On April 11 and 12, students from Dr. Matthew Heard’s Introduction to Environmental Science classes participated in a volunteer service event at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary.
During their time working at Owl’s Hill, students helped to plant native trees, remove invasive species and clean up the native plant education gardens. In total, 42 Belmont students volunteered over the two days.
Belmont University College of Sciences and Mathematics hosted the annual Middle Tennessee Collegiate Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science in the Janet Ayers Academic Center on April 21. This event serves as an opportunity for students to highlight their scholarly work and fosters collaboration with other universities. This year, 24 students from Belmont University, Columbia State Community College, Tennessee State University and Tennessee Tech University presented their research as oral presentations in one of four different sessions including chemistry, cellular and molecular biology/microbiology, health and medical sciences and zoology/ecology/environmental sciences.
All sessions were moderated and judged by faculty volunteers who awarded 1st, 2nd & 3rd place certificates to the top three presenters in each session. The meeting is coordinated and run by Dr. Duane Hatch, assistant professor of chemistry at Belmont. Dr. Nick Ragsdale, biology, assisted with the event.
Faculty judges included Drs. Lori McGrew (BU biology), Steve Murphree (BU biology), Danny Biles (BU math), Justin Stace (BU chemistry), Robert Grammer (BU biology), John Niedzwiecki (BU biology), Karen Kendall-Fite (Columbia State Community College) and Radhika Ramjee (Columbia State Community College).
Winners from each session included:
Chemistry: 1st – Christopher Hansen (BU), 2nd – Alekzander Garcia (TSU), 3rd – Avery Daniels (BU).
Cellular and Molecular Biology/Microbiology: 1st – AC Dowd (BU), 2nd – Dana Cornwell (BU), 3rd – Brandi Duke (BU), and Honorable Mention – Haley Hatfield (BU).
Health and Medical Sciences: 1st – Rebecca Derby (BU), 2nd – Elizabeth Sparks (BU), 3rd – Sargoel Rezanejad (BU), and Honorable Mention – Christian Candler (BU).
Zoology/Ecology/Environmental Sciences: 1st – Taryn Anderson (BU), 2nd – States Labrum (CSCC), 3rd – Shaoyun Yang (BU), and Honorable Mention – Terra’lexus Roberts (BU).
Molecular Biologist and Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Chris Barton has led groups of students across Belmont’s campus through extensive research projects related to the behavior of cancer cells. Interested in identifying drugs that could stop the growth of these cells, Barton has been working within cancer molecular biology for the majority of his career and says he’s happy to carry a version of that work with him to Belmont.
Thanks to a semi-sterile tissue culture facility in the Janet Ayers Academic Center, students can engage with research in a hands-on way. Currently, student groups from Barton’s Cell Biology class are working to grow cancer cells that have been isolated from tumors in plastic dishes. These cells live along the bottom of the plate as students watch them grow, move and divide.
Throughout the semester, students learn a number of techniques that assist in their work. As the semester begins to close, students have the opportunity to spend time in lab facilities finalizing their work. Senior biology major Bailey Bergmann is one of Barton’s students and has been working on understanding the affects of certain drugs on colon rectal and lung cancer cells — specifically, what will stop them from growing.
After reading an article in the New York Times about the effects of Chloroquine, a medication, on cancer, Bergmann sought out to begin her own work. She began studying Amodiaquine, another medication, and found that it had quite an impact on the cells’ viability — in fact, it causes cells to stop dividing and die. She has continued to develop and expand her research question since beginning her time in Barton’s lab last summer.
“I am so grateful that Belmont allowed me to develop skills in tissue culture and to have the experience of presenting my research at so many conferences,” Bergmann said. “Having the ability to develop a research question that is personally meaningful due to the impact of cancer on members of my family was incredible and provided a sense of ownership and responsibility for my project that helped me to grow academically.”
In addition to his students throughout the school year, Barton has also led a number of groups through Belmont’s Summer Scholars program, an opportunity for students to stay on campus throughout the summer, working alongside a faculty member on a specific research project. Barton’s teams have used the same model of growing cells in culture. After exposing the cells to a number of molecules, students use various techniques to analyze whether specific drugs affect how the speed, size and lifespan of cell. Additionally, students can even isolate which genes have been turned on or off in certain cell after they’ve been exposed to drugs.
