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Welcome Note

BC Science Group Travels to Arizona

Blackburn seniors Nino Cavataio and Amy Turner had an eventful holiday bread that took them to Phoenix, Arizona in early January. The two science majors presented the results of their research with Dr. David Reid and Dr. Ed Zalisko at the 2007 meetings of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. Nearly 2,000 scientists of diverse backgrounds attended this meeting. In their research, the group learned that the infection rates of snakes by Salmonella bacteria vary with the age of the snakes. Salmonella is a known contaminant of a variety of foods including chicken and can be transmitted by contact with amphibians and reptiles. The Blackburn group wondered if the widely reported Salmonella infections in snakes might vary, as snakes grow older. These preliminary results, reported at this international scientific meeting, suggest that older snakes are less likely to be infected than younger snakes.

“These opportunities to conduct and present original research at professional meetings are invaluable learning experiences,” said Dr. Reid.

Many of the costs of the students’ travel were supported by a generous gift from the parents of junior Grant Lamsargis.

Dr. Zalisko noted, “The research collaborations and presentations with our students would not exist without the continued support of friends of the college, our administration, our alumni, and a strongly supportive atmosphere of Blackburn College. Our students and our faculty all have a chance to learn and grow together.”

Science majors Sheree Speckman and Zach Scribner are continuing the work with Drs. Reid and Zalisko to further explore the infection rates of hatchling snakes just after hatching and before and after their first meals of small mice. They expect to follow-up this year’s presentation at the same meetings to be held in San Antonio, Texas next January.

Nino Cavataio and Amy Turner stand in front of their poster presentation of their research conducted with Dr. David Reid, professor of biology and chemistry, and Dr. Ed Zalisko, professor of biology.

 

During a specially designated period in the afternoon, scientists from around the world have an opportunity to meet with the authors of the poster presentations to discuss the results of their research. Here, Amy and Nino share their results with a scientist from South America.