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KU McNair Scholars present original research at summer symposium

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Guest Columnist
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Contact: Chance Dibben, [email protected]
KU McNair Scholars present original research at summer symposium
LAWRENCE — Sixteen undergraduate students from the University of Kansas shared their original research at the McNair Scholars Summer Research Symposium. The event marked the culmination of months of dedicated scholarly work and mentorship. Hosted by the KU TRIO McNair Scholars Program, the symposium highlights student-driven inquiry and offers a preview of the next generation of researchers.

“This symposium is more than a presentation — it’s a celebration of research, development of researcher identity and joy of scientific discovery,” said Mulubrhan Lemma, director of the TRIO McNair Scholars Program. “Our students start by learning how to ask meaningful questions, and by the time they present, they’re contributing insights to their fields. It’s a powerful transformation.”

That transformation often begins with uncertainty and grows through experience. Gilbert Barranca, a civil engineering student from Topeka, did not consider research until a mentor encouraged him to apply to McNair. His project compared roundabouts in Lawrence and rural Topeka to examine how driver behavior differs across settings.

“It’s pushed me in ways I didn’t expect,” Barranca said. “I’ve learned a lot, and I’m excited to keep going.”

The Center for Educational Opportunity Programs (CEOP), a center within the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at KU, leads the TRIO McNair Scholars Program. The program prepares undergraduates for graduate study through research, mentorship and academic development.

A key milestone in the program is the McNair Scholars Summer Research Symposium. Students begin developing proposals in a spring seminar and spend the summer transforming their ideas into full research projects with support from dedicated faculty mentors. This year’s cohort represented fields ranging from public policy and linguistics to microbiology and transportation systems, with each project reflecting students’ intellectual curiosity and personal goals.

Natalia Lopez-Rios, a linguistics major from Wichita, centered her project on bilingual language development, exploring how children understand specific words in English and Spanish.

“It’s exciting because I get to interact with my community and have them participate in the research,” Lopez-Rios said. “Being part of this group has deepened my motivation and enriched my research experience.”

Mentorship is a cornerstone of the experience. Each student is paired with a faculty member in their discipline and receives wraparound support from the McNair program, ensuring they receive comprehensive guidance throughout the process. For Meghan Arias, a microbiology major from Olathe studying an antiviral host protein, mentorship was crucial in navigating academic research.

“McNair strikes the perfect balance,” Arias said. “They throw you into research where you have to figure things out on your own, but they also provide the mentorship and technical support to help you succeed.”

The program’s holistic support is intentional, said Monica Martinez, assistant director of the TRIO McNair Scholars Program.

“We don’t just prepare students to do research,” Martinez said. “We prepare them to thrive in spaces that weren’t necessarily built for them. They leave McNair not just with a project, but with a sense of agency, confidence and belonging in higher education.”

McNair also helps students reimagine what’s possible in their academic lives. For Gerardo Fornoza, a political science major and returning adult learner, that meant seeing graduate school as something within reach.

That shift began when Maggie Borders, assistant director for TRIO SES + STEM, asked if he’d ever considered grad school.

“I told her, ‘No, that’s not for someone like me,’” Fornoza said. But with her encouragement, he applied to the McNair Scholars Program and was accepted.

As a McNair Scholar, Fornoza explored how political partisanship shapes public opinion on social programs. He worked under the mentorship of Kevin Mullinix, associate professor and undergraduate director in political science, who helped refine and guide his research. Mullinix had once served as a graduate McNair mentor over a decade ago and brought that experience full circle in supporting Fornoza’s growth.

“McNair helped me turn a broad idea into a real, manageable project,” Fornoza said.

Now in its 30th year at KU, the McNair Scholars Summer Research Symposium continues to serve as a gateway for students to discover their potential — not just as scholars, but as future leaders in their fields.

McNair Scholars Summer Research Symposium participants

Sumaya Ahmed, Overland Park
Meghan Arias, Olathe
Hildana Ayana, Lenexa
Gilbert Barranco, Topeka
Daniella Beers, Junction City
Gerardo Fornoza, Wichita
Madison Knoll, Wichita
Natalia Lopez-Rios, Wichita
Esperança Monteiro Henson, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sophia Nevarez, Norfolk, Virginia
Levi O’Connor, Louisburg
Josh O’Connor, Louisburg
Selena Reno, Kansas City, Missouri
Giselle Sandoval Morales, Topeka
Andrew Stumblingbear, Crookston, Minnesota
Bethel Yigezu, Olathe

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

[email protected]

https://www.news.ku.edu

 

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

 

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

 

KU News: Water history exhibit grand opening at El Quartelejo Museum in Scott City

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Guest Columnist
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From the Office of Public Affairs | https://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

Water history exhibit grand opening at El Quartelejo Museum in Scott City
Using a variety of multimedia components, a collaborative exhibit from the Kansas Geological Survey and Groundwater Management District 1 combines the scientific study of water and local history to show the story of water use in western Kansas. “History of Scott County Irrigation and the Ogallala Aquifer” opens Aug. 16.

