual harassment and discrimination, safety in a research environment, reporting processes, and bystander intervention. In addition to the workshops, the faculty involved in the program will also serve as mentors for the SOARS scholarship students. Scholarship Opportunities Aimed at Retaining Science Scholars, or SOARS, is designed to support economically-disadvantaged, academically talented students as they enter into undergraduate courses in the College of Science through both scholarships and mentorships.

Kim Clark, Communications Consultant and DEI communications expert

Vicki Guinn, Public Relations and DEI Communications Consultant

Brandi Boatner, Manager, Digital & Advocacy Communications, IBM

WHAT IS THE L AN GUAGE O F IN C LU SIVITY ? Understanding the impact of how we communicate has been a stepping stone in tackling DEI issues across not only our college and campus, but also all scientific fields. During the spring semester, the College of Science Communications Office invited three speakers to contribute to the conversations and to set a foundation in which to grow the College’s awareness and activism in DEI initiatives. These speakers assisted in developing an understanding on how bias can slip into communication materials, in defining the roles of allies and accomplices, and in recognizing the impacts of unconscious biases. The workshop series began with, “From Unconscious Bias to Conscious Communicator,” presented by Kim Clark, Ragan Consulting Group’s DEI communications expert, who discussed unconscious biases and how to position the communications team to be more intentionally inclusive. The second session, “Becoming an Inclusive Communicator,” was led by Vicky Guinn, a healthcare public relations professional for Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, who discussed how to use inclusive language and avoid offensive and outdated terms. The final session “Understanding Allyship and Beyond: Building a Culture of Inclusion, was presented by Brandi Boatner, manager, Digital & Advocacy Communications at IBM. This session focused on the history of the term ally and how teams can build a culture of inclusion using allyship as a foundation.

DEI FACULTY AWARD Laura P. Lagomarsino, director of the Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium and assistant professor of biological sciences, was awarded the LSU Faculty DEI Mentoring Award. This inaugural award highlights the quality and dimension of the nominee’s active work in the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the LSU community.

Q Ally or Accomplice? What’s the difference? In social justice and bias trainings, becoming an ally is one of the first actionable steps to take. But becoming an ally does not happen overnight. It is a process of self-awareness and work toward unlearning social constructs. An ally will mostly engage in activism by standing with an individual or group in a marginalized community. An important role of an ally is to accept that mistakes may be made along the way and commit to continuing their education every day. But reaching “allyship” does not necessarily signal the end-goal. By becoming what is known as an accomplice, you’re evolving your allyship out of the abstract and moving it into action and solidarity. An accomplice is someone who assists others in creating a space of inclusion, equity, and safety for all, often at the risk of their own social and/or professional standing and physical well-being. Both allies and accomplices are important. In every moment, each of us gets to decide whether or not to be an ally. And in every moment, each of us gets to choose whether or not to put our allyship into powerful practice and become accomplices. Taken from “Understanding Allyship and Beyond workshop” led by Brandi Boatner

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L S U EX PLORES GENDER I N EQU ITIES IN RESEARCH A N D ACADEM IA W ITH $30 0 K NATIONAL SCIENCE F O UNDATION GRANT As many universities and colleges grapple with issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity, an LSU group has been awarded nearly $300,000 by the National Science Foundation to implement the LSU ADVANCE Catalyst project, which will lay the groundwork for a greater awareness of intersectionality in academia. Through the grant, LSU ADVANCE Catalyst will focus on four objectives: Knowing LSU through a campus study of university microclimates; telling LSU’s story through institutional data analyses and strategic communication; catalyzing equity by piloting equity strategies that close gaps; and planning for the future by developing an inclusive five-year equity action plan. Principal investigator on the grant is LSU College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson and joining her as co-principal investigators are Stacia Haynie, professor of political science; Samuel J. Bentley, vice president of research and economic development; Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion in the College of Science; and Niki Norton, assistant vice president of human resource management.

