Susquehanna University students shone at the 20th annual River Symposium, winning two out of three top undergraduate research prizes.
Paige Hepfer, a sophomore majoring in ecology and advertising, took first place for her poster titled “A Slimy Situation: Landscape Effects on Slimy Sculpin Morphology in the West Branch Susquehanna River.” She explored the slimy sculpin fish in local watersheds. Her study focused on physical traits like fin rays and spines, examining how elevation and distance from the river might influence these characteristics.
Eric Belfanti, also a sophomore but studying physics and environmental studies, claimed third place with his research titled “Even Nature Likes to Flash: Finding Correlations Between Stream Flashiness and Land Development.” He measured how likely a stream was to experience flash flooding and discovered that areas with more development had increased flashiness.
Kathy Straub, the dean of Susquehanna’s School of Natural & Social Sciences, emphasized the importance of undergraduate research. “It helps students apply classroom knowledge to real-world issues and builds valuable skills for their future careers,” she said.
Other students from Susquehanna also made impressive contributions, presenting a variety of topics such as:
- Acid mine drainage
- Environmental influence on oriole nesting
- The effectiveness of stream restoration
- Distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton
- Arachnid behavior
Students presenting included Jasmine Aguirre, Ainslee Binkley, and EmmaLia Ciccarello, among others.
The River Symposium was hosted by Bucknell University, bringing together young researchers passionate about environmental science.
Research is critical, especially as climate change impacts our ecosystems. Understanding our environment now will help us create better solutions for the future. Studies like those presented by Susquehanna students not only deepen our knowledge but also inspire others in the field.