 

Dole Archives, American Congress Digital Archives Portal partners awarded funding to expand portal, add civic and history education initiatives
The allocation will allow staff at the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections to digitize and contribute to the portal more items from the congressional archives of Sens. Bob and Elizabeth Dole, as well as expand the Institute’s K-12 civics and history education programs and outreach throughout Kansas.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Sunday Siomades, [email protected]
Water history exhibit grand opening at El Quartelejo Museum in Scott City
SCOTT CITY — El Quartelejo Museum, in collaboration with the Kansas Geological Survey and Groundwater Management District 1, will open its newest exhibit, “History of Scott County Irrigation and the Ogallala Aquifer,” on Aug. 16.

Using a variety of multimedia components, the exhibit combines the scientific study of water and local history to show the story of water use in western Kansas.

“The exhibit focuses on farming outcomes, water resources, management and education to illustrate the irrigation history of Scott County and the High Plains of western Kansas,” said Stephanie Fisher, El Quartelejo Museum director. “Its goal is to highlight primary sources, photographs and interactive educational elements.”

Sunday Siomades, who interned with the museum through the University of Kansas’ Museum Studies program, designed the exhibit.

“The design of the exhibit seeks to connect visitors with water history in tactile, immersive ways to demonstrate how communities interact with the natural environment,” said Siomades, who is studying geology and science communication through the KU Department of Geology and the Kansas Geological Survey.

The exhibit begins with early Scott County irrigation in the 1650s and moves through time to the management practices and water science that define present-day agriculture. Scott County’s cattle industry — the fourth highest in the nation — relies heavily on groundwater. Consequently, the status of the Ogallala aquifer, which provides this essential water resource, is especially relevant to the county.

Exhibit visitors will learn about historical innovations (and innovators) in irrigation, explore the science of aquifers and groundwater and watch water flow through the decades right under their feet.

The installation represents locality-driven science outreach designed to equip visitors of all ages with the historical and scientific background to discuss community water resources. Katie Durham, GMD1 manager, said the district sees education and outreach as critical components in protecting groundwater for future generations.

“Sharing the history of irrigation in our district helps us all to understand where we’ve been, the challenges we face and why the progress being made is so important to our communities, culture and economy,” she said.

In conjunction with the new exhibit, the KGS plans presentations, educational games, and activities for the public beginning at 10 a.m. at the museum. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibit will take place at 2 p.m. The schedule of events is available online.

“I’m so grateful to the museum for providing the KGS with this opportunity,” said Blair Schneider, KGS science outreach manager and exhibit contributor. “I hope that this project paves a pathway for the KGS to partner with more community museums across the state.”

The “History of Scott County Irrigation and the Ogallala Aquifer” joins a variety of paleontological and anthropological exhibits featured at El Quartelejo Museum and Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection on topics ranging from Kansas’s prehistoric inland sea to Native American history to modern municipal development.

About the Kansas Geological Survey
The KGS is a nonregulatory research and service division of the University of Kansas. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, critical materials and earthquakes.

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The official university account for X (formerly Twitter) is @UnivOfKansas.

Follow @KUnews for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.

 

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Contact: Jackson DeAndrea, 785-864-4900, [email protected]
Dole Archives, American Congress Digital Archives Portal partners awarded funding to expand portal, add civic and history education initiatives

LAWRENCE — The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas — one of three founding members of a national consortium of congressional archives created in 2021 and based at West Virginia University Libraries — will receive up to $200,000 in federal funding to expand the utility, usability and capacity of the American Congress Digital Archives Portal in the next phase of its development.

 

The allocation, a portion of $1.5 million in total funding, will be distributed by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. It will allow staff at the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections to digitize and contribute to the portal more items from the congressional archives of Sens. Bob and Elizabeth Dole, as well as expand the Institute’s K-12 civics and history education programs and outreach throughout Kansas.

 

“Growing the portal from an idea five years ago to where it is today – nearly 7,500 items from 20 collections at six partner institutions digitized and available online – has been incredibly gratifying,” said Sarah Gard, senior archivist and head of collections at the Dole Institute. “These collections are vital for understanding Congress and our democracy. We are really excited about bringing these resources to new audiences and expanding our educational outreach throughout Kansas to K-12 audiences.”

