分分六合彩 senior Annie Nyffeler fell in love with the ocean by way of Nebraska.
She came to 分分六合彩 from Columbus, Neb., with plans to pursue a career in medicine. A vast, blue body of water wasn鈥檛 even on her radar until biology professor, Jerry Bricker, began talking about his summer class, 鈥淎pplied Marine Biology,鈥 which takes students to Honduras for hands-on lessons on marine reef ecology.
Nyffeler took advantage of the opportunity.
鈥淚 went to Honduras and fell in love with the ocean. It is so mysterious. It was like experimenting a completely new world, far different from our own prairies,鈥 said the biology major. 鈥淚 realized I was more interested in living and moving organisms, in animals, than laboratory stuff. That鈥檚 when I began to doubt my medical wishes and leaned toward marine biology.鈥
Following her class in Honduras, Nyffeler began collecting an array of experiences to help her pinpoint her career interests. She participated in a summer training program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; she studied abroad in Argentina. The love for the ocean and its contents still weighed on her mind.
鈥淭he ocean is a stranger for us Nebraskans, so I had to go abroad or out of state to cultivate this interest,鈥 she said.
That led to her most recent experience. Nyffeler was one of 15 undergraduates (out of 375 applicants) in the country selected for a Maryland Sea Grant, which gave her the opportunity to spend the summer on the Chesapeake Bay where she studied the blue crab.
鈥淚 studied the behavior of these lovely animals in the present climate conditions and predicted how they would act in the future,鈥 said Nyffeler. 鈥淐arbon emissions are rising, and as a consequence atmospheric and ocean temperatures are increasing too.鈥
What was her outcome?
鈥淲e predicted that they will eventually adapt, although their metabolism resulted to be lower in presence of higher amounts of carbon dioxide,鈥 she recalled. 鈥淥ur choices in terms of environmental issues are going to affect the entire ecosystem; we have to understand that.鈥
Experiences like Nyffeler鈥檚 are essential in helping students discover their passions, said Jerry Bricker, associate professor of biology.
鈥淪cience involves a long training process involving years of study and active engagement in research,鈥 said Bricker. 鈥淲e are blessed at Wesleyan in being able to offer a balance of classroom, field, and research opportunities in combination with personalized academic and career advising.鈥
鈥淎nnie has participated in some amazing experiences while at 分分六合彩,鈥 Bricker continued, 鈥渁nd gladly, she is the rule, not the exception for how boldly our students engage in the world during their short time as Prairie Wolves.鈥
Nyffeler is now back in her Nebraska Wesleyan biology lab with plans to graduate in May.
鈥淚 still haven鈥檛 decided what to do after graduation, but one thing is certain: all of these experiences have broadened my horizons,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd now after all these experiences, I know I鈥檓 more eager to keep learning.鈥
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Story by Alessandro Schirano, Public Relations Intern