Profile

• Time Zone

  Central

  
  
• Organization

  Texas Tech University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  My research aims to improve our understanding of how global change is affecting plants, and how this change influences the global climate system. Global change encompasses not only climate change but also all human-induced alterations to the environment. Despite being frequently overlooked, plants exert a significant impact on the global climate. With billions of plants across the Earth, a majority of which photosynthesis—an essential process where plants exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. Consider the immense significance of this exchange occurring across the globe, particularly in the context of climate change, which is greatly influenced by greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide.
  My research seeks to better understand potential future climatic scenarios by examining how plants respond to environmental stressors such as drought, shifting temperatures, elevated carbon dioxide levels, pollution, and more. Specifically, my focus is on grasslands and how eutrophication (pollution from fertilizers) and precipitation patterns can shape plant communities. Ultimately, this investigation aims to refine predictive models for grasslands worldwide. Thus, enhancing our preparedness for the potential impacts on ecosystem services such as food production, air quality, and native habitats in the coming years.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is best about being a scientist?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  Having the opportunity to explore, and work towards discovering new things.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is a typical day like for you?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  Busy with lots of caffeine!

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  My favorite plants are grasses. Despite not being a charismatic mega flora (like the big beautiful giant sequoia trees), grasses do so much for us and are beautiful in their own right.

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  1

  
  

Recent Posts

Buckwheat Monika Kelley May 1 at 10:32am

Honestly you folks did great! Science is hard, and you did a good first run! 

Buckwheat Monika Kelley Apr 17 at 11:21am

Well excellent! I'm glad to hear that and that you got an opportunity to plan out an experiment. Well done!

Buckwheat Monika Kelley Apr 9 at 09:01am

Hey group! My name is Monika and I'm a graduate student in Texas and I'm filling in for Chelsea for a bit! I've looked over your experiment and I love it thus far! Sorry, you ran into a few hiccups, but if it makes you feel any…

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Hey group! My name is Monika and I'm a graduate student in Texas and I'm filling in for Chelsea for a bit! I've looked over your experiment and I love it thus far! Sorry, you ran into a few hiccups, but if it makes you feel any better "hiccups" are common as we explore new things and topics!

I have a few questions/ suggestions if you still want to use sugar for your future experiment. 

1. Watering frequency: How often did you water? Your group may have watered the plants too often resulting in mold. Aim to set a watering schedule that allows the soil to dry out a little before watering (the top 2 inches of the soil feel dry when you touch it). So if you were watering every day, maybe aim to water only twice a week.
2. Water amount: How much did you water each time? 
3. Contamination: It seems like you just need to have 2 trays! One for "sugar plants" and another tray for your "water-only plants".
4. Seeds vs. plants: If there is concern about your seeds growing you could get some plants that are already grown and try watering those with sugar. You could also try to grow some seeds without applying sugar for a few weeks then apply sugar later. 

Let me know your thoughts! And I'm looking forward to your updates!!!