STUDENTS OFFER ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

Samantha Lee, SCI Lead Council member, biological sciences major, and lead organizer of Research Re-do webinar

“Higher education requires an intersectional lens in order to develop a deeper understanding of different issues and concerns. We need to make this investment in science and inclusive excellence.” Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The NSF ADVANCE program is designed to foster gender equity through a focus on the identification and elimination of organizational barriers that inhibit the full participation and advancement of diverse faculty in academic institutions. This two-year project will use the human performance technology (HPT) model, which provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to improving the work performance of individuals in an organization by investigating the lived experiences of workers, the work that they do, and the environment in which they conduct their work. By drawing on the HPT model, the group will examine the inequities in the faculty experience and relevant organizational practices. “The impacts of what we can learn are broad,” Wilson-Kennedy said. “Higher education requires an intersectional lens in order to develop a deeper understanding of different issues and concerns. We need to make this investment in science and inclusive excellence.”

As scientific meetings were canceled worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, it seemed like 2020 would be considered the year without conferences. But members of the LSU College of Science SCI Lead Council were determined to rethink the conference experience in response to the loss of scheduled presentation opportunities for students around the world. The “Research Re-do” International Academic Webinar Series quickly became the contingency plan. Free and open to researchers across disciplines and universities, each approved presenter provided a 10-minute presentation, followed by five minutes of moderated Q&A. From June 24-26, at least 24 presenters from 12 research universities, including LSU, Northwestern State University, University of Alabama, and University of Texas at Austin, participated in the event. “The students of SCI Lead saw an immediate need and created some real conversation about what conferences had to look like, at least for the time being,” said LSU College of Science Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy. “And in the process, we learned there is an inclusivity advantage to holding alternative conference set-ups from improved accessibility to recorded talks to a wider audience reach.”

RESEARCH RE-DO BY THE NUMBERS

Ashley Mills, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, presented “Direct vs Inquiry Based Instruction in the Virtual Classroom”

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11 Karolyn Harrell, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, presented “Theory of Andragogy Applied to Louisiana Peace Officer Standards Training”

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C OMMU NICAT ING SC IEN C E

A CAST O F F ISHY C HAR AC TE R S TAKE C E N TE R STAGE IN SC IE N C E C O M IC

Rose Wayne, doctoral student in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences

Rose Wayne, Ph.D. student in LSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, has always been a visual learner. She began drawing comics in her ninth grade biology class as an alternative form of notetaking. Today, Rose has parlayed her gift for visual expression into a beautifully illustrated series of self-published comics that tell the story of Burt, Tyrone, and Toni, a group of Astatotilapia burtoni fish in the laboratory of Associate Professor Karen Maruska. Maruska and her team of undergraduate and graduate researchers are studying the neural and molecular basis of natural social behaviors, including aggression and reproduction, and the mechanisms that underlie

sensory, behavioral, and neural plasticity. Wayne, a member of the Maruska lab, is studying the impacts of social defeat stress on the brain and future behavior in the highly social fish species. “My experimental Visit design is similar to https://burtoniblog. repeated bullying, wordpress.com/ so I hope to to read Wayne’s comic uncover which regions of the brain and which genes play a role in how animals decide how they behave in response to this type of social stress.”

The LSU College of Science is cultivating a wide audience for our discoveries and research applications. We need an informed public to support math and science research, so our science community has developed creative ways to engage the public and increase awareness of the college’s research pursuits. 26

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NEXT LEVEL SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS The Office of Communications in the LSU College of Science is using a variety of platforms to tell the stories behind our next-level math and science research in an effort to relay science in a way that resounds with every person. SCIENCE NEXT The College of Science launched its official blog site in 2016. Now known as Science Next, the blog showcases the broad spectrum of research and science communication underway in the college and the people at the forefront of these innovative projects. Meet faculty and staff, alumni, and student researchers contributing to groundbreaking investigations, engaging in meaningful science communication, and offering innovative solutions to some of our most pressing issues.

TOP SCIENCE STORY OF THE YEAR “Invisible rogue planets without stars? NASA’s new space telescope could find hundreds of them” featuring research led by Matthew Penny, assistant professor, LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy.

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(10 ARTICLES ON TOPIC INCLUDING FEATURE ON CNN) LSU COLLEGE OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION STATISTICS (JUNE 2020 - JUNE 2021) WEBSITE

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PURSUIT FOR KIDS Pursuit for Kids is a newspaper-like math and science publication written and curated to help children explore research adventures and connect their interests with the work of LSU mathematicians and scientists. With its colorful illustrations, stories, and brain games, Pursuit for Kids has been distributed to more than 30,000 kindergarten through eighth graders in the Baton Rouge area.

