Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, February 12, 1999
Undergraduates to present research during symposium
By Chris Hopkins Kansan staff writer
Topics ranging from the effect of light on architecture to the smallest particles in the universe will be discussed at the Second Annual KU Undergraduate Research Symposium tomorrow in the Kansas Union.
Original musical works and sculptures also will be presented during the day-long event, which starts at 8:55 a.m. A symposium is a gathering or social event where there is a free exchange of ideas.
Barbara Schowen, director of the University honors program, was one of the developers of the symposium.
"It was really exciting last year and I think everyone who attended had a really good time," she said.
The symposium began last year as a forum for undergraduate research. Schowen said that about 50 people presented their findings last year and that more than 60 would this year.
Cress Wakefield, Wichita senior is creating a display on the interaction of light and space in architecture. She said that the symposium allowed students to display work that normally would be overlooked.
"A lot of times, undergraduate research isn't recognized in publications and such," she said.
Many of the participants in tomorrow's program also were winners of undergraduate research awards, which help finance students' travel and other expenses while doing research.
Wakefield did her research while she was on a study abroad program in Italy with the School of Architecture. She chose a suburb of Venice to conduct her study.
By measuring the amount of light in different places in the courtyard hourly for four days, Wakefield said she understood better the way light interacted with the architecture.
"You're really, really aware of
the space because you have to walk everywhere," she said. "It seems more open or closed depending on where the light is, and it leads you in different directions depending on where the light is."
Another illuminating portion of the program will be a pair of discussions about neutrinos.
Neutrinos were discovered in 1959 when a stream of the particles were shot through water and gave off small bursts of light. They are believed to be both the smallest and the most plentiful particle in the universe.
David Besson, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, said that the symposium would be a warm-up for his research assistants.
"Two of them are actually giving talks the following week, and so this is a chance for me to tune them up," he said.
Kelly Peterson, Vermillion, S.D., sophomore, and Ryan Dyer, a Haskell Indian Nations University student, will be making presentations about neutrinos at the University of California-Berkley.
Peter Brabant, Lawrence junior was helping Besson with supercollar research. He will make a presentation at Cornell in a month.
The day's events will be capped off by a dinner banquet at 6 p.m.
Richard Schowen, professor of microbiology, will give a speech called "How to Breed Scientists in Captivity."
Richard Schowen said that the speech focused on maintaining intellectual freedom in the controlled world of the professional world.
"Modern science is so expensive and requires so many resources that it can really only be done in an institutional setting." he said.
Richard Schowen said that the symposium should keep getting bigger, in part because of the support by Provost David Shulenburger. During the Faculty Convocation this fall, Shulenburger said he would like every undergraduate to get research experience.
Museum's rare snake undergoes surgery
By Matt Merkel-Hess Special to the Kansan
An unusual animal that beat the odds before arriving at the Natural History Museum has survived yet another challenge.
An albino rat snake at the museum is recovering from surgery that removed a potentially malignant tumor from its jaw.
Before arriving at the museum in the mid-1980s, the snake lived in the wild, where its glistening white skin made it obvious to attackers.
Nancy Schwarting, an animal science technician with the KU Animal Care Unit, said that a Leavenworth County farmer discovered the 41/2 foot snake as a full-grown adult in his chicken coop, engorged on eggs.
Eric Rundquist, animal science technician at the museum, said it was unusual to find an albino animal in the wild.
"He said it was scary and too weird," Schwarting said. "We were lucky he wanted us to come and take it rather than killing it."
After living in the relative safety of the museum for about
"We did a real quick biopsy," he said. "It didn't look quite right so we took the snake to the vet."
15 years, the snake developed a rapidly-growing tumor about a month ago. Rundquist said.
marguerite Ermeling, a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals performed surgery to remove the tumor Jan. 13 at the Gentle Care Animal Hospital in Lawrence. She said that cancer, an infection or an abscess could have caused the tumor.
An animal science technician holds an albino rat snake. The snake recently underwent surgery to remove a possibly malignant tumor on its jaw. Photo by Michael Kelly/KANSAN
Ermeling said that some tumor mass remained after surgery because removing it all would have destroyed jaw muscles. She said the remaining tumor could spread.
Although the snake is recovering quickly, tissue samples were sent to the University of Missouri to determine if the tumor is malignant, said Nancy Schwarting.
Schwarting said that Missouri scientists had differing opinions about the snake's tumor and that the Animal Care Unit had not received test results.
"This is a granddaddy snake."
Schwarting said. "Odds are good that it has cancer, because that is common in old snakes."
tion between albinism and cancer was not found in animals, but that humans with albinism had higher rates of cancer, because of increased susceptibility to skin cancer.
Rundquist said that a correla-
One fan of the snake is Kate Dillon, a housekeeping employee at the museum.
"It fascinates me because it is albino," Dillon said. "I'm albino — it's like a connection. I don't like snakes at all, but I come every day and look at them to try and get over that."
Dillon said she was concerned with the snake's absence.
"Every time I see (Rundquist) I ask him how the snake is doing." Dillon said.
Rat snakes grow up to six-feet long and live about 20 years. Schwarting estimated the snake's age at about 20, and said test results and the snake's health determined whether to put it back on display.
"It's a very popular animal, and it's been here a long time," Rundquit said.
Murphy brings Ramona books to life on stage
University Theatre to show adaptation of Beverly Cleary's famous kids' tales
By Matt Cox Special to the Kansan
phy Hall
appeal to all ages.
The production combines many parts of Cleary's Ramona books into one year of Ramona's third grade life. The play shows how difficult it is for her to grow up when no one understands her.
Students, as well as children will find humor in a new University Theatre production based on a famous children's series.
"Ramona Quimby," a play by Len Jenkin adapted from the Beverly Cleary books, will open at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Mur-
The play spans many situations an impressionable third grader would endure: dealing with siblings, friends and family. Through these situations, Ramona has good times and bad times and learns life lessons accented by humor.
"It's a kids' show," said Megan Schemmel, who plays both Susan, the classroom brat and Tammy, a peppy waitress.
Despite the show's appeal to children, she said that it would
Lauren Stanford, who plays Ramona's older sister Beezus, said that children would react in different ways to the play. She said they would be attracted to the lavish costumes and silly physical humor. However, the adult audience would relate to the dialogue and underlying comedy.
Stanford, Stilwell senior, is no stranger to the Cleary books, which helped her develop the character she plays.
"When I was younger, my best friend and I had a competition to see who could read all the Ramona books first," she said.
Cleary, who was among the slowest readers in her first grade class, understood the
struggle of a young child trying to read.
Her mother, who built the first library in her hometown of Yamhill, Ore., influenced Cleary to appreciate books. But later in life, Cleary found children's stories to be too predictable and she was inspired to write about the funny situations that people could relate to.
Schemmel and Stanford said that they also thought the play would be a success with both audiences.
"We are expecting a full house for the student show," Schemmel said.
Tickets are $6 for the general public and $3 for students and are available at Murphy Hall box office.