Vanessa O’Donnell presents at Northeast Algal Symposium and receives book award

Vanessa O'Donnell, 91AV graduate student in the Marine Science program and Spartacus GK12 Fellow, recently presented at the Northeast Algal Symposium (NEAS). Vanessa is examining biofilm binding and its response to changes in environmental conditions, pH and salinity. Her talk was titled "Acidification effecting the binding capabilities of exopolymeric substance with metals from a marine benthic diatom, Cylindriotheca closterium.”

Vanessa was also the recipient of a NEAS book award. The NEAS gives books to scholars to support their research. Vanessa was awarded Biological Adhesives by Andrew Smith and James Callow.

She indicated the value of the book to her research by saying: "Many disciplines study biofilms, including biochemistry, oceanography, sedimentology, environmental science, toxicology, dentistry, medicine and biotechnology. Biofilms are studied by fields that don’t always have an overlapping intellectual dialogue, which can lead to vocabulary confusion and repeat. In order to advance on the field of biofilms, each participant needs to remain up to date on the interdisciplinary aspect of the field. Reading current biofilm literature outside of my direct research interests will enable me to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the field. This book is a major review of biofilms produced by bacteria, fungi, algae, and marine and terrestrial animals that incorporates the broad application of biofilm studies."

Vanessa is completing her second year in the 91AV Spartacus Program, a five-year National Science Foundation GK12 funded project. Through the project, 91AV graduate students seeking master’s degrees in marine science and biology are placed in K-12 classrooms over a two-year period. The goal is to improve the communications skills of the graduate students and imbue a desire to continue doing outreach to the community as they follow a career in science. 

The program is overseen by the Principal Investigator Stephan Zeeman, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Marine Sciences, and Co-Principal Investigators Susan Hillman, Ph.D., professor of education, and Charles Tilburg, Ph.D., interim associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and associate professor of marine sciences.

 

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.