WKU News

Five Western Kentucky University students and two Gatton Academy students ranked in the top tier scorers for research presentations given at the Kentucky Academy of Science’s 2022 Annual Meeting in November.

“These presentations made clear that Kentucky’s next generation of scientists are already making significant contributions to scientific research,” said Amanda Fuller, Executive Director of the Kentucky Academy of Science. “Giving students opportunities to conduct research and present their findings gives them guidance and encouragement to pursue even greater achievements in the world of science.”

More than 700 students and professional scientists from across the state attended the Annual Meeting, which was held Nov. 10-12 at Morehead State University. Panels of scientists who judged students’ research presentations designated top presentations as “Thoroughbreds.”

Western Kentucky University students who earned the “Thoroughbred” designation are:

• Jerica Eaton, a senior Biology major from Adolphus. Poster presentation: "Growth and Survival of Salamanders Exposed to Road Salt and Glyphosate -Based Herbicide."

• Leah Hartman, a junior Physics major from Scottsville. Poster Presentation: "Development of an Experimental Setup to Study Rolling Oscillations along a Curved Ramp"

• Chloe Jones, a senior Chemistry and Physics major from Bowling Green. Poster Presentation:  "Synthesis Of Novel Double Perovskites With 4d/5d- and 3d-elements"

• Gabriel Heckerman, a junior Biology major from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Poster Presentation:  "The Protective Role of Melanin in the Inner Ear of Two Fish Species, Poecilia latipinna and Cyprinus carpio"

• Greta Kreuzer, a senior Psychological Sciences major from Lafayette, Tennessee. Poster Presentation: " The Utility of the PTSD Checklist as a Screener of Trauma Symptomology"

Gatton Academy seniors who earned the “Thoroughbred” designation for research presentations are:

• Hannah Laney of Ashland. Poster Presentation: "Synthesis of 4d- and 5d-Based Transition Metal Oxides"

• Sierra Durkee of Bowling Green. Oral Presentation:  "Identification of toxic bacteriophage gene products"

The Kentucky Academy of Science is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1914. Its mission is to catalyze scientific communication and collaboration that will improve research, education, and evidence-based public engagement within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Western Kentucky University faculty, staff and students may become members of the Kentucky Academy of Science at no cost. For more information, go to www.kyscience.org.

Contact: Amanda Fuller, Kentucky Academy of Science, (859) 227-2837 or executivedirector@kyscience.org

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.