By Heather Fabritze
News Co-Editor
The Libby and Douglass Cater Society closed their fall grant proposal cycle on Friday, Oct. 20, leading in another season of approvals, research, and presentations for their Junior Fellows.
Membership to the Cater Society is open to Washington College students who show exemplary commitment to their academics and possess a minimum grade point average of 3.6. Those who apply and are initiated as full Junior Fellows then have the opportunity to submit grant proposals and receive funding for society-sponsored research.
Every full member is allowed to submit a proposal, which includes a completed application, a letter of recommendation from a member of the faculty, stellar participation in Cater meetings, and attendance at one grant information session.
According to Cater Society President senior Emma Poole, multiple writing workshops were held during the cycle to provide a space for Fellows to work through their ideas and meet the application requirements.
Once submitted, the proposals are sent to the Cater Advisory Board for discussion and approval.
The Board is comprised of Poole, Cater Curator and Dean of Student Achievement and Success Dr. Aaron Lampman, Cater Society Vice President junior Rachel Beall, Vice President of Student Affairs Sarah Feyerherm, a representative of the Provost and Dean of the College, and one faculty member from each academic division.
According to Poole, the proposals are evaluated on their quality, safety, and the feasibility of the research presented.
“Funding is competitive, but we’re always looking to encourage fellows to step outside their comfort zones and explore topics and research beyond what they experience in the classroom,” she said. “This pool of proposals reflects our fellows’ passion for new research opportunities and their willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to our companionship of learning.”
One such approved applicant, junior Halina Saydam, was looking for a way to combine her majors in environmental science and chemistry.
Saydam’s current plan is to evaluate the organic matter levels of soils across various habitats at the River and Field Campus, which is a parameter that she can use to determine the health of the soil.
“Soil science is a field that encompasses both disciplines and actively looks towards ways to improve the health of the Earth,” Saydam said. “Unfortunately, Washington College does not offer a soil science course, so I looked for ways to explore this field on my own.”
Her grant proposal took multiple weeks, as she learned to design a proper procedure and conduct background research. She gives special thanks to her proposal advisor W. Alton Jones Associate Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science Dr. Leslie Sherman, who helped her through the process.
She said that the Cater Society provides her with that opportunity without the burden of paying for classes, equipment, and materials falling on her.
“I’m excited to learn how to prepare and conduct an independent research project, as well as to learn if soil science is something I’m interested in pursuing,” Saydam said. “I’m a little nervous to carry it out on my own, but I’m looking forward to all the new skills I’ll learn.”
Another applicant, senior Libby Witham, is researching the influence of habitat fragmentation on tropical birds in Costa Rica. She is enrolled in Chair and Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Jennie
Rinehimer’s tropical ecology course for the winter, so her research will be taking place on-location in January.
“I am really excited to apply the skills I’ve learned from WC to my own research project in an unfamiliar environment,” Witham said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to explore my own scientific curiosities and eager to get into the field to see what awaits.”
Final presentations from the Junior Fellows to discuss their research will occur at the Cater Society’s bi-weekly meetings in the spring, or at their open house in February. Poole encourages anyone interested in the program to attend. This includes students in all academic fields, including the humanities, social sciences, and STEM.
“Our meetings are open to the campus community for anyone looking to learn a bit more about the amazing research our fellows are conducting,” Poole said.