Highlander Highlights: Week of October 28, 2024

Every two weeks, Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary research and accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students and faculty. 

Undergrad students present their research at VNHS conference 

Getting a chance to do research as an undergraduate at Radford University has “led to many great opportunities thanks to faculty who are passionate about mentoring students,” said Katie Wheeler.

One of those opportunities for the senior biology major from Roanoke, Virginia, and several other Radford students was presenting their research Oct. 19 at the fourth meeting of the Virginia Natural History Society (VNHS), hosted by the university in the Center for the Sciences.

More than 50 people from eight colleges and universities, agencies and nonprofit organizations from around Virginia attended the daylong conference that included talks and poster sessions by students, faculty and other professionals. Also, the Radford Planetarium treated attendees to a show.

VNHS consistently promotes research on the natural history of Virginia, educating citizens of the commonwealth on natural history topics and encouraging the conservation of natural resources.

The organization’s scientific journal, “Banisteria,” has supported publications researched and written by Radford Department of Biology students and faculty. Radford Professor of Biology Karen Powers currently serves as VNHS society president.

Wheeler’s research, “Songbirds and Microplastics, Examining Exposure to Microplastics in Cedar Waxwings,” was among the many intriguing topics presented at the conference. 

“The students, faculty, and professionals that attend this conference each year are always very welcoming and excited to hear students’ work,” Wheeler said. “This makes it a great opportunity for undergrads to have the experience presenting in front of professionals at a more local conference.”

Senior biology major Caleb Smith presented at the conference, too, speaking to attendees about his research concerning “the Mountain Valley Natural Gas Pipeline installation,” the Roanoke native explained, “and how the pipeline will affect the surrounding ecosystems that it will be placed in and through.”

Participating in undergraduate research “makes my time at Radford University even more valuable than it already has been,” Smith said, “and to be able to present at conferences is an exciting experience where I am able to meet and network with professionals in the field.”

Radford University offers an education that encourages active participation, challenges students from the outset and provides early access to industry-aligned opportunities. As early as their freshman year, students get hands-on experience, including valuable research opportunities. Every Radford student can engage in career-driven experiences that connect them meaningfully to their future profession.

Green adds author title to long list of accomplishments at Radford

Mathematics major Abbi Green is now a published author.

The senior’s work with Associate Professor of Biology Tara Pelletier, “Predicting genetic biodiversity in salamanders using geographic, climatic, and life history traits," is included in the latest edition of PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed research journal from the Public Library of Science. 

The two researchers began working on the project three years ago when Green was a freshman. They’ve worked on two additional projects since.

“For the project, we were using random forest predictive modeling to look at which climatic, geographic and life history variables might influence whether or not a species contains hidden diversity,” Green explained, noting that hidden diversity can be described as “species that could possibly be described as more than one species."

Green and Pelletier worked on the study with Danielle Parsons and Bryan Carstens, researchers at Ohio State University.

“Working with Dr. Pelletier has honestly been one of the best choices I've ever made,” said Green, a computational biology researcher and mathematics student, “She's given me the opportunity for so many incredible experiences, like presenting at a national conference as a freshman, getting published before I graduate undergrad and so much more! I couldn't ask for a better mentor.”

Let me tell you a story about that ugly tomato 

While shopping for fresh produce, have you ever passed over a misshapen or discolored fruit or vegetable? Many shoppers do. Radford University Assistant Professor of Marketing Luke Liska is part of a research group whose latest work sheds light on how storytelling can shift this behavior, encouraging the acceptance of “ugly” produce. 

The paper, “I Know I Am Ugly, but Please Listen to My Story First: An Examination of How Storytelling Can Impact Consumers' Valuation of Unattractive Produce,” is published in The Journal of Consumer Behavior.

“In a world where food insecurity and food waste paradoxically coexist, the rejection of aesthetically imperfect yet edible produce significantly contributes to food waste,” wrote Liska and his fellow researchers. “This study examines the application of compelling storytelling to alter consumer perceptions and behaviors toward unattractive produce, a perspective largely overlooked in sustainability research.”

Through sharing the stories behind imperfect foods, “we can change perceptions and reduce food waste,” Liska said.

Everything you wanted to know about ‘The Magic School Bus’

Radford University Associate Professor of Communication Michael Meindl is working with Matthew Wisnioski, an associate professor at Virginia Tech, exploring the broad multimedia enterprise of “The Magic School Bus,” entailing the books, TV series, CD-ROM games, etc. 

“We are interested in how this particular intellectual property grew to become one of the most successful informal science education initiatives,” Meindl said of the media franchise that follows Ms. Frizzle and her class as they board a magic school bus for fantastic field trips.

The research, which involves Radford University media production undergraduate students Aidan Beveridge and Emma Tompkins, combines archival research and oral history interviews. The researchers have presented findings at a variety of national and international conferences and have begun a series of public-facing articles on Medium.com. 

They are currently working on a book proposal and an article for “Isis,” the journal of the History of Science Society. The project is supported by the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, the Consortium for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine and the researchers’ respective universities.

Dance production class to perform around the New River Valley 

Written by senior dance major Merdithye Witt and edited by senior dance students Owen Tidd, Lydia Frazier, Onajae Edmund and Olivia Nargi. 

The Radford University Dance Production class will perform three times in the Virginia New River Valley this fall from Oct. 31 to Nov. 19. The program, titled “Rooted in Rhythm: Dancing across the Seven Seas,” features folk dances from Cuba, Russia, United States, Greece and Sweden and aims to bring dances from around the world to underserved communities. Each folk dance is authentically recreated and shares stories of community, tradition, and joyous movement expression.

Originating from Cuba and practiced worldwide, the mambo is known for its fast and energetic footwork. From Russia, the kalinka originated from Slavic tribes in the 10th century with joyful jumps and quickly paced steps. Flat-footing is a blend of Native American, Irish, African and European step dances often performed in rural communities in the North American Appalachian Mountains. From Greece, the sirtaki is a culmination of three folk dances performed in a line or circle and expresses the freedom of spirit. The åttämanengel (eight-man angel) and jämtpolska blend Polish and Finnish court dances that bring families together in Sweden. 

A free public performance of “Rooted in Rhythm: Dancing across the Seven Seas” is scheduled for 3 p.m., Oct. 31, in the Radford University Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, Studio 428.

Outreach performances of the rich cultural program will occur at Commonwealth Senior Living on Nov. 7 and at the Pulaski Community Youth Center on Nov. 19. Contact Deborah McLaughlin at (540) 831-5286 for more information.