31,000

COPIES DISTRIBUTED TO 76 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN SPRING 2021 You can read the latest edition of Pursuit for Kids on the College of Science web page.

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STAY IN THE KNOW: Keep up with the latest College of Science news. Email scicomm@lsu.edu to subscribe to the College of Science e-newsletter.

LSU experimental physicist and novelist Shane Stadler had a taste for storytelling long before he published his first novel, Exoskeleton. The third installment of the Exoskeleton series, Omniscient, follows William Thompson, a convicted felon, who is given a choice at his sentencing – serve a 25-year conventional prison sentence…or spend 365 days in a new, experimental corrections program.

What is the relationship between science and science fiction? Shane: Science fiction is supposed to be an extrapolation of accepted science (although the constraints are not very stringent) to some not yet realized technological possibility. This often extends from futuristic technologies to speculations on their effects on society. For instance, what would happen in a world where genetic research cured the human race of its most deadly diseases and slowed the aging process? What would happen to the population, and how would society need to adjust? How would life change for the individual? Sci-fi might bring some of these questions to the forefront and get people thinking about many hypothetical situations that lsuscienceblog.com could come up in How Does Real our (real) future.

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Science Fit into Science Fiction?

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LO UIS IANA CRAFT SCIENCE

The name Fighting Hand Brewing Company is a nod to the Christmas Invasion episode of “Dr. Who.”

College of Science alumna Tiffany Simms Lindsey has combined her love of science and science fiction to create Fighting Hand Brewing Company, a space for craft beer lovers in Pineville, La. The brewery’s name is a nod to David Tennant’s first appearance in the popular British sci-fi show “Dr. Who.” In the episode titled “Christmas Invasion,” Tennant’s hand is cut off during a duel with the leader of the Syncorax, an alien race that invades earth. Tennant’s hand miraculously regenerates, which he refers to as his “fighting hand.” “We’re big ole nerds,” said Tiffany who co-owns the brewery with her husband and fellow “Dr. Who” fan, Chris. The couple opened the brewery on May 28 in the Trotter Center on Military Highway. Full disclosure, Tiffany admits that she didn’t even like beer until her husband introduced her to something called craft beer. “I’d only ever tasted domestic, so when I tried the craft beer, I was like wait, this is actually good. What else is out there that might be good and different?” said Simms, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological sciences and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

“The most important thing about beer making is cleanliness. Just like in a lab, you’re dealing with microbes. If it’s not clean then your experiment is not going to work.”

It was while in LSU’s chemical engineering program that she attended a career talk that featured a speaker from a brewery. Even then, Simms knew that she wasn’t interested in some of the traditional engineering career paths like oil and gas, but found the brewery opportunity interesting. A member of her Dungeons & Dragons group gave her a lot of brewing equipment and books, but school did not afford time for what she thought could be an interesting hobby, so the equipment sat in her attic for a decade while she completed her studies. “So when I was finally done with chemical engineering school, I was like you know what, screw it. Let’s try it, and I loved it,” said Simms. The first thing she ever made was a mead, which is a type of honey wine. Today, her advanced brewing skills have yielded some of the brewery’s best sellers including a blood orange wheat, a pineapple IPA, and Kolsch,

a lager style brew that is a great introduction from domestic to craft beer. Simms’ preparation for brewmaster began long before she and Chris secured the location for Fighting Hand. As an undergraduate, she was interested in genetics and began studying gene silencing in yeast in Professor David Donze’s lab. Simms spent her undergraduate and graduate school career working in and managing science labs across campus and working with top faculty researchers like Stephania Cormier, James Moroney, and Fernando Galvez in the Department of Biological Sciences and Michael Benton in the College of Engineering. A big takeaway from her years working in LSU laboratories was the aseptic technique she learned in biological sciences to sterilize and maintain the sterility of the laboratory.