 

Unlike presidential papers or similar government records, congressional collections are geographically dispersed across the nation at institutions of all shapes and sizes. Scholars, educators, students and the general public have open access through the portal to thousands of civically important primary resources created by the legislative branch and about public policymaking throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. This includes documents, photos and audiovisual materials.

 

Going beyond the study of Congress and its role in American government, the value of these archives lies within their capacity to illustrate the country’s social, cultural and political development narratives.

 

The award will support digitization of selected materials from the Dole Archives, including creating full-text transcripts of manuscripts and audiovisual materials, which will make them accessible online for researchers with disabilities.

 

Funding will also support the installation of a new digital repository for digitized materials, allowing the Dole Archives to quickly make more content available to researchers. In this phase of the project, all member institutions will contribute more than 8,000 manuscripts, audiovisual assets and photographs.

 

Additionally, the award supports the Dole Institute’s civic education initiatives, which annually reach thousands of students across Kansas. Over the next year, the Institute is hosting workshops for students participating in the National History Day contest, providing them opportunities to develop and enhance their presentations using materials from the Institute and other institutional project partners.

 

The Dole Institute is partnering with WVU Libraries and other institutions that hold congressional archives, including the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center at the University of Oklahoma, the Dirksen Congressional Center, the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies at the University of Georgia, and the University of Hawaii Manoa Library.

 

For more information about the American Congress Digital Archives Portal or the Congressional Archives Education Project, visit congressarchives.org.

 

About the Dole Institute

Inspired by the leadership legacies of Sens. Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and the enduring civic contributions of the Greatest Generation, the Dole Institute of Politics strives to promote a new era of leadership that uses politics to bring people together through opportunities that emphasize bipartisan cooperation, public service and civic education and engagement.

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

[email protected]

https://www.news.ku.edu

 

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

 

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

Cell Phone Fiasco

By
Milo Yield
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Thayne Cozart
Milo Yield

Cell phones and smart phones have become absolutely necessary to many rural folks for them do their jobs or run their businesses.

One such person is ol’ Hawlin G. Raines — an independent, mostly day-trip trucker, who transports soybeans, corn, wheat and other agricultural commodities to various grain elevators and feedstuff manufacturers. He gets his jobs and coordinates all the times and delivery information via his smart phone.

Well, recently, he upgraded his phone to the newest expensive model. Everything wuz working well for him until one day when he delivered some soybeans to the grain dump at a nearby livestock ration formulator.

While Hawlin wuz dumping his load, something went wrong under his semi and he crawled under to fix the problem. While under his rig, he (of course) got a phone call that he answered by extracting his new phone from its holster.

When the call ended, he stuck the phone into his shirt pocket. But, while crawling out from under his rig, he hit his head and when he reflexively jerked back, he caught a glimpse of his expensive new smart phone eject from his shirt pocket, right into the flow of unloading soybeans, and in an instant disappear down into the murky depths of the dump chute.

Hawlin knew he wuz in a fix. He knew he couldn’t find his lost phone. So, he immediately went to the store where he bought his new phone because he knew he’d insured it. Well, it turns out that he had, but (of course) it would be three days before he could get a replacement phone.

Facing the knowledge that he’d could lose significant money in three days if he had no smart phone, Hawlin bit the bullet and bought another expensive phone.

When he got home, the feed mill folks where he’s lost his first phone, got in touch with him and said that when they’d run the soybeans into the processor, a debris mesh had caught his …… no, not his expensive phone, but its screen saver instead.

The mill said they’d keep watching to see if Hawlin’s smart phone got screened out of the soybeans, but Hawlin is highly doubtful that will happen.

I guess the lesson from Hawlin’s experience is be cautious about putting your cell phone in your shirt pocket.

***

School started locally this week, so the Old Geezer Gossip Group’s conversations one morning wuz about our experiences riding school busses back in our elementary and high school days.

Several stories got told, but here’s the best one. Arch wuz riding his school bus when one ornery kid got into a loud argument with the bus driver about the kid staying in his seat and picking on the younger kids.

Now remember this wuz back in the days when a school bus driver has absolute authority over his passengers. So, when his argument with the ornery kid reached a its highest pitch, the bus driver ordered the kid off the bus, so he could walk all the way home.

And, that’s what happened. As he exited the bus, the driver told the kid he’d take it up with his parents. The kid retorted, “Go ahead.”

But, then the episode took a humorous bent. The kid hadn’t walked far, when a neighbor picked him up and took him to his home.

But, the kid didn’t go to straight into his home. Instead, he lingered next to the road. Then when his bus drove buy, there stood the kid smiling from ear to ear and waving happily at his disciplinarian bus driver.

