Southeastern student claims first place at Research Day
by SOUTHEASTERN PUBLIC INFORMATION
March 2, 2009
State Rep. Paul Roan, Dale Daniel, and Dale's father, Brent, get together at Research Day.
DURANT, Okla. -- Southeastern Oklahoma State University senior Dale Daniel of Tushka took first-place honors in the Regional University/Community College competition at Research Day at the State Capitol on February 23.
Authors of Southeastern's research project were presenter Daniel, Tucker Harrison, Kati Crawford, Michael C. Pilkington and project mentor Dr. Nancy Paiva, associate professor of chemistry at Southeastern.
"This is a tremendous achievement," said Southeastern president Michael D. Turner. "The competition included some of the top students in the entire state of Oklahoma. Dale Daniel and Dr. Paiva are to be commended for their efforts in representing Southeastern on this project."
Daniel's presentation was entitled, "Centaurea americana as a Potential Biodiesel Crop." His research topic was Biofuels. The Tushka High School graduate is a wildlife biology major. His parents are Brent and Ruthann Daniel.
This is the second year in a row that a Southeastern student has claimed the top prize in this prestigious event that celebrates and recognizes undergraduate student research.
Tucker Harrison claimed first place in 2008, also with Dr. Paiva as his project mentor. Harrison is currently enrolled in medical school at OSU-Tulsa.
The competition is sponsored by the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and the National Science Foundation.
"This award is just one more example of the dedicated students and faculty we have at Southeastern," said Dr. Bryon Clark, Dean of Graduate and University Studies at Southeastern. "I would like to congratulate Dale Daniel on his award and also thank his faculty advisor, Dr. Nancy Paiva, for providing the guidance, leadership, and resources necessary to conduct this research."
Dr. Clark coordinated the Research Day efforts for Southeastern.
The purpose of Research Day is to help stimulate research activities in Oklahoma, as well as to inform the Legislature and the public about the scientific research being conducted at Oklahoma's universities. This annual event, inaugurated in 1996, showcases undergraduate research in the areas of science (including social science), technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Each campus is invited to nominate research project(s) conducted by an Oklahoma undergraduate student. Students nominated had to prepare poster displays for presentation in the Capitol rotunda.
The lead student on each project must be an Oklahoma resident.
This competition differs from many scientific presentations in that presenters are encouraged to make the science understandable to the general public. Presenters also compete for prizes, being judged by a panel of Ph.D. scientists on the appearance of the physical poster, a 3-5-minute speech to the judges, how well they can explain the science and answer questions, and how well they can point out the "societal impact."
Daniel was selected to represent Southeastern based on an abstract he submitted to an on-campus selection committee in December. He and Dr. Paiva attended a training session in Oklahoma City where the rules and schedule for participation were explained.
Daniel had about five weeks to design his poster presentation, prepare his talk, and fine-tune his material presentation.
The judges picked his overall presentation as the best of 10 from the regional universities and community colleges in Oklahoma. He will receive a $500 cash prize and a certificate.