Mesalands students presents research at science symposium in AZ

(Left) Samuel G. Burke and Samuel A. Johnson, Natural Sciences students at Mesalands Community College evaluate specimens at the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory.

(Left) Samuel G. Burke and Samuel A. Johnson, Natural Sciences students at Mesalands Community College evaluate specimens at the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory.

January 23, 2017

Two students from Mesalands Community College recently had the opportunity to present their research at the Fall 2016 Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI) Colloquium last month. The colloquium was held at Glendale Community College in Glendale, AZ. Natural Sciences students Samuel G. Burke and Samuel A. Johnson, presented their research on the comparative analysis of Triassic material, which was discovered in Quay County in 1958.

According to the CCURI website, this event gives community college students who conduct undergraduate research, the opportunity to share their research with other institutions, develop their professional skills, and network with students from across the country.

“Both of these students spent the summer relocating the original site in Quay County and they found new specimens,” said Gretchen Gürtler, Director Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum and

Natural Sciences Laboratory. “Were also every excited to be working with Dr. K.C. McKinney at the U.S. Geological Survey.”

Gürtler also stated that during the CCURI Colloquium, the students visited the Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) in Arizona and met with paleontologist Dr. Bill Parker. Parker showed the students specimens from the Late Triassic Period that are included in the PEFO collection.