***

That story about ornery kids made my fishing buddy, Castin Crankitt, recall the time at his home back in Minnesota when two ornery neighborhood kids came into Castin’s mom’s kitchen and browsed around for something sweet to eat.

They discovered a chocolate bar on the top shelf of the kitchen and devoured it. A few hours later, the young thieves came down with an unexpected case of diarrhea.

Seems they’d stolen and eaten an entire bar of Exlax. Sometimes, experience is a nasty, but humbling, teacher.

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An agribusinessman decided to celebrate his anniversary with his wive by taking her to an upscale steak house for a celebratory meal.

They both ordered mouth-watering steaks, but when their waiter arrived to deliver their meal to their table, the wife noticed that the waiter had his finger draped over her steak.

When he sat down her plate, the waiter said, “Here you go, ma’am, enjoy.”

“Are you crazy’?” the wife said. “Your hand’s been on my steak!”

“Well, excuse me!” the waiter snapped back. “You’d rather it fell on the floor again?”

***

The topic of drinking energy drinks arose recently at our old geezer group. A few said they needed energy drinks on occasion so they could finish a task.

That’s when I interrupted and said, “Well, I need an energy drink to keep me awake until time for my early afternoon nap!”

***

Words of wisdom for this week: “It’s not old age that makes us forgetful. It’s just too much stupid stuff to remember.”

Have a good ‘un.

 

Wheat Scoop: Enriched Wheat Flour Delivers More Than Just Baking Power

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Guest Columnist
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Kansas Wheat

Contact: Marsha Boswell, [email protected]

For the audio version, visit kswheat.com.

When shoppers reach for a bag of flour to make bread, cookies or pancakes, they are choosing more than a basic baking ingredient. Since the 1940s, enriched wheat flour has been fortified with vitamins and minerals that help prevent nutrient deficiencies and improve public health. Every slice of bread or plate of pasta made with enriched flour delivers key nutrients that support the body in essential ways.

 

Enrichment replaces important vitamins and minerals lost during the milling process. These include iron, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin and folic acid. Together, they play a critical role in energy production, growth, development and disease prevention.

 

Iron: Boosting Energy and Fighting Fatigue

 

Iron is necessary for producing hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Without enough iron, people can develop iron deficiency anemia, which causes fatigue, weakness and dizziness. In children, adequate iron supports brain development and learning. For pregnant women, it lowers the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. For everyone, it strengthens the immune system. Public health studies show that fortifying flour with iron has increased iron levels and reduced anemia rates worldwide.

 

Thiamine: Powering the Body’s Energy Systems

 

Thiamine, or vitamin B1, helps convert carbohydrates into usable energy. It also supports healthy heart function and a strong nervous system. Milling wheat into white flour removes much of its natural thiamine, so enrichment adds it back to ensure people still receive enough in their diet. Without adequate thiamine, individuals can develop deficiency symptoms such as weakness, irritability and nerve damage. Adding thiamine mononitrate to flour ensures the vitamin remains stable during baking and storage, allowing consumers to receive its full benefit.

 

Niacin: Supporting Skin, Digestion and Brain Health

 

Niacin, or vitamin B3, plays an important role in turning food into energy and maintaining healthy skin, nerves and digestion. Severe niacin deficiency can cause pellagra, a disease marked by skin rashes, diarrhea and in advanced cases dementia. Since niacin was added to flour, pellagra rates have dropped dramatically in many countries. Niacin enrichment is considered one of the major public health success stories of food fortification.

 

Riboflavin: Fueling Growth and Cell Health

 

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, helps the body break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates to produce energy. It supports healthy skin and eyes, contributes to red blood cell production and acts as an antioxidant that protects cells from damage. Riboflavin also works with other B vitamins to enhance their effectiveness. Enriching flour with riboflavin prevents deficiency symptoms such as sore throat, skin disorders and slowed growth in children.

 

Folic Acid: Protecting Babies Before Birth

 

Folic acid, a form of vitamin B9, is especially important for women of childbearing age. It plays a critical role in preventing neural tube defects, which are serious birth defects of the brain and spine. Because some pregnancies are unplanned, adding folic acid to flour ensures women receive enough even if they are not taking supplements. In some countries, mandatory fortification has reduced neural tube defects by as much as 72 percent. Folic acid also supports heart health and may help lower the risk of stroke.

 

Proper Storage Preserves Quality

 

To keep enriched flour fresh and maintain its nutritional value, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. At room temperature, flour is best used within six to eight months. In the refrigerator or freezer, it can last up to one year. Storing it properly prevents spoilage, insect activity and the loss of flavor.

