Students and faculty within Belmont University’s Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Environmental Science programs received recognition and presented at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) in Little Rock, Arkansas, on March 30-April 2.
Biology students Liz Bleyer, Grace Hawkins and Ashlynn Sherwood presented “Occurrence of Kanamycin-Resistant Bacteria Along an Urban Hiking Trail in Nashville, TN.” The project was completed with biology faculty Dr.s Darlene Panvini, Becky Adams and Chris Barton, winning second-place in the Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) District II student presentations.
“We had so much fun with this project,” said both Bleyer and Hawkins. “We’re so grateful for the guidance and support from our professors and for the opportunity to present at research conferences like this.”
Other Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Environmental Science students who presented or were co-authors at the meeting included Alexia Akhom, Abby Kitakule, Harshita Indukuri, Eliana Blash, Izzy Hartwig, Haleema Shamsuddin, Emma Van Why, Harrison Williams, Maria Aguirre, Jocelyne Lara-Rojos, Anna Gray, Rylee Rickett, Amanda Long, Lydia Heron-Goar and Libby Godo. These students were mentored by biology faculty members including Dr.s Panvini, Chris Barton, Nikki Glenn and Matt Heard.
Panvini, who also served as a presentation judge for TriBeta, presented “Bringing In More Voices Through Podcasts and Scientists Spotlights” and Heard participated in three presentations in a special session focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Association of Southeastern Biologists.
Heard, who has been part of the ASB Executive Committee for the past three years and helped to organize the meeting in Little Rock this year, was elected to be the next Vice President of the Association of Southeastern Biologists.
