Dawn Johnson, an undergraduate Geology major and member of the University Science Scholars Program, is presenting her research on the “Use of geochemical proxies to identify watershed inputs to Lake Maumelle, Central Arkansas” at the 2009 Geological Society of America annual meeting in Portland, Oregon.
Click here to view the abstract.
Dawn Johnson, an undergraduate Geology major and member of the University Science Scholars Program, has been awarded funding to conduct an undergraduate research project entitled, “Tracing organic carbon sources in Lake Maumelle.”
Lake Maumelle is the source of almost all of Little Rock’s drinking water. The water is treated with chlorine to kill potentially dangerous bacteria before people drink the water. Although chlorination kills dangerous bacteria, it can also produce dangerous trihalomethanes and halogenated acetic acids when it reacts with dissolved organic (carbon-containing) compounds.
Dawn’s project is designed to discover and measure the land sources that add dissolved organic compounds to the water of Lake Maumelle. These sources may change as development proceeds around the lake. Dawn’s work will help in deciding what types of land use around Lake Maumelle are compatible with using its water for Little Rock public consumption.
Dawn’s mentor is Dr. Amelia Robinson, Assistant Professor of Earth Science at UALR.
Jonathan Eller, USSP participant and Chemistry major, has been awarded funding to support his undergraduate research. Starting in January 2009, he is working on “Synthesis and self-assembly of polymer tethered nonoparticles.” His project will use simple chemistry to put nanoparticles in particular spatial arrangements and study how these molecules self-assemble in thin films.
Specifically, polystyrene molecules will be attached, using different chemical techniques, to spheres composed of 60 carbon atoms (buckyballs) Then these molecules will be characterized using a variety of chemical methods. After the molecules are synthesized, they will be applied as thin films to a substrate and their three dimensional shapes will be analyzed and characterized.
Jonathan’s work has potential applications in the development of less expensive, flexible solar collectors.
Jonathan’s mentor is Dr. Brian Berry, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UALR.
Because of the ice storm and continuing travel and electrical problems for Arkansas residents, we are extending the priority deadline for the 2009-2010 academic year. Please get your application to us by March 1, 2009.
The University Science Scholars Program is also available to those upperclassmen who meet the Requirements for Admission and who are majoring in Biology, Chemistry and Geology. If you are interested in joining the program as an upperclassmen, please see the information under How can I apply to USPP? and fill out the application to be considered for the program. We will continue to accept and process applications until all the vacancies have been filled.