{"id":2268,"date":"2018-09-24T17:57:30","date_gmt":"2018-09-24T17:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?p=2268"},"modified":"2019-06-29T20:29:46","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T01:29:46","slug":"whats-growing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/09\/24\/whats-growing\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s Growing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Chase Merwin<\/p>\n

C<\/span>ampus curiosities beg the question: what\u2019s new at the greenhouse?<\/span><\/p>\n

The renovation of Agenstein Hall in 2010 brought with it a new greenhouse which allows more accessibility, convenience and research opportunities for the biology department<\/a>. This greenhouse serves many classes across the biology department, from organismal biology to plant physiology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Tilottama Roy, assistant professor of biology, said that her classes heavily emphasize and require use of the greenhouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the time being, I am actually growing some plants that I use for my BIO105: Organismal Biology course,\u201d Roy said. \u201cI use those plants – soybean plants and radish plants – for one of my labs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Csengele Barta, assistant professor of biology, said she also extensively utilizes the greenhouse for her classes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe use the greenhouse actively for a variety of different projects,\u201d Barta said. \u201cI teach plant physiology and plant morphology. My students are always doing independent research projects, so they typically do that in the greenhouse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Barta said much of her research within the greenhouse is conducted during the summer, which focuses on the effect of humidity on plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Jason Baker, professor of biology, the greenhouse\u2019s accessibility allows the department\u2019s students to get more \u201chands-on\u201d for their independent projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Western\u2019s greenhouse is special in that it isn\u2019t simply a show greenhouse, rather it is uniquely divided into three different sections. Each of the three compartments is regulated through an automated system which reads and adjusts the environment independently depending on the needs of the plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people are involved in the greenhouse, from department faculty to the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society<\/a> to student workers. According to Dr. Baker, the greenhouse\u2019s day-to-day operation is run by all of these individuals. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully, we\u2019ve had some folks here within the biology department including- not only faculty- but some student workers as well,\u201d Dr. Baker said. \u201cThey\u2019ve all been really in-tune with maintaining the greenhouse as needed. We also have a great facilities crew here on campus, and they\u2019re very responsive when we have any issues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy Brown, a work-study student heavily involved in the operation of the greenhouse, said his role is to maintain and take care of the plants being grown inside. He also uses the greenhouse for research projects. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking at the geranium plants that we have in there because, over the summer, they started blooming and getting seed pods, which is something that Dr. Barta had not seen before,\u201d Brown said. \u201cMy project is to grow the seeds and see if they\u2019re cross-pollinating between each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Agenstein\u2019s greenhouse is beneficial to everyone involved. Not only is the biology department faculty able to conduct research professionally through the high-tech capabilities of the greenhouse, but students are able to get practical experience for their studies. All this, in turn, elevates the quality of education for Western\u2019s biology students.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t