Penn State Schuylkill's Faculty Research Series provides an opportunity for faculty to discuss their current research projects. Seminars will be held monthly and meet in person.
Spring 2022
A Research Project I Don't Want to Finish
Presented by Dr. Harold Aurand, associate teaching professor of history
Monday, February 21, 2022
12:20 to 1:10 p.m.
201 Health & Wellness Building
Several years ago, Dr. Harold Aurand, associate teaching professor of history at Penn State Schuylkill, embarked on an interdisciplinary research project with a former colleague. The topic involved natural resource use and the history of predictions people made regarding their use. The pair published articles on the oil industry, metal production in the Pacific Northwest, and anthracite cogeneration plants in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Dr. Aurand believes there are still some important things left to say — particularly on anthracite cogeneration. Today, Dr. Aurand's research partner is retired and not as active, but he would still like to finish this project. In this presentation, Dr. Aurand will explain how he got involved in a project that falls so far outside his area of expertise, detail where the research is now, and probe the campus community to recruit others who may like to join him in completing the research.
Towards Fewer Mosquito Bites — Studies on the Stages of the Mosquito Life Cycle and Identification of Possible Mechanisms of Control
Presented by Dr. Darcy Medica, associate professor of biology and director of academic affairs
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
12:20 to 1:10 p.m.
201 Health & Wellness Building
Mosquito-transmitted diseases including malaria, dengue and West Nile virus kill millions of people each year, and there has been an increase in other diseases, such as chikungunya and Zika, in recent years. As average global temperatures increase, mosquito-borne diseases may become more of a public health concern worldwide, or spread into areas where they have not traditionally been found. Conventional mosquito control measures include spraying pesticides in the areas where mosquitoes breed, but these pesticides can cause detrimental effects on other organisms in the environment, and may end up in the human food supply. Thus, there is a need for alternative mosquito control mechanisms, which can be incorporated into integrated pest control programs.
In this presentation, Dr. Darcy Medica, associate professor of biology and director of academic affairs, will discuss projects that she has conducted in collaboration with student researchers on the biology of mosquitoes and possible alternative control mechanisms. The results of these studies and their overall potential impact on mosquito populations and host biting rate could contribute to the ultimate goal of reducing the burden of mosquito-transmitted diseases on human populations.