Sul Ross student wins outstanding poster award at TAS meeting

ALPINE Sul Ross State University student Samantha "Sami" Cohen of San Antonio won the outstanding undergraduate student poster presentation at the 112th annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Science.

Cohen was in a group of 10 Sul Ross biology students and faculty attending the meeting, held March 5-7 in Junction.

She was one of three presenters and won a $300 cash prize and recognition by the Academy for her presentation, "Select Herbicides and Their Effects on Growth, Development, and Activity Levels of Rana Catesbeiana Tadpoles."

Other Sul Ross presenters were graduate student Andrew Berezin, Damon, an oral presentation titled "Seed Dispersal by American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) in Big Bend National Park, Texas;" and JoGina Gallego, Balmorhea, a poster presentation, "A Survey of Ectoparasites of Small Mammals from Nicaragua." Both posters were co-authored by Chris Ritzi, the students' advisor and project mentor.

Berezin's presentation was co-authored by Steven Platt, his major advisor.

Other students who attended were graduate students Jena Carey, Alpine; Ali Lanning, Sugar Land; and Justin Ceniceros, Alpine; and undergraduates Sheryl Bitner, Alvin; Lucia DeLaRosa, San Antonio; and Patricia Roberts, Alpine.

More than 450 academy members, including representatives for zoology, botany, ecology, biomedical science, chemistry, geology, science education, and math attended the meeting.

There were a total 280 oral and poster presentations given during the meeting by a combination of undergraduate, graduate, and professional members.

The meeting also consisted of several special symposiums, including the use of technology and the internet in science education, the academy's position statement on the teaching of evolutionary theory in public school, and the importance of environmental education and outreach in Texas.

The 2010 meeting of the Academy will be held at Tarleton State University, Stephenville.

Sul Ross biology students and faculty members attended the 112th annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, held March 5-7 in Junction. Pictured are, from left: Patricia Roberts, Alpine; Sami Cohen, San Antonio; Justin Ceniceros, Alpine; Jo Gina Gallego, Balmorhea; Jena Carey, Alpine; Lucia DeLaRosa, San Antonio; Sheryl Bitner, Alvin; Ali Lanning, Sugar Land; Andrew Berezin, Damon; and Chris Ritzi.