For Barton’s students, the opportunity to conduct research experiences as undergraduates is very meaningful. “Many of these students have never done this before and they can be intimidated,” Barton said. “They have the opportunity to identify an important question and then truly delve into their experiments. They’ll analyze their data and then have the opportunity to present what they’ve found. It’s really special to see them share their work and feel confident in what they’ve done.”
Outstanding work by students was recognized Thursday night in the PR Showcase sponsored by the Department of Public Relations. Graduating senior Kaitlin Whiteside received an Award of Excellence, Writing and the Best of Show Award for her newsletter article, “Seek Truth, Speak Life, Value People.”
Toni Herr also received an Award of Excellence, Writing for her news release, “Nashville Ballet Announces Its Spring 2018 Season.” Graduating senior Lindsay Alderman received the Award of Excellence, Research for her research project, “What Role Can Community Colleges Play in Higher Education in Tennessee?”
Whiteside and Lydia Bailey received the Award of Excellence, Case Study for their entry, “Starbucks’ Red Cup Controversy of 2015.” The Award of Excellence, Campaigns was presented to Savannah Bobo-Bressler, Jenna Corradeno, Megan Heiner and Kayla Orel for their campaign, “#itstartswithyou.”
Dr. Christie Kleinmann, associate professor in the department and coordinator of the department’s inaugural PR Showcase, presented the awards. Recent graduates from the department served as judges for the student entries.
A group of 22 pharmacy and nursing students and Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Jamie Adam recently volunteered with Project Cure. In less than three hours, the team unloaded five pallets and sorted, organized and boxed more than $12,000 in medical supplies.
Project Cure’s local volunteer coordinator commented that the group was remarkable and accomplished more than many other teams that have donated time there. She highlighted that the group’s knowledge of medical supplies was an asset.
Adam said, “This was a wonderful opportunity for nursing and pharmacy students to come together to make a tangible impact for patients in need across the world.”
The opportunity was made possible through the connection of Assistant Professor Nursing Jean Blank. She and her husband have been core volunteers with Project Cure for years.
After weeks of planning, garment construction is well underway in the Eastman Naia Design Challenge at the O’More College of Design. Students in the O’More Fashion Design program are creating garments using fabric composed of Naia, a sustainable yarn made from wood pulp and sourced exclusively from sustainably managed forests.
The Eastman Naia Design Challenge is a collaborative effort between the O’More College of Design and Kingsport-based Eastman. The partnership promotes the application of the environmentally-friendly fiber in original, ready-to-wear clothing. This marks the second year that O’More has collaborated with Eastman.
Sustainability is an important initiative at Belmont, where the Conservation Covenant is a driving force on campus. Not only does Belmont serve as an arboretum to preserve more than 100 species of trees and shrubs, but the careful management of water usage for irrigation, the green roofs on top of LEED-certified buildings and the use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling ensure that Belmont follows through in its mission to take good care of God’s creation.
As announced in February, Belmont will acquire O’More College of Design and all its assets and move O’More’s programs in fashion, interior and graphic design as well as fashion merchandising to Belmont’s campus. The new O’More School of Design at Belmont University will open its doors this fall in Nashville.
Belmont University’s Office of Instructional Technology recently hosted its first BYTE “Bring Your Own Technology Experience” Showcase where 22 faculty members from across campus shared ways in which they utilize technology throughout their classroom. Set up in the Frist Lecture Hall, the event included hundreds of attendees who walked from booth to booth for each demonstration.
Featuring topics with both instructional and technological focuses, faculty members shared knowledge related to content delivery, grading, distance learning, data analysis, specialized software, web conferencing and more.
Professor of Media Studies and Showcase Presenter Dr. Sybril Brown demonstrated “Holograms: A Virtual Representation of Knowledge.” To best illustrate the concept, Brown brought Hunter Morgan, one of her students, along with her. Morgan developed videos, that with the aid of a plastic viewer, turned a person or object into a hologram projection that came to life. Morgan and his team used these holograms to present their group project in class for an assignment based around an emerging piece of technology.
As his team was assigned holograms, the group decided to launch into investing the idea for themselves–ultimately ending with their presentation becoming a hologram, itself. “We knew we needed to think way outside of the box for this project and create something new, creative, exciting and engaging,” Morgan said. “When we were faced with creating a hologram, which we had no idea how to do, we knew we had to go for it. This class forces you to think outside the box of ways to present, and this was the ideal way to share our presentation.”
