Liberty students win five awards at Virginia Academy of Science collegiate event

A group of 47 students and eight faculty mentors from Liberty University’s Biology & Chemistry department attended the annual Fall Virginia Academy of Science Research Symposium at Ferrum College on Nov. 9.

Students from 11 universities across the Commonwealth presented their ongoing research, vying for 10 research awards. Liberty took home five awards — more than any other university and the most that Liberty has won at a VAS symposium.

The five winning presentations outlined research regarding the immune system of zebrafish, human decomposition, fungal pathogens related to AIDS deaths, the effects of certain coffee compounds on gut health, and the establishment of an herbarium to study the natural life of Candlers Mountain (part of Liberty’s campus).

The other universities represented were Radford University, University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia State University, James Madison University, Georgetown University, George Mason University, University of Lynchburg, and University of Richmond.

“The Virginia Academy of Science provides an opportunity for our faculty and undergraduate students to showcase a wide variety of excellent research taking place in the Department of Biology & Chemistry,” said biology professor Dr. Kyle Harris. “I look forward to the fall Academy meeting as a way to draw our students further into a love for research and as a way to foster collaboration among students and faculty.”

In addition to the sessions of the VAS meeting, students and faculty were invited to tour Ferrum’s herbarium and greenhouse.