The Sumner Richman Student Research Award in Biology

The Sumner Richman Student Research Award in Biology was created to honor Sumner Richman, who dedicated 38 years (1957-1995) to teaching and research in biology. The award recognizes a student demonstrating strong potential in biological research. Abby Herrick, from Pleasant Prairie, WI is creatively combining her passions for marine biology and clarinet performance. She has been researching changes in coral and algae communities on the reefs of Bonaire, analyzing data from the Biology Marine Term program for her Senior Experience project. Her findings will help ecologists and managers understand recent changes in the reef environments. To extend the reach of her studies, she commissioned a new clarinet solo piece for her Senior Recital that "uses sound to evoke an emotional response to listeners so that they feel more connected to the issue at hand and feel more inclined to become a part of the conversations surrounding the topic."