Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Noxubee County High School student Jalessa Buckhalter looked at the small, white-colored plant in front of her and made a few observations.
She noticed it had taller shoots than others, but hadn't bloomed. She decided to intentionally leave it without exposure to sunlight.
"Plants in the dark are taller because they're trying to reach sunlight," Buckhalter explained. The plant also wasn't green, since sunlight is required for the production of chlorophyll, she added.
The 11th grader doesn't think of herself as a researcher or a scientist, but she has taken the first steps to learn scientific methods. She plans to study oceanography after graduation.
Buckhalter and others in biology classes at the Macon school recently have been experimenting with Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the plant family that includes cauliflower and canola. They are part of a Mississippi State-based project led by David Chevalier to help expose high school students to advanced research experiences that may help them later while attending college.
A service grant from the university's Office of Research and Economic Development is funding Chevalier's area partnership, which began when the biological sciences assistant professor and some high school science teachers met during a federal education support program held at MSU.
A native of France, Chevalier holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tours in his home country and a doctorate from the University of Zurich in neighboring Switzerland. (Zurich is considered by many to be among Europe's top 10, and the world's top 50, universities.)
To continue through the school year, Chevalier's work also includes classroom resources and advising provided to West Lowndes High School near Columbus.
Chevalier said his effort has two primary goals:
--To encourage greater creativity and learning in high school science classrooms, and
--Provide meaningful research opportunities so students in groups underrepresented in higher education can prepare to continue their educations after graduation.
Every two or three weeks, Chevalier drives the 25 or so miles to Macon to work with Buckhalter and others in the class. He joins teacher James Coleman in helping the students enjoy a more active learning experience by experimenting themselves.
"It's a real pleasure to see their interest grow," Coleman said. "Most of these students have never planted anything."
Quartilya Mosley, a NCHS 10th grader, said she also has learned about the Arabidopsis plant from a variety of experiments, including how they react to salt solutions added during watering.
"It kills them," she summarized succinctly.
When not on the road during the spring semester, Chevalier teaches plant anatomy and directs a research laboratory on the Mississippi State campus. He said his high school outreach effort helps fulfill the university's 131-year-old mission of direct service to the state and its diverse communities.
Taking a broader view of his work, Chevalier said helping the area high school students develop a stronger interest in science may eventually help provide additional scientists and researchers to deal with future world challenges.
"I enjoy sharing my interest in science with students at different levels," he said in his strong native accent. "It's also important to give to local communities and inspire students."
At West Lowndes, Chevalier's MSU assistance grant is providing plants, materials to grow plants and related resources to botany teacher Rosa Davis, whose students are involved in experiments similar to those at NCHS.
"Our students have gained hands-on experience that will help them in future science courses," Davis said. "This partnership has allowed students to see the scientific method in action."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information on the partnership, contact Dr. Chevalier at 662-325-8123 or dchevalier@biology.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.