Science faculty, students and professionals from across the state met in Pittsburg, Kansas, for the 147th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science to hear the latest research from local colleges and universities. Sterling College was represented by three students, Rachel Grafel, Hannah Kelley and Matthew Schmidt, as well as Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Wai-Foong Hong, who presented research on increasing planting yields during drought conditions. All three presentations included research conducted in 2014.

Grafel’s and Kelley’s presentation was titled “The Influence of Reproductive Status on Activities of Kangaroos in Captivity.” Their research, performed in conjunction with Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Jonathan Conard, involved gathering data on environmental conditions of mother and non-mother kangaroos and how it influenced the care of joeys at Hedrick’s Exotic Animal Farm in Nickerson. With additional research, their study could be continued to better understand how to improve the breeding environment for kangaroos in captivity. 

Schmidt’s research, also performed in partnership with Conard, studies the responses of weather conditions and human disturbances on the migration patterns of waterfowl. Specifically, they monitored how waterfowl responded to hunting disturbances, and found that groups of waterfowl tend to stay or leave an area after non-lethal hunting disturbances was highly dependent on wind speed and temperature.

In an effort to improve planting yields for area farmers, Hong presented data that she and her genetics class collected on the severe drought in spring 2014. The group found that planting yields increased when crops were planted in October, rather than the traditional practice of planting in mid-September. Counties in South Central Kansas showed 11.61 percent to 57.77 percent higher yields when planted in October.

“This research could be groundbreaking for local farmers. We hope that more data will confirm our initial results and boost the yields of area farmers and the economy,” said Hong.

Hong’s students who helped in collecting data include Amanda Buckwalter of Sylvia, Kansas; Madison Caffrey of Mount Hope, Kansas; William Hunter Hope of Cunningham, Kansas; Rachel Johnson of Larkspur, Colorado; Rachel Ropp of Hutchinson, Kansas; Matthew Schmidt of Pratt, Kansas; Troy Smith of Hutchinson, Kansas; Chelsea Stephenson of Atchinson, Kansas; Kassidy Tucker of Pasadena, Texas; Joshua Westerfield of Wichita, Kansas; and Greg Williams of Los Banos, California. Sterling College Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Randal Newhouse provided assistance with data analysis and data discussion.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.