Young researchers lead the way in sciences

April 23, 2009 by Pashtana Usufzy 

Assistantships help students studying aquatics, sustainability, system dynamics make progress in their fields

As knowledge of ecological issues and ecosystem devastation spreads, research in the field of environmental studies has boomed and UNLV students are jumping on board.

“There are a wide variety of things that you can get involved in [within] environmental studies,” graduate assistant Heather Skaza said. “It can be a part of a lot of other disciplines — economics, engineering — so there’s more [that can be] done.”

Skaza is one of many UNLV students investigating the diverse subject of environmental studies.

Increased interest in the field has allowed UNLV to offer research programs and opportunities to participate in the budding areas of green technology and environmental conservation.

“Last year we had about 40 applications [for assistantships in the Urban Sustainability Initiative],” said Ron Smith, vice president for research and graduate dean. “Each year we hope to keep adding graduate assistantships.”

The initiative, which works with the community to promote sustainability goals, hopes to expand its reach as the environmental studies field progresses.

“We are trying to slowly develop relationships on campus with [different] groups,” Smith said.

Sara Mueting, a graduate student who plans to begin work on a doctorate in aquatic toxicology this summer, has been drawn specifically to aquatic research since she completed her bachelor’s in biology.

“I’ve always been interested in the environment and pollutants,” she said.

While working on her master’s degree in public health, Mueting developed an interest in studying the quagga mussel, an invasive mollusk, at Lake Mead.

“[Quagga mussels] are filtering out all of the nutrients and the smaller fish species [in certain lakes],” she said. “So far, we haven’t seen any substantial changes in Lake Mead, but things [could get] gradually worse.”

Mueting began working with the Public Lands Institute at UNLV to carry out the research she enjoys.

“The cool thing is using an animal like the quagga mussel to… clean the environment,” she said.

Skaza has also been conducting research on sustainability, but she has focused more attention on the field of system dynamics, which deals with gaining knowledge of environmental systems over time.

“We’ve been exploring the use of these system dynamics…and the impacts [of different factors] on the environment,” she said.

Skaza was a part of the sustainability task force assembled in October 2007 by UNLV President David B. Ashley.

The group observed the recycling habits of people on the UNLV campus and it compiled a report on the school’s green development as well as ways to better environmental management in the campus community.

“We had different parts of campus life we were investigating,” Skaza said. “We looked at facilities and student life.”

Like Mueting, Skaza said she has had a long-standing interest in sustainability research. She hopes to parlay this interest in a career as a university professor.

“I actually have always been interested in environmental studies,” she said. “I was in the Navy and it got me [more interested].”

Smith believes that now is the time for students interested in green technology and the environment to take advantage of research opportunities.

“[Research] is the way students learn, and it helps the faculty as well,” he said. “There [are] all kinds of opportunities available for…students.