Profile

• Time Zone

  Central

  
  
• Organization

  Missouri Valley College

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am interested in phytoremediation using genetically modified plants. I am also interested in native plants both as phytoremediation and as food sources for pollinators.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

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

  I'm always discovering new plants that I find interesting but currently I am very interested in the south Asian pitcher plants in the genus Nepenthes. The variety of adaptations they have are just amazing and they are exciting for my students to examine and investigate.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  Do you have advice for students about preparing for a science career?

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

  Always retain your curiosity and get a broad science education. You may not even know anything about the kinds of work that might interest you.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  Can you describe your attitude toward science when you were in high school?

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

  I was fascinated with science in high school. I loved all of the activities we were able to do in class. Seeing new organisms and viewing things under microscopes really impressed me. When we made models or had live plants or animals, those were my favorite things.

  
  
• In addition to English, I am comfortable communicating with students in the following languages:

  (not set)

  
  
• Videoconference Ability

  (not set)

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

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

fchslashfall2021 project 2 Sarah J. MacDonald Nov 1, 2021

I'm glad you all enjoyed the project. I hope you see plants in a new way now that you've investigated them so carefully. I should also let you know there is an app called iNaturalist that can help you identify trees and plants and submit…

more

I'm glad you all enjoyed the project. I hope you see plants in a new way now that you've investigated them so carefully. I should also let you know there is an app called iNaturalist that can help you identify trees and plants and submit data to the scientific community. It's fun to use to study the life forms around you. :)

fchslashfall2021 project 2 Sarah J. MacDonald Oct 13, 2021

As far as specific pests and diseases that are invasive, there's the Emerald Ash borer which will probably cause the extinction (or near extinction) of several species of ash trees. The Chestnut blight which all but wiped out the American…

more

As far as specific pests and diseases that are invasive, there's the Emerald Ash borer which will probably cause the extinction (or near extinction) of several species of ash trees. The Chestnut blight which all but wiped out the American Chestnut Tree. There's Dutch elm disease which killed all the large elm trees and butternut blight which is killing off most of the butternut trees. There is some work with the chestnut where people are using genetic engineering to restore the trees. Look for the American chestnut foundation. And there are more tree species in trouble from invasive fungi and insects that I could name as well ...

fchslashfall2021 project 2 Sarah J. MacDonald Oct 13, 2021

It sounds like you all are enjoying this section a lot. I teach a class called, Dendrology which is all about trees! One tree we talk about that is dying from invasive species is the Ash tree. Did you discuss the Emerald ash borer?