Ouachita Stories

Ten Ouachita Baptist University students had the opportunity to present their research at the recent “Arkansas STEM Posters at the Capitol” event in Little Rock.

The Ouachita students were among nearly 80 students from 13 private and public colleges and universities across the state who were selected to present their undergraduate research in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Their work was presented in the Capitol Rotunda to state legislators and was followed by a luncheon in the students’ honor.

Event organizer Dr. Patrick Desrochers, a chemistry professor at the University of Central Arkansas, described the event as “a showcase of the best and brightest students from around the state involved in exciting and innovative projects.” He said the poster presentations “advocate for the good work these students and faculty do at their schools.”

Among Ouachita’s presentations, Kate Collins, a sophomore biology major from Texarkana, Ark.; Addison McCarver, a senior biology major from Texarkana, Ark.; and Dustin Walter, a sophomore biology and chemistry major from West Memphis, Ark., worked with Dr. Nathan Reyna, assistant professor of biology, to present research on “From Freshmen to Seniors, Active Inquiry-Based Learning in the Biology Curriculum at Ouachita Baptist University.”

Noting that “educational reform is moving students from passively listening to lectures to active inquiry-based learning environments,” the research explores Ouachita’s involvement in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance and other research projects involving more than 60 Ouachita biology majors ranging from freshmen to seniors.

Kasa Cooper, a senior professional chemistry and biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Benjamin Max Ford, a senior chemistry and biology major from Arkadelphia; Ark.; Tanner Simon, a senior chemistry major from Denton, Texas; and Tyler Simon, a senior chemistry major from Denton, Texas, worked with Dr. Martin Perry, Ouachita’s Nell I. Mondy Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Grover Miller of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on the subject of “Improving Drug Metabolism Using Chemical Computer Simulations.”

Explaining that “specific sub-families of proteins participate in the metabolism of foreign substances in the human body such as steroids, drugs, mutagens and carcinogens,” the research involved conducting “chemical computational simulations of these foreign substances with human proteins … to examine molecular interactions in an effort to understand and improve drug metabolism.”

Vikki Kay Bennett, a senior biology major from Jonesboro, Ark.; Cara McKinney, a senior biology major from Hughes Springs, Texas; and Jessica Winston, a senior biology major from Sheridan, Ark., worked with Dr. Lori Hensley, associate professor of biology, and Amy Eubanks, adjunct biology instructor, as well as Dr. Larry Suva and Dr. Robert Griffin of UAMS on “The Effects of Ajulemic Acid on Pediatric Cancers.”

Addressing Ewing’s sarcoma, a highly aggressive pediatric bone cancer, the research focused on the ability of ajulemic acid to kill Ewing’s sarcoma cells and limit the migration of tumor cells. The results of related experiments on mice “provide the rationale for the development of improved therapies for this devastating family of cancers.”

Emphasizing that the opportunity to present their work was important to students for two major reasons, Dr. Hensley explained, “Our students get to use their scientific knowledge for a completely new purpose” as they lobby legislators about the importance of research funding. She said the students “are asking that undergraduate research be given consideration” when future bills include funds for such efforts.

Additionally, Hensley said, “The students have to explain not only what they did, but why it is important to a non-scientific audience. They have to critically assess what they have done and then speak directly to the impact it could have on the citizens of this country.”

By Trennis Henderson, OBU vice president for communications