Science students advance learning by visiting geomorphic landscape, EPA lab

Science students advance learning by visiting geomorphic landscape, EPA lab

Northwest Missouri State University students recently ventured from the campus to study slope stability and geomorphic landscape at a Kansas City area sports complex and explored potential careers at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lab office.

Fourteen geology, geography and biology students traveled Dec. 4 with geology faculty Dr. Onema Adojoh and Nathan Limbaugh to visit the Paragon Star Sports Complex in Lee's Summit before meeting with Northwest alumni working at the EPA lab in Kansas City.

The geomorphic landscape of the sports complex extends from the base of Hertha limestone through Swope limestone and to the top of the Dennis Formation, allowing students to see the shear strength of the Kansas City group rock types. The visit also exposed students to geologic structures and formations that support slope stabilization and geomorphic processes.

"As applicable to other locations, limestone has higher shear strength than shale, hence providing the best learning site to students," Adojoh said. "Most road-side cuttings are vertically cut because of its high shear strength and, thus, holds the overburden formations from collapsing on moving vehicles and residential buildings as well as slow down high runoff, which might affect building infrastructures in the future."

At the EPA lab, the group toured the technology and science center, where they also met five Northwest alumni and other professionals working at the lab. The group discussed water quality and contaminants assessment and lab instrumentation analysis equipment.

"The Environmental Protection Agency in Kansas City provides a world-class professional background to the students to interact with Northwest alumni and other environmental scientist experts," Adojoh said. "The array of scientists educated the students by providing them with step-by-step procedures on how contaminated water and soil microbes are analyzed, using chemistry, geology, biology and GIS methods."

Delaney Harmon, a senior Earth Science education major from Kansas City, said she appreciated the opportunity to see Northwest alumni working in a professional environment and hopes to build on the connections and observations she made during the visit.

"The EPA tour was super cool and interesting," Harmon said. "I learned a lot about what they do and testing that happens and why. They did a good job explaining things to where we could still understand. I thought it applied well to class and I've learned a lot about chemical and biological testing."

Emma Maxwell, a junior environmental geology major from Affton, Missouri, added, "Having an explanation as to what they do opens your eyes to possible job opportunities and interests. The trip was educational and really helped, as juniors and seniors, to figure out what we might want to do one day."