Author: Ellie Kuhn Major: Biological Engineering
A glance at what a new normal for many students looks like amidst a global pandemic, Photo: Hayden Engelbrecht
Hi everyone! My name is Ellie Kuhn, and I’m a junior biological engineering major here at the U of A. I have been spending the past year working closely with Dr. Benjamin Runkle and Dr. Beatriz Moreno García on their work with sustainable agriculture within the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Without the constant support from them and the rest of the research group, I would not have been successful.
I have been researching methods for modeling leaf area index and canopy height using temperature-based conditions. I have spent the past year conducting data analytic work, which has been a new experience. I gained much insight into the agricultural side of biological engineering, specifically sustainable agricultural practices and techniques. Coming from the Midwest where corn is the predominant crop everywhere you turn, I enjoyed having the experience to see how much time, dedication, and care goes into a single growing season. On top of this new experience, I improved my time management and presentation skills, which were key goals I set for myself at the beginning of this process.
Throughout the semester, I met weekly with both my advisors, as well as the larger research group, including faculty, post-graduate students, graduate students, and undergraduate students. I enjoyed discussing different scientific journal relevant to our work. Also, I was challenged throughout the semester to push myself to better understand the entire scientific research process. More specifically, I submitted a research poster of my work to the 2021 Annual Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference, where my poster was awarded 2nd place. As my research continues into the summer and next fall, I am excited to announce I am working toward submitting an abstract of my research to the annual conference for creating an economy for sustainable development, organized by the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America. Additionally, we are working towards developing my thesis document into a journal article that can be published before I graduate in May 2022.