Annual Conference for Student Research Held at WKCTC |
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Laura and Damon Wood of Owensboro show off their presentation titled, “Photosynthetic Productivity Responses of an Invasive Aquatic Plant,” during the 6th Annual Conference for Student Research at West Kentucky Community & Technical College Friday, November 2, 2007. |
Husband and wife team, Damon and Laura Wood, do not agree on political parties. Damon Wood is a Republican; and Laura Wood is a member of the Democrat party.
But the Owensboro couple do see eye-to-eye when
it comes to their college studies. Both started studyng
astronomy at Owensboro Community & Technical College, but
fell in love with the study of biology after taking one course.
On November 2, 2007, they were among more than 50 community &
technical college students participating at West Kentucky Community
& Technical College in the Sixth Annual Conference on Student
Research.
“We like doing everything together and plan on getting four year degrees after we graduate from OCTC,” said Damon Wood.
The conference, normally held in Madisonville, was held for the first time on the WKCTC campus. Organizers said it gives teams of students the opportunity to discuss student research projects in biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, physics and astronomy. Each student or representative made individual presentations regarding the findings based on six weeks or more research study.
The Woods wanted to understand how the plant known as Brazillian Waterweed would respond to human-imposed environmental effects such as increases in carbon dioxide, acid rain, and water pollution. The couple said their results could help in understanding how regional and global impacts can aftect local invasive species.
Madisonville Community College student Charita Grace built her own telescope as part of her research project, learning both about physics and astronomy. “ I averaged 1 to 2 hours per day for the past six weeks to complete the project,” she said.
Conference coordinators were professors Mary Janssen from Madisonville Community College and Felix Akojie and Ehab Marji from WKCTC.
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