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Roly poly, tree swallow research ready for MCC science symposium
McCOOK, Neb. — The fourth annual McCook Community College science symposium is set for 1 p.m. Friday at the Weeth Theater in Tipton Hall. MCC freshman Ethan Wilcox will present his findings from an experiment he did this semester on roly polies. In addition, his instructor Rob Bogardus, will present his own research on tree swallows. The event is free and open to the public.
Wilcox is a freshman at McCook Community College who enjoys science. His goal is to major in Molecular Biomedical Biology – a field that will require research skills. On Friday he will discuss his research on whether isopods (roly polies) are better at breaking down cultivated plant litter or the litter found in natural environments. Bogardus will present research on how tree swallows select their mates and how that choice affects their lives and the lives of their nestlings.
This semester Wilcox took over MCC’s new research facility -- the former greenhouse on the west side of Barnett Hall. After gaining insight into scientific research through the first several weeks of the class, he formulated his research and then mid-semester -- over an extensive two-week period of monitoring -- he let groups of isopods feed on distinctly different plant diets. Following that, he performed chemical and statistical analyses to detect differences in how much they ate and how effective they were are digesting different native or cultivated plants.
On Friday he will reveal his findings at a public science symposium, designed to give him additional experience both in preparing and communicating scientific work.
“This class was a lot more exciting than I thought it would be,” Ethan said. “I guess I was expecting more reading and book work but it was more hands-on work than I expected.” He also realized that planning out all the aspects experiment ahead of time requires a lot of “detailed thinking” but it’s one of the most important things he learned from the class.
“Hands-on experience in original research is now an essential part of undergraduate science education,” Bogardus said. “For students to be competitive when they eventually apply for medical, pharmacy, veterinary, graduate school, or similar programs, they need to demonstrate that they have actually done science, not just learned about it.”
After taking biology and zoology at MCC with Rob Bogardus, Ethan decided to get a head-start on gaining research experience through MCC’s BIOS Research 2500 class.
This is the fourth year, this course has allowed biology students to create and conduct original research, creating their own experiments to answer questions that have never been tested before. It’s a one-semester experience in being a scientist and helps prepare them for future science careers. MCC has devoted a designated research space in the former greenhouse on the west side of Barnett Hall to house the research equipment as well as the experiments.
Ethan worked closely with more than 300 terrestrial isopods this semester, also known as roly-polies, pill bugs or wood-lice (they are actually crustaceans like lobsters.) The scientific name for these common isopods is “armadillidium vulgare,” and they are important contributors to plant decomposition and soil quality.
Because he took this class – right after high school -- Ethan firmly believes that having the scientific research experience definitely gives him an advantage when it comes to the next phase of his science career – wherever he goes, or whatever field he ultimately decides to pursue.