Van Scholten, of Nashville, Tenn., Invited to Submit Research to Professional Journal

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Nina J. Kalantari (left) and Van Scholten had their undergraduate research published in Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 19, Special Issue 6, in March 2012.

CAZENOVIA, NY (05/10/2012)(readMedia)-- Two Cazenovia College environmental studies students had a scholarly paper published in the Association of Northeast Biologist's Journal, Northeastern Naturalist. The journal is a quarterly peer-reviewed and edited interdisciplinary scientific journal with a regional focus on northeastern North America.

The research paper, "The Distribution of Cordulegaster Nymphs in Seeps and Springs of Nelson Swamp," by Nina J. Kalantari, of Moretown, Vt., and Van Scholten, of Nashville, Tenn., was first presented as a poster illustrating their findings at the Northeast Natural History Conference in 2011, where they were asked by one of the journal's editors to submit the work for publication. The journal features research articles, notes and summaries on terrestrial, fresh-water, and marine organisms, and their habitats.

Dr. Barbara Hager, associate professor and director of Cazenovia College's Environmental Studies Program, says, "Van and Nina first presented their research on the nymph distribution as a poster presentation at the Northeast Natural History Conference in April 2011. Then I guided them in turning their work into a scientific paper at the request of an editor. It was published in Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 19, Special Issue 6, in March 2012."

Hager notes that the research is significant, first because it was done in Nelson Swamp Unique Area and therefore relates to conservation issues and concerns related to an area that has some uncommon soil and water characteristics and harbors some rare plant communities for this area. In addition, she says, "the wildlife special to the swamp is not often studied. Spiketail dragonflies are common in the swamp but not found elsewhere, and not much is known about them, so the work contributes to the general knowledge base about dragonflies. Dragonflies have become important conservation tools and provide us biological information about water quality and other aspects of overall health of the habitats where they live."

The paper is the final project of an independent study the two students completed in the fall semester of 2011. Scholten is set to graduate with a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies, specializing in environmental biology this coming December. He says, "I thought Nina and I would be helping with Dr. Hager's project. It was, in fact, her initial research that sparked the independent study to begin with."

Scholten and Kalantari didn't' know what they were in for. Scholten says, "Every wet, snowy, windy, cold Thursday (our luck was daunting) we would drive out to Nelson Swamp and evaluate where to look for the nymphs. To me, it became less like a research project the more time I invested in it. As we continued, we got better and better at finding, identifying, and measuring the larva. I never thought of it at the time as anything more than just fun."

He continues, "For me, having a piece of work published makes me think of the opportunities for post undergraduate work with the field of biology as well as the potential to, as Dr. Hager said, stand out among applicants for certain jobs or other aspects of my life I have yet to come across."

Scholten hopes to eventually earn a master's degree in the environmental field, but will definitely continue to advocate for environmental policy as we progress into a world more and more dependent upon the energy we use, in order to make sure we are doing it efficiently and responsibly.

Kalantari believes that having the paper published will serve as inspiration for other science students. "The hard part," she says, "would be finding a dedicated professor like Dr. Hager, whose guidance and help allowed us to be involved in this level of research."

Dr. Hager notes that publishing research like this is great for students. She says, "It provides them with practical experience in conducting real science and actually being scientists/collaborators and colleagues rather than just students, which can increase their chances of getting into grad school."

She continues, "I'm really proud of them. There are many aspects of this work that aren't pretty or fun - very muddy clothes, hands and faces when out in the field. Then there are the hours of staring at computer screens when doing data analysis, writing, and placing images on posters or in the manuscript in proper format and an aesthetically pleasing manner. But they persevered through it all."

Cazenovia College, founded in 1824, is an independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college near Syracuse, N.Y., offering a comprehensive liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. Cazenovia, named one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, is also a national College of Distinction. For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu.

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