“The most important thing about beer making is cleanliness. Just like in a lab, you’re dealing with microbes. If it’s not clean then your experiment is not going to work. Brewing is mostly science, but there’s an art to it, too. There are times when you’re like, okay this should work. You try it, and you see if it works. There’s a bit of trial and error, which happens a lot in science.”

For more about Fighting Hand Brewing Company, visit fightinghandbrewing.com.

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ALUMNI FEATURE

the program to grow. Smith’s visionary legacy investment will be recognized through the naming of the LSU-Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Dr. Charles M. Smith Medical and Health Physics Program. LSU President William F. Tate IV said, “When Dr. Smith committed this gift to LSU, he shared that his aspiration for the program is that it becomes the best medical physics program in the world. His enthusiasm for investing in research and recruiting faculty and students who drive innovation has propelled our collaboration with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center for the last 15 years. This gift ensures that his legacy will foster transformative advancements in the diagnosis of disease, cancer therapy, and quality treatment.”

LSU – M A RY B I R D PERKINS M EDICAL PHYSIC S CA N C E R CENTER NAMED IN HON O R O F DR . C HARLES M. SM ITH A $7.8 million estate gift from the late Dr. Charles M. Smith will advance cancer treatment through a longstanding partnership with LSU and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center that began in 1980. LSU and the Cancer Center leverage their research expertise and clinical education through a joint medical and health physics program that applies physics to the use of technology in medicine and health care. This elite program is improving the quality of patient care locally and, through research and innovation, contributing to enhanced patient care worldwide.

A beloved family medicine practitioner who devoted his career to helping Louisiana families, Dr. Smith developed an appreciation for the critical role of medical physicists while undergoing lifesaving cancer treatment. Motivated to ensure access to the same quality of care in his home state of Louisiana, Smith established the Dr. Charles M. Smith Chair in Medical Physics at LSU in 2006, shortly after LSU and Mary Bird Perkins created an integrated academiccommunity cancer center model for medical physics education and research. The LSU-Mary Bird Perkins partnership was forged under the

leadership of LSU Professor Emeritus Kenneth Hogstrom and the Cancer Center’s President & CEO Todd Stevens, who recruited Hogstrom, his former colleague at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In the past 15 years, the joint program has achieved full accreditation, has become one of only a handful of accredited graduate medical physics programs in the country, and is now one of the leading programs in the world for providing highly qualified and trained medical physicists. Smith’s initial gift was a catalyst for Hogstrom and Stevens’ vision and provided crucial funding for

“As a physician and cancer survivor, Dr. Smith was fiercely committed to quality patient care, and he recognized that scientific discoveries emerge from the collaborative work of a community of researchers who build upon each other’s efforts over time.” Cynthia Peterson Dean, LSU College of Science

At LSU, Smith’s gift will establish new endowment funds within the College of Science’s Department of Physics & Astronomy to advance LSU and the Cancer Center’s joint academic and research programs: the Dr. Charles M. Smith Medical Physics Endowed Fund, providing year-after-year funding in support of faculty, students, and staff in LSU’s Medical and Health Physics Program; the Dr. Charles M. Smith Distinguished Professorship in Medical Physics, supporting recruitment and retention of faculty and adjunct faculty; and the Dr. Charles M. Smith Superior Graduate Scholarship, supporting graduate students to ensure a continued pipeline of highly qualified medical

physicists. Additionally, a portion of Smith’s gift will be dedicated to a new LSU Interdisciplinary Science Building that will bring together students, faculty, and researchers in a world-class space for scientific inquiry, discovery, and collaboration. “Medical physics touches every patient in every community we serve, and it allows us to provide the most effective, individualized treatment plans possible. This type of robust training and clinical training is a rarity in most mid-sized cities, but our collaboration with LSU helps push the boundaries of modern medicine,” said Stevens. “Dr. Smith’s generous gift will live in perpetuity within the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, propelling cancer care forward in Louisiana and beyond for generations to come.” Through the Mary Bird Perkins Foundation, funds will be available for medical physics initiatives for now and in the future, including fostering education and innovation among students and physicists, advancing research opportunities that will enhance treatments and recruiting the highest quality clinicians in this highly specialized discipline. “As a physician and cancer survivor, Dr. Smith was fiercely committed to quality patient care, and he recognized that scientific discoveries emerge from the collaborative work of a community of researchers who build upon each other’s efforts over time. He believed in this program and envisioned its potential,” said LSU College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson, who is also the LSU president’s special advisor on science and serves as a member of the Mary Bird Perkins Board of Directors. “We’re proud that Dr. Smith was able to see the LSU-MBPCC partnership flourish, and we’re honored to celebrate his legacy by continuing to transform cancer treatment for the benefit of every Louisianan and communities around the world.” Smith, a native of Bogalusa, La., was born on Aug. 24, 1930, and passed away Sept. 15, 2020. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from LSU in 1951 and his medical degree from LSU Medical School in New Orleans in 1955. He was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force for two years, then opened his medical practice in Sulphur in 1957, practicing

