eCarly@CALS

Beautiful on the Outside, Fascinating on the Inside

"Iowa is so green! The grass, the trees, the fields, everything is beautiful," says Leslie Nelson, George Washing Carver intern.

That was Leslie's opinion when I asked her about her summer experience in the state of Iowa and at Iowa State University.

Leslie is from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Iowa certainly is a change in scenery compared to back home. She told me she's gained strong appreciation for how beautiful our state is, along with our campus. This fall she is a senior at the University of New Mexico majoring in biology with a minor in professional writing.

She was also selected to participate in this summer's George Washington Carver Internship Program in ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Throughout eight weeks, participants are paired with faculty members to take part in research in their area of interest. Students selected also receive a stipend, room and board and round-trip travel to Iowa State. The program helps attract students to Iowa State to either obtain a bachelor's or an advanced degree.

When I asked Leslie about her summer research as a Carver intern. She told me she was doing research on two species of plants, more specifically, taking a look inside them and analyzing their crystals found in their cells.

"I love using microscopes and being able to study cells. Seeing what's inside is so fascinating to me," says Nelson.

Her internship focused on plant calcium oxalate crystals. Her mentor for the summer, Dr. Harry Horner, University Professor, department of genetics, development, and cell biology, and director of the Microscopy and NanoImaging Facility in Bessey Hall, and she looked at five plant species of Peperomia and Piper. Peperomia is a common houseplant while Piper is used to make black pepper. They used light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This enabled them to take digital images of the crystals in their natural form and identify their locations after isolation had occurred.

She found in her study that there's a lack of information about plant crystals. Three types of crystals were identified. The first two were druses (spherical aggregates) and raphides (needle crystals) in the Peperomia and sand crystals in the Piper. For the first time ever, they were able to make short-length movie clips of the sand crystals tumbling inside their leaves.

"Being part of the first video footage of this was so cool," says Nelson.

The more information and research gathered on these plant crystals, the closer we may be to aiding studies on knowing more about human kidney stones because plant crystals and kidney stones are both made out of calcium oxalate. Also, understanding plant crystals may help to design miniature solar multifaceted reflectors for solar energy cells.

"I learned something new each day. Sometimes what we were doing was very difficult, but I loved it," says Nelson.

Leslie had nothing but positives to say about the Carver summer research internship program. She explained to me how accommodating and excellent the program is. Working with Dr. Horner helped her learn the importance of doing everything exactly right. She says he was a great mentor and that she was very lucky to have the chance to meet and work with him.

"Getting a compliment from Dr. Horner always made my day," says Nelson.

Leslie was one of three George Washington Carver summer interns that I interviewed, I am really thankful that I had the opportunity to meet them. I enjoyed hearing about their backgrounds and learning about their research. Knowing their opinions of Iowa State University made me realize some things that myself, along with many other students and faculty take for granted.

Next time you pass someone on your way to class or on our way to work, and they smile and say hello, be thankful for the welcoming environment you are surrounded by. Also, take the time to appreciate how beautiful this campus really is, on the outside... and inside.

For more information on George Washington Carver Internship Program contact Aurelio Curbelo acurbelo@isatate.edu and check the website at http://www.ag.iastate.edu/diversity/gwc.