 

Enriched wheat flour is an easy, cost-effective way to deliver essential nutrients to people of all ages. It strengthens communities by improving health through everyday foods. Behind each bag is the work of wheat farmers who grow the grain that makes enrichment possible, ensuring families have access to safe, wholesome flour that nourishes and supports a healthier future.

 

From fighting anemia to supporting healthy pregnancies, enriched wheat flour has proven to be one of the most effective and accessible public health tools in modern history. It delivers essential vitamins and minerals in a form people already enjoy every day, from loaves of bread to bowls of pasta. By choosing enriched flour, consumers benefit from decades of nutrition science and the dedication of wheat farmers who grow the grain that makes it possible. With proper storage and regular use, enriched flour remains a simple way to bake better health into every meal.

“Why Pelvic Health Matters: More Than Just Kegels”

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Guest Columnist
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In our research and clinical practice experiences, a common theme emerges from people living with pelvic floor issues — “I wish someone had told me about this sooner.” Through interviews and conversations, we’ve documented the stories of individuals who didn’t know what questions to ask, didn’t realize their symptoms were treatable, and often assumed they were alone. In her practice, Staci sees these realities unfold in the clinic every day, as both male and female patients arrive with frustration, confusion and a long history of being told that their concerns are normal, inevitable or simply something to live with.

Pelvic floor disorders such as urinary incontinence, constipation, pelvic pressure, pain with intercourse and pelvic floor dyssynergia (poor coordination) are more common than most people realize. These symptoms affect millions of adults. Nearly one in four women and one in eight men in the U.S. will experience some form of pelvic floor dysfunction in their lifetime. Yet these issues are often dismissed, hidden or normalized. Although not uncommon, we want to emphasize that dysfunction in the system is not normal. It is treatable. Conversations around pelvic health often begin only after childbirth, surgery or the slow accumulation of symptoms that have significantly affected quality of life. By that point, the affected person is often dealing not only with physical discomfort, but with years of self-doubt or embarrassment.

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sits at the base of the pelvis. These muscles are responsible for more than most people are ever taught. In both men and women, the pelvic floor supports the bladder, bowel, abdominal and reproductive organs. It helps control continence, allows for sexual function, and plays a role in basic breathing, posture and core stability. Despite all of this, most people grow up never learning about their pelvic floor, how it functions, or how to care for it. This lack of awareness isn’t just a missed opportunity for treatment; it’s a missed opportunity for prevention.

Every human has a pelvic floor. Pelvic health should be part of basic health education, not a niche topic reserved for specialists. Young people deserve to understand how their bodies work, and that includes the pelvic floor. Learning about healthy habits, such as avoiding excessive straining, practicing coordinated breathing during physical exertion, and developing strength, coordination and flexibility throughout the hips and core, can make a meaningful difference later in life. And for those planning for pregnancy, knowledge of pelvic floor function before and during pregnancy can support smoother recovery and reduce complications down the line. Gaining understanding of how the pelvic systems change with age, after surgery, or with the hormone changes of peri- and post-menopause also offers people a chance to create change and retain optimal function.

Kegels are often the only pelvic health advice people hear, but the solution is rarely that simple. Some individuals need strengthening; others need help learning to relax and coordinate pelvic floor muscles properly. Pelvic health is not a “one-size-fits-all” issue, and that’s why education before symptoms emerge is so important.

When problems do arise, they’re worth bringing up. Leakage, pressure and pain are common, but they’re not normal or untreatable at any age. Pelvic health physical therapists and other providers trained in this area can offer effective, individualized care. But even better is helping people know enough to ask questions earlier, build healthy habits sooner and prevent dysfunction before it starts.

Pelvic health matters. And the earlier we begin talking about it, the better.

 

Patti Berg-Poppe is a professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of South Dakota. Her research focuses on pelvic health, including postpartum recovery and pediatric pelvic floor dysfunction, as well as motor control and learning in special populations. She has led interdisciplinary studies on the effects of intrapartum pelvic trauma on sexual function, return to participation and family well-being and has published on exercise interventions for conditions like diastasis recti and dysfunctional voiding in children.

Staci Wietfeld is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner. She specializes in treating complex musculoskeletal conditions and pelvic floor dysfunction, integrating advanced manual therapy and patient education to promote recovery and well-being. In addition to her clinical practice with Avera Health Systems in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she contributes to research and public education on pelvic health and physical therapy.

Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.orgProgramming includes On Call with the Prairie Doc®, a medical Q&A show (most Thursdays at 7pm streaming on Facebook), 2 podcasts, and a Radio program (on SDPB), providing health information based on science, built on trust.

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