Publication views: 495
By Tyler Elyson
UNK Communications
Kearney – Theo Huber is an outdoor person.
The University of Nebraska of Kearney Senior prefers to be outside to explore nature, rather than sitting with an office, looking at a computer screen.
Inasmuch as Major in fauna biologyHuber was in its element of Lake Ogallala, a popular fishing destination in western Nebraska. This is where the native of Kearney conducted part of his undergraduate research, focusing on the means of maintaining and improving fishing in the state leisure area.
Supported by the financing of the federal sports fish restoration program, Huber worked with Associate Professor UNK Melissa Wuellner, the Alexandria Keiler-Klein graduate student and the employees of the Nebraska Game and Parks to study the health of the Zooplankton populations in the lake. These tiny organisms are important because they are a key food source for juvenile fish and other aquatic creatures.
“Without Zooplankton, the lake is not going to do very well,” said Huber.
At Lake Ogallala – renowned for its rainbow trout and rapid growth tiger – the researchers wanted to know how a chemical compound used to eliminate harmful fish such as carp and pacifiers impacting zooplankton. By comparing the samples taken before and after a chemical application in the fall of 2023, they determined that the renovation of the lake had no significant impact on the Zooplankton population – good news for fishermen and fishing managers.
Huber shared the results of this study Thursday during the annual event of the student research day in UNK.
Unique opportunity
During its 27th year, the celebration on a campus scale highlights creative and learned work produced by Lopers while recognizing the important role of the faculty mentors. There were more than 200 first cycle students presentations and higher cycles representing 25 university departments – “most likely” by doing the biggest UNK research day, according to Dawn Simon, professor of biology and director of First cycle research and creative activity on the campus.
“Student research day allows us to present an aspect of UNK that we do very well, in particular the mentorship of students and offering them opportunities for practical experiences in their fields,” said Simon. “It’s also a really fun day for us to interact with our students and be proud. This reminds me that the chance to work in close collaboration with such exceptional students. ”
Simon thinks that each student should engage in research and experiential learning during his university career, because he encourages them to think critically and independently while strengthening general skills such as communication, problem solving and adaptability, which are useful in any career.
“It is often very different from the type of learning that occurs in a class, and in many cases is much more applicable to their future work outside the academic world,” she said.
Huber already has a job aligned with the Department of Natural Resources of Colorado, where he will study native fish in the Gunnison river basin, so his research experience is a direct advantage. He also plans to continue a master’s degree in the future.
“First cycle research is a unique opportunity in UNK that many other schools do not offer,” said Huber, who has participated in projects in the past three years. “I think it is enormous for professional development in your field, and this gives you an advantage over other candidates who apply for jobs or higher education.”
In addition to his work in the management of peaches, Huber studied for the first time the scratch bark scorpions in the Ash Grove fauna management area, documenting the species of Franklin county for the first time.
“When most people think of scorpions, they imagine deserts in places like Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico. They don’t think of meadows and Nebraska,” said Huber. “This is a species that has a very large range. It’s from Mexico to Nebraska. “
Huber and his faculty mentor, the biology professor Keith Géluso, wrote an article on their research that will publish in the next edition of Nebraskaland magazine.
Pursue a passion
With advice of nearly 70 teachers in total, other UNK students have conducted research on subjects such as bird habitat along the Platte river, lobbying impacts on policies’ development, work satisfaction among first -year teachers, the influence of sleep on mood and the potential anxiety and side effects of an antidepressant drug.
Grace Schaefer, an Omaha junior, examined more closely the internment camps of prisoners of war located in Nebraska during the Second World War.
“Few people know that we really had German prisoners of war in Nebraska during this period,” she said. “This is something that was very interesting for me because it is not very well known and it is at the heart of Nebraska.”
Schaefer focused on the Atlanta camp, which held a total of 3,000 men in compounds built near Holdrege. Some 600 soldiers and 130 civilian members ensured security and maintenance, and prisoners of war were a precious source of agricultural work in the region.
Using equipment provided by the Nebraska Prairie Museum, Schaefer has transcribed two dozen interviews with former prisoners, guards and local residents at a camp meeting in the 1990s. She was surprised by their positive opinions on experience.
“All the prisoners of war, the guards, the various farmers who had prisoners working for them, they all explained how great it was for them and how the Americans and the Germans were really able to develop a very good relationship,” she said.
These oral stories are now available online, and Schaefer plans to create a website and a virtual exhibition featuring these interviews and other digitized articles such as letters, photos and prison files.
“The Second World War has such a dark story – and it is important that we recognize that – but it is a story that is more on hope and love and how these people who should have been enemies,” she said. “I want to bring this to the public and make it more accessible, so it’s a better known part of the history of Nebraska.”
Double specialization in English And historySchaefer continued his project with the help of associate teacher Will Stoutamire. She worked with him in the last two semesters as part of UNK First cycle research scholarships (URF) Program, which provides an annual allocation of $ 1,200 to participating students. Huber was also part of the URF for his Scorpion research.
“This program gives you the opportunity to deepen a subject that interests you and to gain experiences as the first cycle that I do not think that many other universities offer,” said Schaefer, who wants to combine his majors by writing a historical fiction and working in public history. “I think you are ahead of the match when you participate in undergraduate research in Unk.”
Photos of Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
