DALLAS - At first glance, the little green sprouts growing inside the Conviron growth chamber in a laboratory at the Hafey-McCormick Science Center at Misericordia University might not look very powerful. Yet, biology researchers are trying to determine how the prolific duckweed plants are affected by several different types of pollutants, and if they can be used as a potential bioremediation tool to clean up water-borne contaminants in waterways.

Biology Professor Cosima B. Wiese, Ph.D., is heading up a Misericordia University Summer Research Fellowship team of five biology students from across Pennsylvania and New York, including Danielle Eastgate of Palmerton, a member of the Class of 2016."I began my research in this area by looking at the acidification of water, caused by acid mine drainage into streams throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, and its impact on different plants and their physiology," Wiese said. "The students' projects are isolating the concept by testing how different pollutants, including heavy metals, an herbicide and acidic conditions, impact the duckweed plant, in particular, and its ability to grow and reproduce. Scientists are very interested in duckweed for its possible applications in the areas of bioremediation and biofuels."It is an excellent model organism because it grows so easily in the laboratory."During the paid fellowship, the students spent five days a week for 10 weeks in the lab. Their work on the sprightly aquatic plant is centered inside the Conviron growth chamber, a newly acquired research tool that maintains a constant temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and has a high intensity light to stimulate plant growth.Before beginning their research, the students had to prepare detailed research proposals in their junior seminar course in order to give them a clear sense of what they wanted to accomplish before they stepped into the lab."We are learning new methodology and applying it to new systems, and all the while developing creative solutions to research roadblocks. For the students, it is a lesson in being exact in a particular way," says Wiese, a member of the Misericordia faculty since 2001.The students not only learn from applying the scientific process and analyzing their data. A bonus of the fellowship, she says, is how the students learn from each other and learn to work together as a group. All five students are senior biology majors with a chemistry minor, yet their most important common denominator, it seems, is an interest in saving the environment.Eastgate plans to attend graduate school in applied biology. She admits she "fell" into botany after taking a course with Wiese."I really enjoyed her passion for plants, and learned about the work she was doing with aquatic plants and acid rain. I come from Palmerton, near where a zinc company caused significant pollution - enough to have the area be deemed a federal government Superfund site. Being able to work on a project that helps the environment is very important to me."The daughter of Desiree Eastgate is among the students involved with reviving Cougars for Change, and hopes to make the entire campus more eco-friendly. Her long-range career goal is to work with zoo animals.