Latest News & Events...
Kansas: Climate Change and Energy Central
Annual Statewide
Conference
Kansas: Climate Change and Energy Central, the annual Kansas NSF EPSCoR Statewide Conference, was held Jaunary 12-13, 2012 in Wichita, KS to foster collaboration and increase research competitiveness. The theme was how the research focus at Kansas NSF EPSCoR is positioning Kansas to be Climate and Energy Central through a unique multidisciplinary approach that may also spearhead economic development in our state. See some photograps from the conference on our Facebook page.
Kansas NSF EPSCoR research featured at Ecological Society of America website.
Here is an interview by an EPSCoR supported researcher!
A recent article on the Ecological Society of America's website, features our very own Dr. Jesse Nippert! The article highlights a recent article published in Ecosphere and based on research at Konza Prairie by Jesse and graduate students (Zack Ratajczak, Jeff Hartman and Troy Ocheltree). Be sure to also check out the "podcast" interview on tallgrass prairie and the Konza research program.
Way to go, Jesse!
EXCITE! workshops focus on Kansas NSF EPSCoR research - NOTE NEW DATE: February 11, 2012
NSF EPSCoR is teaming up with the EXCITE! (EXploring sCIence, Technology and Engineering!) program at K-State to develop and deliver science workshops for 9th and 10th grade girls. The first workshop, Going to EXTREMES: Climate and Energy in Kansas, will be on February 11 at K-State. Additional workshops will be planned for KU and WSU later in 2012.
The learning activities at K-State will focus on selected aspects of EPSCoR climate and energy research, and will be presented to about 80 girls. The workshops, which will be delivered primarily by women working on EPSCoR research, will help the girls understand the integration of climate science and energy topics that are needed to help make Kansas: Climate and Energy Central.
For example, in one activity, the students will learn about simple climate models, looking at what affects temperatures, and then will discuss more complex models used by scientists in EPSCoR research.
Jacqueline Spears, director of the Center for Science Education at K-State, is planning the event with Beth Montelone, professor of biology and Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Yasche Glass, Program Coordinator for K-State Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering. Also assisting is John Harrington, Jr., EPSCoR project manager and professor of geography at K-State.
Students affiliated with Kansas NSF EPSCoR win top prizes at National EPSCoR Conference
Two Kansas State University graduate students who are conducting research for the Kansas NSF EPSCoR major initiative Climate Change and Energy: Basic Science, Impacts and Mitigation won top prizes in a research poster contest that was part of the 22nd National NSF EPSCoR Conference which took place in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on October 24-27, 2011.
There were 60 student poster presenters in four categories: Water and Environment, Energy, Workforce Development and Other.
Andrew McGowan, a doctoral student who is conducting research on biofuels with Chuck Rice, University Distinguished Professor of Soil Microbiology, won the grand prize in the Water and Environment category for his poster Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Different Biofuel Cropping Systems.
Ayomi Perera, a doctoral student in the lab of Stephan Bossmann, professor of chemistry at K-State, won the grand prize in the Energy category, for her poster Design of a Mycrobacterial Porin Based Dye Sensitized Solar Cell.
Both McGowan and Perera received a $250 award.
BJ Gray, doctoral student in Anthropology at KU, also presented a poster, Agricultural Decision-Making and Extended Agency.
See here for more information about the student poster presenters.
Konza Prairie and EPSCoR host Girl Scout event
Education staff and volunteers at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas State University, near Manhattan, Kansas, led by Valerie Wright, the LTER Environmental Education Director, worked with Kansas NSF EPSCoR staff and the area Girl Scout Council to host an Explore the Konza Prairie event on September 10, 2011. There were 22 Girl Scouts and six leaders in attendance.
An important goal of EPSCoR is to find ways increase diversity in the sciences, and one approach is to offer programming to girls, encouraging them to think positively about science and science careers. Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri Council have an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programming, and were enthusiastic about developing a partnership with NSF EPSCoR and the Konza Prairie Biological Station.
At Explore the Konza Prairie, the Scouts and leaders hiked with the Konza educators and learned about why the prairie ecosystem is so important, discussing how the soil traps carbon, for example. The girls also learned about plant species and learned how to mount plant specimens.
Changing Weather Patterns Creating More Severe Storms
John Harrington Jr., professor of geography at Kansas State University and also project manager at Kansas NSF EPSCoR, has been interviewed by national media in recent weeks about the increase in the number and severity of tornados and severe storms this year. Tornados, severe storms and other extreme weather, such as heat waves and blizzards are increasingly more frequent and severe and can be attributed to changes in the climate system.
For more information, see the news release.
Harrington’s interview by the Albany, NY Public Radio Station is available here.
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