Dr. Charles M. Smith, distinguished biological science alumnus, class of 1951.

for 35 years and serving as coroner for Calcasieu Parish for more than 20 years. An active community volunteer, he was devoted to the arts and was a generous philanthropist who, in addition to his investments in LSU and the Cancer Center, supported local children and families and invested in educational access through local scholarships. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at nine centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma, Gonzales, Zachary and Natchez, Miss., and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. For information on the Cancer Center, please visit marybird.org or for more on the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, visit marybirdfoundation.org. Smith’s legacy investment in LSU is part of the university’s $1.5 billion Fierce for the Future Campaign, the largest campaign for higher education in the history of Louisiana. Fierce for the Future unites LSU’s campuses statewide in pursuit of a common goal: to generate solutions for the people in Louisiana that hold the promise of making profoundly positive impacts around the world. To learn more, visit fierceforthefuturecampaign.org.

LSU.EDU/PURSUIT

Site of the Interdisciplinary Science Building, which will be located at the corner of S. Stadium and Tower Drives.

PROJECT IMPACT

Facility will add 140,000 square feet of space for STEM education 100- to 200-seat active learning classrooms with turn-to-team auditorium, teaching labs for introductory level biology and chemistry, research labs and office space for faculty Increases lab space, which speeds time to graduation for STEM students Architectural rendering of the new Interdisciplinary Science Building slated to open Fall 2024.

ALIG N IN G I N F R ASTRU CTU RE WITH GROWT H LSU receives capital outlay funds for Interdisciplinary Science Building The LSU College of Science is one step closer to breaking ground on its new Interdisciplinary Science Building. The university recently secured $58 million in state capital outlay funds to build the facility, and New Orleans-based architecture firm EskewDumezRipple has been selected to lead design and construction. In addition to the state’s $58 million investment, donors have contributed more than $15 million in private support for the space, which will house state-of-the-art teaching and research labs, active-learning classrooms, a research institute for interdisciplinary theoretical studies, and communal workspaces. The Interdisciplinary Science Building provides a welcomed expansion for math and science learning and research at LSU. The College of Science has experienced a nearly 50 percent increase in enrollment, and nearly all undergraduates, more than 25,000 across the university, are required to take math and

Conceptual image of chemistry and biological sciences labs. The new facility will house 18 biological science and chemistry laboratories that can serve up to 432 students at a time.

$ 5 8 , 0 0 0, 0 0 0

STATE OF LOUISIANA INVESTMENT

science courses during their time at LSU. The building will help align infrastructure and space utilization with the university and college’s strategic mission and goals and accommodate the projected growth. The proposed opening date is Fall 2024. The five-level, 148,000 square-foot facility will be the central home to a new campus district focused on scientific discovery. Located along the crossroads of primary pedestrian and vehicular pathways, it will accommodate as many as 1,150 people at a time.

$ 1 5 , 292 , 0 7 9

TOTAL SECURED FOR THE PROJECT TO DATE

Conceptual image of turn-to-team active learning classrooms.

“The Interdisciplinary Science Building will be the nucleus of LSU’s science complex offering a central location for next-level learning and collaboration across disciplines.”

TO MAKE A GIFT TO THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE BUILDING FUND, please go to lsufoundation.org/givetoscience or contact Kris Elmore, at kelmore@lsufoundation.org.

Kris Elmore Senior Director of Development for the College of Science Conceptual image of bioteaching labs.

