From bugs to biochar to food safety, more than 20 scholars in the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) succinctly shared their science endeavors Wednesday, March 5, in the college’s Three Minute Thesis competition, held at Ensminger Pavilion.
Camille Wagstaff, doctoral student in Molecular Plant Sciences, will advance to the all-WSU competition on March 26 after taking first place at the CAHNRS event on Wednesday.
Wagstaff presented her ongoing research analyzing what leafhopper pests eat and how that affects diseases in Columbia Basin agriculture. Her work helps protect crops and the environment.
“Everyone did amazing,” said Wagstaff, who succeeded in part by speaking naturally. “I had the first and last line memorized and just told my story!”
This year’s CAHNRS winners included multiple ties. First-place doctoral runner-up Yuan Su, studying in the School of Food Science, spoke about controlling listeria in the apple industry. Tying for second place, Molecular Plant Sciences student Tana Rayburn shared work on riboflavin-enriched crops, and Valentina Sierra Jimenez, a student in Biological Systems Engineering, talked about her experimental work in biochar. BSE student Bhupinderjeet Singh won the audience-voted People’s Choice award in the doctoral category for his work in modelling snow processes for sustainable food, water, and energy.
In the master’s student competition, Molly Quade, an entomology student, won for her presentation on research exploring fungi to kill mites that attack honey bees. In second place and winning the People’s Choice master’s award, S.M. Hasan Shahriar Rahat, student in Biological Systems Engineering, shared research on optimizing algae in wastewater.
Additional Three Minute Thesis competitors included Divyanth Loganathan Girija, Biological Systems Engineering; Katherine Rehberger, Food Science; Joey Rosario, Entomology; Chase Baerlocher, Entomology; Dattatray Bhalekar, Biological Systems Engineering; Thiago Campbell, Horticulture; Madeline Desjardins, Soil Science; Madeline Fodor, Human Development; M.D. Nasmul Hossain, Animal Sciences; Se Eun Jung, Molecular Plant Sciences; Gagandeep Kaur, Soil Science; Itsuhiro Ko, Plant Pathology; Sean McGuire, Molecular Plant Sciences; Anita Paneru, Plant Pathology; Rachel Potter, Food Science; and Mckaela Whilden, Entomology.
View a photo gallery from the event at the CAHNRS Flickr page.
About CAHNRS
The land-grant mission of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences is made possible through the U.S. Hatch Act of 1887 and the U.S. Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Respectively, these Acts fund experiment stations and cooperative Extension efforts that aid Northwest growers, provide nutrition and health education, support rural businesses, enhance our environment, and much more. Hatch and Smith-Lever capacity funds drive our work for a more resilient, prosperous, and sustainable Washington and are matched by state and local funds.