Director of Instructional Technology and BYTE Showcase Host Geoff Price supports faculty in their use of technology with an explicit focus on aligning the capability of digital tools with research-supported learning strategies. He also provides professional development opportunities across campus that allow faculty to develop knowledge and skills for effective technology integration.
At his previous institution, Price participated in a similar showcase-style event and immediately was interested in bringing to Belmont. “Given Belmont faculty’s innovative use of digital technologies, I knew we needed an event that would showcase these innovations,” he said. “The goal was to create an experience that allowed attendees to view demonstrations of interest and provide opportunities to engage in one-on-one conversations with the faculty behind them.”
Price and his team were eager to provide this unique opportunity to Belmont faculty as it can be challenging to find time to share these classroom innovations given such busy schedules. “By focusing on instructional uses of technology, the Showcase allowed faculty to discuss how specific tools can enhance particular pedagogical strategies,” he said. “It provided opportunities for economics professors to learn how nursing faculty record classroom lectures and more.”
On Wednesday April 11, neuroscience students Aditi Buch and Crystal Lemus gave an engaging presentation to 4th grade students at Shayne Elementary school. Students learned about the link between our five senses and the brain and were able to see and touch a real sheep brain.
They also completed many exciting activities demonstrating the limits of our sensory abilities. This knowledge transfer activity is a first step in a growing series in neuroscience, geared to reach elementary school children and demonstrate female engagement in STEM fields.
Earlier this month, a group of students in the Honors Program, including seniors Claire Dugan, Katie Murdock, Hope Siler and Lauren Weber, hosted an art crawl fundraiser called “Force of Nature” to benefit the Tennessee Environmental Council’s Radioactive Waste Education Program. The group researched this program as part of their senior thesis project, which culminated in this event.
Belmont’s Honors Program required students to choose one of four tracks, which begins in their second semester of their sophomore year, in addition to 29 hours of Honors Core Classes. The Force of Nature group chose the “Project LEAD” track, a program that examines leadership styles and studies the qualities of effective leadership. While the three other tracks require a senior thesis as a capstone project, Project LEAD requires a group of students to partner with a community organization to aid the organization in its mission.
The group chose the Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) as their community partner, as group member Siler is passionate about the bridge between art and activism and felt that they could become active in the fight against nuclear waste in Tennessee through art. From there, they connected with their featured artist, Jason Hargrove, who already had a number of pieces that matched the theme of the project.
The group was able to strategically involve their project with the Wedgewood-Houston art crawl to make their event successful. According to Dugan, one of the most successful parts of the event was the letter-writing station, set up for people to express their concerns to their legislative representatives. She wrote, the event attendees were “particularly interested in doing this after speaking with the members of the TEC that were present and learning about the severity of the issue.”
Dugan also said that the honors program itself was a valuable resource in managing a project of this magnitude. She wrote, “the time commitment that this program requires in itself is something that I personally was not prepared for, but it taught me how to manage my time effectively under great amounts of stress. Honors also taught me how to communicate directly with diverse group of people that may have different interests in mind.”
Two Belmont alumni, John Zarling (’01, music business) and Cindy Mabe (’95, music business), have been nominated for the 2018 Innovation in Music Awards (IMA), which recognize music industry professionals and companies who are innovating and distinguishing themselves in music creation, music discovery and development of innovative music marketing strategies. Zarling is currently executive vice president of marketing and new business for Sony Music Nashville, while Mabe is president of Universal Music Group Nashville.
“Challenges in the music industry call for creative strategies and risk-taking at the highest levels to be successful and shape the future of the business,” said Pete O’Heeron, chairman of the Innovation in Music Awards. “These nominees represent that progressive mindset.”
A committee of music professionals determines the honorees. Both Belmont grads were nominated in the Innovation in Music, Executive Award, “for the executive who has shown exemplary fortitude and/or marketing savvy in bringing a new artist or artists to the market and has demonstrated unique ideas and/or programs which pioneer new music and empower the creators.”
Event Director and Associate Producer of the Innovation Awards, Marie Wapelhorst, is also a Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business alumna as well.
