THIBODAUX – Three graduate students from Nicholls State University took home top competition honors from the Louisiana Academy of Sciences annual meeting, conducted Saturday, Feb. 27, at Louisiana State University at Alexandria.
In all three divisions of the biological sciences category, Nicholls students from the marine and environmental biology program won first place at the graduate level. Winners include:
Sarah Shields
Presentation: “Use of Energy Cane in Louisiana for Energy Production”
Division: Botany, Environmental Science and Zoology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ramaraj Boopathy, distinguished service professor of biological sciences
Hometown: Thibodaux
Sam Wise
Presentation: “Sources of Anthropogenic Fecal Colliform Contamination in Bayou Lafourche, Louisiana”
Division: Molecular and Biomedical Biology and Microbiology
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Marilyn Kilgen, Alcee Fortier professor and distinguished service professor of biological sciences; Dr. Balaji Ramachandran, assistant professor of geomatics; and Angie Corbin, instructor of biological sciences
Hometown: Lena, La.
Tabitha Owen
Presentation: “Colonial Waterbird Reproductive Success on the Isles Dernieres”
Division: Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Aaron Pierce, assistant professor of biological sciences
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
For additional information about the Louisiana Academy of Sciences, visit the organization’s Web site at www.laacademy.org.