Logan Crees participated in Iowa State University's Science with Practice program.

2016 Mar 4

Logan Crees, Environmental Science at #IowaState, was a participant of Science with Practice. Science with Practice is a learning and work experience program in research and related laboratories for undergraduate students. Students work closely with faculty and graduate students to gain experience in their field of study.

Students are able to conduct research and form mentoring relationships with faculty while earning money and academic credit. The program allows students to develop an understanding of the links between research and practical real-world situations and problems.

Crees was advised by Dr. Diane Debinski, professor, on a project titled Milkweed Use and Oviposition Preference of Monarch Butterflies on Nine Native Milkweeds. This project had Crees checking milkweed plots around Ames for Monarch eggs and caterpillars to see if there is a preference for oviposition among nine native species of milkweed. He then entered that data and data from other sites across Iowa to see if there was any preference between species.

In total, more than 25 students and 21 faculty participated in the program during Fall 2015. As part of the program, students establish individualized learning agreements, create a final portfolio and complete biweekly journals of their semester progress. The semester concludes with a public poster presentation where students share their projects and experiences.

The Science with Practice program has linked students with faculty research for 10 years. Students may participate in the program multiple semesters. For more information visit www.ageds.iastate.edu/SWP.

This program is funded by the ISU Agricultural Endowment Board, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Van Wert Family Endowment.