Craft Academy students travel to Mexico for research

Two Craft Academy students had the experience of a lifetime this summer as they traveled to Mexico to assist an MSU professor with his research.

The students, Madison Cissell and Rebekah Vermillion, traveled to the ancient Mayan city of Mayapán with Dr. Timothy Hare, professor of anthropology. Cissell and Vermillion are Undergraduate Research Fellows and worked side-by-side with Hare on his research.

Hare’s team used unmanned aerial vehicles (also called drones) to map and create 3-D models of the ruins, which are to be destroyed this fall for construction of a highway. He said using drones allows archaeologists to map larger areas more accurately in a shorter amount of time than other methods of mapping.

Vermillion said the trip taught her a lot about both Mayan Culture and the science of archeology.

“I really enjoyed learning about what archeologists really do and what life was like in the ancient Mayan world. Dr. Hare was great with explaining all of the archeological sites and where the structures were and what was most likely happening at the sites,” she said. “This was the most insightful and inspiring trip. I learned so much about the culture and life there in Mexico.”

Hare added, “Our goal for this summer was to record ancient settlement and environmental data from the areas to be destroyed and contribute to a long-term research program that focuses on reconstructing regional-scale settlement patterns, diverse economic activities, resource use and corresponding landscape modifications.”

Hare said this type of research is significant because of the role Mayapán played in ancient Mayan culture.

“Mayapán was the largest ancient Mayan political capital of the Postclassic Period,” he said. “It exceeded the size of all other lowland towns or cities in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico by an order of magnitude. It was a key center of political, religious and economic activity around A.D. 1100–1450.”

Cissell and Vermillion assisted Hare with the maintenance and operation of the drones and other equipment, mission planning, photo organization and data processing. Currently, the two are working with two other Craft Academy students and Undergraduate Research Fellows, Michael Groathaus and Zebulon Hart, to create the archaeological site maps and 3-D models.

Hare and his research fellows will present their research at the annual conference of the Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals in October and the Society for American Archaeology next spring. He said his team also will write a series of papers on their research and has plans to return to Mayapán to continue his research next summer.

For more information:

·      Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/undergradresearch.

·      Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy.

·      The Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminology, visit http://www.moreheadstate.edu/sswc.

MSU's Department of Art and Design supports unlimited opportunities for student growth

Morehead State University’s Department of Art and Design is one of the most comprehensive schools of art, design and teacher education in the Commonwealth. Programs offer a hands-on, personalized approach, enabling students to acquire additional skills complementing their unique creative strengths. Kristin Busby, senior and Bachelor of Fine Arts major, credits this to faculty members who are invested in supporting the growth of students.

“I used to think that being creative and having business sense were mutually

exclusive. Either people were right- or left-brained, and as a creative person, I had

no interest in becoming an administrator or entrepreneur of any kind,” Busby said. “After taking two courses and a practicum with professor Jennifer Reis, I realized that these traits often complement one another.”

Busby recently completed an Undergraduate Research Fellowship in arts programming and promotion with Reis as her faculty mentor. This past spring and summer, Busby focused on the logistical planning, management and marketing of arts programming and services hosted by the Claypool-Young Art Gallery. She provided support in the organization of art submissions for the Bluegrass Biennial exhibition jurying process, as well as assisting in the art handling, receiving and installation of four other exhibitions.

“Working with faculty members who set such high standards has made me a better student,” Busby said. “The support I have received from faculty here has enabled me to excel academically and allowed me to expand outside of my comfort zone to pursue competitive opportunities.”

She was the recipient this summer of a scholarship to the Americans for the Arts 2016 Convention. It was Professor Reis who encouraged her to apply.

Busby said she is excited to continue her work another year as a fellow in the Claypool-Young Art gallery.

“I have been proud of my work with gallery installations and project management for the Bluegrass Biennial, as well as the development of a social media strategy for the gallery,” she said. “There is a growing emphasis for art museums and galleries to enhance audience participation and experience through the use of digital media. I am excited to continue to grow as a student and implement strategies to increase engagement.”

Busby said the opportunities to grow as a student are unlimited and she encourages other students to participate in the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

“My work as an Undergraduate Research Fellow has given me hands-on experience as

an entry-level arts administrator. I feel prepared to enter the

workforce confidently and to compete nationally as an emerging leader in arts

administration.”

To learn more about programs in MSU’s Department of Art and Design, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/study/art.

MSU faculty and students sending research into space

An experiment on smooth muscle tissue conducted by an MSU faculty member and Craft Academy students will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in November.

Dr. Michael Fultz, associate professor of biology at MSU, has been conducting research on the ability of smooth muscle tissue to generate and maintain force with a reduction in energy expenditure. Fultz, along with his Undergraduate Research Fellows, proposes that two actin cytoskeletal components within smooth muscle tissue, alpha-actin and beta-actin, reorganize during muscle contraction. This reorganization might explain some of the unique properties of smooth muscle tissue and Fultz says the research could have an impact on the treatment of diseases.

“If we better understand the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction, we may better apply that knowledge to such diseases as hypertension and the invasiveness of smooth muscle cells observed during cardiovascular disease,” he said.

The experiment being sent to the ISS will explore the effects microgravity has on the reorganization of the smooth muscle tissue components. Fultz said no such studies have as of yet been conducted.

“It will be interesting to see if there’s a difference in the contraction itself, as well as the specific remodeling of the cytoskeleton,” he said.

Fultz has had a number of students involved in the research project during his time at MSU. Previously, six Undergraduate Research Fellows and one graduate research assistant have worked on the project and, currently, two students from the Craft Academy, Danielle Gibson and Will Casto, are working as Undergraduate Research Fellows on the project. Fultz said he expects Gibson and Casto to present their research findings at scientific conferences later this school year.

Fultz is just one of numerous MSU faculty members who involve students in active research projects through the Undergraduate Research Fellowship program. Opportunities are available in a wide number of degree programs across campus. The program allows students to be involved in important academic research while they earn their degrees, giving them real-world experience before they graduate.

For more information :

• Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/undergradresearch.
• Department of Biology & Chemistry at MSU, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/biochem
• Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy.