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. 

Space Science Center ranked among best college observatories

Morehead State University’s Space Science Center was recently ranked as one of the best college observatories in the nation by collegerank.net.

The Space Science Center was named as one of the top 35 best college observatories by the college ranking website. Collegerank.net used a number of criteria to evaluate observatories, including:

• The number, size and technology of telescopes available
• Altitude: Higher altitudes result in a reduction in atmospheric noise
• The average chance of clear skies
• The level of light pollution

The MSU Space Science Center features a 21-meter Space Tracking Antenna, which allows students to monitor and track satellites from the center’s Ground Control Center. There are also opportunities to be involved in astronomical and astrophysical research with faculty members. Students in the space science program are involved in the planning, design, construction, launch, tracking and monitoring of nanosats, which are smaller than a bread box. Projects have been completed for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense and private aerospace firms. MSU’s program provides valuable real-world experience allows students to work with space scientists all over the world.

MSU offers one of only five space science undergraduate programs in the country. We also offer a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics and a master’s degree in space systems engineering.

To learn more about the Space Science Center and space science programs, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/eass.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography program offers free ultrasounds

Morehead State University’s Imaging Sciences’ Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will offer free, two-dimensional fetal ultrasounds to expectant mothers, who are between 18 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Senior-level DMS students in the program will be conducting two-dimensional fetal ultrasounds free of charge on Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 25 through July 27, and Aug. 17 to Sept. 8. Ultrasounds will be conducted in room 402B of the Center for Health, Education and Research (CHER) Building. 

The students will be under the supervision of Marcia Cooper, associate professor of imaging sciences. Cooper is certified in obstetrics and gynecology by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. 

All mothers who sign up for an appointment will be asked to sign a consent form stating that the scans are for educational purposes only and are not diagnostic. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 606-783-2646.

For more information about the DMS program at MSU, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/study/dms. 

MSU Chamber Singers compete and win two gold medals in Rome

This summer, MSU Chamber Singers had the unique opportunity to grow as musicians and performers during a nine-day concert tour in Rome and Pompeii and competing at the Musica Roma Eterna International Choir Festival. MSU’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance is widely recognized and has a long-standing tradition of excellence. Performance opportunities for students are virtually unlimited and ensembles are known to consistently earn national and international recognition.

Throughout the nine-day tour and four-day choir competition, chamber singers presented seven performances, including a pre-competition evaluation performance for the judges, two competition performances, two friendship concerts with other international choirs, an American concert and a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Judges scored all the international choirs’ performances using a complex system in which each piece received individual scores for intonation and interpretation, and the entire performance received scores for difficulty of the program, program design and dramaturgy, sound of the choir, and overall artistic impression. In the compulsory competition, MSU received 23.05 points achieving a level III Gold, and in the sacred competition, MSU received 22.01 points achieving a level II Gold.

Dr. Greg Detweiler, director of choral activities at MSU, said students spent the entire spring semester preparing for the competition.

“They organized extra rehearsals throughout the semester and held two summer retreats before leaving,” he said. “These students have worked so hard. I truly feel like the luckiest man in the world to have been able to conduct such a wonderful group of singers in Rome.”

The chamber singers had opportunities to visit Rome’s piazzas and the famous Trevi fountain, in addition to touring the Sistine Chapel and several Vatican museums.

MSU choirs (University Chorus, Concert Choir and Chamber Singers) are open to all students on campus. Students do not have to be music majors to participate in choral activities.

To learn more about performance areas and ensembles at MSU, visit the School of Music, Theatre and Dance website at www.moreheadstate.edu/mtd.

MSU ranked in top 20 affordable online accounting programs

Morehead State’s Bachelor of Business Administration program has been named one of the most affordable in the nation by the college ranking site AffordableSchools.net. Data for the list was compiled from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Once students in the program have completed general education and business prerequisite requirements, they have the option to complete upper-level business and accounting classes online, offering them greater flexibility to complete their degrees. Students will learn to design and implement accounting systems, prepare financial statements, analyze accounting data and prepare tax returns, among other skills.

Career options are available in the public sector, industry, governmental entities and more. Graduates of MSU’s accounting program are also prepared to further their education in graduate school in accounting and business-related fields.

All of Morehead State’s business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

For more information on the accounting program at MSU, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/study/business.

Space Trek 2016 set to launch

A unique summer camp designed to encourage girls to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers is set to kick off later this month at MSU.

Space Trek, a week-long camp for girls entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school, gives participants a chance to work on space science related projects alongside MSU faculty members, aerospace engineers and undergraduate and graduate students in space science fields. The 24 students selected to attend the camp undergo a rigorous application process, and must receive a recommendation from a teacher, principal or other educator.

Some of the camp activities include:

• Learning the principles of electrical circuits and components
• Working with a mission team to build a small satellite
• Setting up a ground station for tracking and monitoring satellites
• Collecting and interpreting atmospheric data. 

Space Trek was founded in 2012 with the goal of empowering young women with an interest in STEM by putting them in an environment with female role models who work in space science and engineering. 

Although the focus of the camp is space science, Molly Simpson, of Morehead, who attended the camp in 2014, said it’s about much more. “It’s about teaching young women that they can be professional in their jobs, but also physically, mentally and emotionally,” Simpson said. “The ultimate goal of the program is to break down the ‘I can't’ mentality among girls.” 

Space Trek is sponsored by Morehead State University, MSU Center for Regional Engagement, the American Association of University Women, NASA Kentucky and other public and private donors.

For more information about Space Trek, visit www.spacetrekky.org. 

Star Theater offers Friday shows throughout summer

MSU’s Star Theater will present programs that are open to the public each Friday afternoon, now through July 29.

Educational programs on a wide range of topics, along with a tour of the local night sky, will be held at 1 p.m., and laser shows will be held at 2:15 p.m. each Friday. The cost of each show is $2 per person, with children under four admitted for free.

The schedule of shows is as follows:

• June 24*: “One World, One Sky,” “They Might Be Giants” and “Laser Pop”
• July 1: “Awesome Light II,” “Awesome Light III” and “Laser Magic”
• July 8: “Black Hole Journey” and “Laser Beatles”
• July 15*: “Earth, Moon and Sun” and “iPop”
• July 22: “Dawn of the Space Age” and “Laseropolis”
• July 29: “Sun Struck” and “Hypnotica”

*Note: Shows marked with an asterisk are intended for young audiences.

A full description of these programs can be found at www.moreheadstate.edu/stk12shows.

“We have never offered summer programs before, but this summer we had the resources to give this a try,” said Star Theater Director Eric Thomas. “It’s a great way to beat the heat.”

The 116-seat theater uses six digital projectors to display images on a 40-foot dome screen, offering patrons a 360-degree view with 3D texturing, giving patrons an immersive virtual experience.

Shows are offered to the public, the MSU community, K-12 students and civic organizations. Since opening in June 2009, the Star Theater has hosted approximately 89,000 visitors and is expected to reach the 100,000-visitor mark sometime this year.

For more information about the MSU Star Theater, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/startheater.