- University News Archive - 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock /news-archive/tag/ecology/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 25 Sep 2019 17:11:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Doctoral student attends prestigious international ecology program in France /news-archive/2019/09/25/international-ecology-program/ Wed, 25 Sep 2019 17:11:48 +0000 /news/?p=75140 ... Doctoral student attends prestigious international ecology program in France]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock doctoral student has found a passion for international collaboration after attending a prestigious summer ecology program in France.听 Patricia Covington, a Bryant native and Ph.D. student in applied biosciences, was one of just 25 doctoral students to be admitted to the COTE Summer School 2019 in Bordeaux, France, taught by 21 international experts in the field. The Summer School is part of the training program and gathers Ph.D. students in environmental sciences, each specialized in different disciplines such as ecology, chemistry, biology, and sociology. Through talks, field trips and round tables with international experts on integrative ecology, the program provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach on frontiers and boundaries in ecology and society. 鈥淚t was the most amazing experience I have ever had,鈥 Covington said. 鈥淭here were students from over 16 countries and different walks of life. It was the first time I鈥檝e been in the room with such a diverse group of people.鈥听 During the program that ran June 3-7, she met with international experts on integrative ecology, participated in interactive round table discussions to encourage cross-disciplinary research and collaboration among the participants, and took field trips to sites in France to study agriculture, hydrosystems, and forests. 鈥淭he program is about getting Ph.D. candidates together to promote interdisciplinary work,鈥 Covington said. 鈥淚t brought all of us together to identify collaborative and innovative ways to address issues through interdisciplinary work. We talked about what we can do in the areas of science that would solve common problems around the world.鈥 To keep the collaborative spirit going, Covington created a Facebook page where the program participants keep in touch. They share articles, give advice on papers and projects, and discuss collaborative research ideas. 鈥淚t serves as a way we can keep in touch and get feedback on other pursuits,鈥 Covington said. 鈥淚 made lifelong friendships, and I networked with a lot of people from different disciplines. I am so grateful that I got this opportunity. I want to thank Scott Woolbright (assistant professor of biology), David Tonkyn (chair of the biology department) and Sarah Beth Estes (dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences) for their help in getting me to France.鈥澨 Covington was one of only three students from the United States and the only student from Arkansas to attend. The summer school program, food, and accommodations were paid for by the program organizers. Covington also received a travel grants from COTE and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Department of Biology. Covington鈥檚 mentor, Dr. Scott Woolbright, encouraged her to apply after learning about the summer program from Tonkyn, who said it was an opportunity most academics do not have until they are much older. 鈥淧atricia is a leader among our students, and shows initiative in many ways,鈥 Tonkyn said. 鈥淲inning admission to this workshop is yet another example. No single university could assemble a team of instructors of this caliber from their own staff, and the training and connections Patricia has made with students and scholars from all over the world is incredible. We are proud that one of our students was able to participate in this elite program.鈥 In the upper right photo, Patricia Covington and fellow COTE Summer School 2019 program participants explore the forests in Bordeaux, France.听]]> 糖心Vlog传媒LR students visit Bahamas for spring break geology trip /news-archive/2016/04/12/64034/ Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:27:27 +0000 /news/?p=64034 ... 糖心Vlog传媒LR students visit Bahamas for spring break geology trip]]> Twelve University of Arkansas at Little Rock students participated in the week-long trip to the island of San Salvador as part of a class taught by Drs. Laura Ruhl and Ren茅 Shroat-Lewis, assistant professors of earth sciences. The 12 糖心Vlog传媒LR students who went on the March 19-25 trip include Heath Birchfield, Elizabeth Haralson, Max Hartman, Ryan Hefley, Christian Johnston, Samantha McGehee, Amber Mitchell, J.T. Poole, Candice Randall, Abigail Rogne, Alicia Stephan, and Jurnee West. Members of the group听observed the formations of different rock layers throughout the island. Students also explored the island鈥檚 caves, lakes, and fossilized reefs and dunes, as well as the youngest rock on the island, aged between 听420-3,500 years. Students studied limestone features and took samples of sediment they observed later in the lab under microscopes. The group also visited the location听of what some consider to be Christopher Columbus鈥 landing site. The students were able to see and study things unique to the area, such as the rare type of stromatolites at Storr鈥檚 Lake, found听in only two parts of the world. Stromatolites are layered sheet-like sedimentary rocks formed by the growth of bacteria. Most stromatolites today are fossils. The group had to wade through hypersaline water and muddy conditions to reach them. 鈥淲e trekked through it linking arms,鈥 said Amber Mitchell, a senior majoring in biology. 鈥淚t was a little difficult with our feet sinking in the mud and stepping on the sharp remnants of stromatolites, but we eventually made it, and it was well worth it.鈥 Other activities included swimming and bodysurfing at Sandy Point and snorkeling at French Bay and Telephone Pole Reef. Students also encountered local wildlife such as funnel-eared bats, cerion snails, hermit crabs, and white-tailed tropical birds.
A photograph of three students exploring a cave.

Photograph taken by J.T. Poole.

However, the trip had a few misfortunes. 鈥淭he weather is awesome, but most of us are sunburned already and going on little sleep due to hot dorms and sharing rooms with sand fleas,鈥 said J.T. Poole, a senior double majoring in biology and ecology. 鈥淭heir bites don’t itch. They just let you know when they bite, about every minute or two throughout the night.鈥 Halfway through the trip, Shroat-Lewis and a student had to visit a medical clinic. On the way back from another outing, their vehicle ran out of gas, but locals helped get the group back in town. Even though there were a few difficulties, students were grateful for the opportunity to see the geology of the Bahamas. 鈥淚 have absolutely (fallen)听in love with this island, and kitsch as it might be, I cannot think of a better way to spend my spring break,鈥 said Heath Birchfield, a junior double majoring in biology and ecology. The week-long trip is a credited course (ERSC 4353) that is available every two years through the Department of Earth Sciences. Participating students have asked for an advanced-level course next year, so Shroat-Lewis thinks it’s possible 糖心Vlog传媒LR might send a group annually. To read more about the trip, visit the blog, .]]>