LSU.EDU/PURSUIT

S U P P ORT F RO M L I KE - M I N D E D

MISSION

Visionaries

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE DEAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS

S TAT E M E N T

The LSU College of Science provides the highest quality education and programs to create and disseminate knowledge through scientific research and discovery. Through fulfillment of this mission, all LSU students become scientifically literate citizens. College of Science graduates pursue successful careers in science and related disciplines using the critical thinking, communication, research and analytical skills honed in the College of Science to make a meaningful impact on our world. Our commitment is to be the primary scientific intellectual resource for Louisiana and the nation, to promote scientific literacy and to foster economic development by putting scientific knowledge into practice.

200 180

160

17 0

Number of Members

140

MEM B ERS AS OF JULY 31, 2021

120 100 80

VISION

5 6% INCRE ASE F RO M FALL 2 012

S TAT E M E N T

20 0 2008 2009 2010 2011

2012 2013

2014

2015 2016 2017

2018

2019 2020 2021

Year

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TOTAL ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE

$51.8

PHILANTHROPY

AS OF MAY 31, 2021

Our vision is a sustainable future for the LSU College of Science that will ensure the longevity and success of future generations of scientists. Our mission is to foster a culture of philanthropy that engages stakeholders and inspires meaningful investments in scientific education, innovation and research.

MI L L I O N

S TAT E M E N T

$60,000,000

$41,611,413.28

$40,567,661

$36,138,165

$32,956,591

$33,591,621

$32,945,985

$30,856,294

$20,000,000

$40,185,684

$40,000,000

$51,813,951.08

$50,000,000

$30,000,000

5/31/2013

5/31/2014

5/31/2015

5/31/2016

5/31/2017

5/31/2018

5/31/2019

5/31/2020

5/31/2021

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS

$204,454.12

$1,497,031.75

$332,273.10

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION FUND

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT FUND

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE ENDOWMENT FUND

EDITOR Dawn Jenkins, director of communications WRITERS Jessica M. Brits, communications specialist Meredith Keating, digital communications specialist Stefani Wheeler, communications student assistant CONTRIBUTORS Jolie Cornay Kasi Davis Colleen Fava Soula O’Bannon Elsa Hahne Mimi LaValle Rachel May Emma Reynolds Nicolette Ross Gretchen Schneider Valerie Stampley Landon Troxclair Sara Whittaker PHOTOGRAPHY AB Photography LSU Division for Strategic Communications Zehno Cross Communications

lsuscienceblog.com

LSU COLLEGE OF SCIENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

$10,000,000 0

The vision of the LSU College of Science is to be an international leader in scientific research and instruction, elevating LSU to the highest level of excellence among major research universities in the United States and the world.

ADMINISTRATION Cynthia Peterson, dean Robb Brumfield, associate dean, research Maria Cazes, assistant dean, finance and administration Kris Elmore, senior director of development Kathryn Loveless, assistant dean, academic services Andrew Maverick, associate dean, academic services Gretchen Stein, assistant dean, research development and operations Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy, assistant dean, diversity and inclusion

$2,033,758.97 TOTAL

Dr. Erich M. Sturgis, Chair Houston, TX

Dr. Gary Grest Albuquerque, NM

Mrs. Linda Messina Baton Rouge, LA

Dr. Sam Sukkar Houston, TX

Dr. Hal Aaslestad Waynesboro, VA

Mr. Marshall J. Harper Shreveport, LA

Mrs. Laura C. Moffitt Bellaire, TX

Dr. Melvin L. Triay III Metairie, LA

Dr. Mary Lou Applewhite Metairie, LA

Mr. Tom E. Harrington, III Carrollton, TX

Dr. Mary T. Neal Bellaire, TX

Dr. Edward F. Zganjar Baton Rouge, LA

Mr. Gregg A. DeMar Stamford, CT

Mr. James R. Hart Houston, TX

Mr. Charles C. Pinckney Birmingham, AL

Dr. Kate B. Freeman Baton Rouge, LA

Dr. Wayne J. Homza Shreveport, LA

Dr. Gil Rew Shreveport, LA

Dr. Stewart Gordon Baton Rouge, LA

Dr. James V. Lange New Orleans, LA

Dr. Bill Stickle Baton Rouge, LA LSU.EDU/PURSUIT