Danae de Vries participated in Celebration of Learning

2012 May 7

More than 75 Augustana students from all academic areas shared their advanced research projects on Saturday, May 5, at the Celebration of Learning. This on-campus research symposium annually gives students an opportunity to show off their academic accomplishments to their families and the Augustana community.

Among the students involved:

Danae de Vries, a senior from Wheaton, Ill., majoring in biology. The research was titled University of Texas's Center of Laboratory Animal Medicine and Care: Evaluation of Bedding. The purpose of CLAMC's husbandry staff is to provide a clean environment with minimal health risks to the animals. Recent observations of the animals' environment has shown that the current bedding is no longer effective as the amount of dust and ammonia produced are now at levels that are not healthy for the animals. In order to provide the healthiest environment to the animals, several beddings were evaluated to determine which would be most beneficial.

Celebration participants presented their research through a poster display or an oral presentation. Many students expounded on the results of their Senior Inquiry, a multiple-term research project required for most academic programs. Other students shared honors capstone projects or student-faculty research findings. Because of the advanced level of research involved, most of the presenters are upperclass students.

Anne Earel and Stefanie Bluemle, Augustana reference librarians and the event's co-directors, said the Celebration of Learning provided an outlet for students to showcase their accomplishments.

Presentations topics varied greatly and included anthropology, biology, physics, geography, gender studies, theater and more.