CAFSNR’s Department of Microbiological Sciences fosters community
Students at Central Cass High School this year took a deep dive into microbiological sciences after participating in NASA’s Plant the Moon challenge with assistance from NDSU’s Department of Microbiological Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources.
Participants in the annual global science experiment and educational research challenge work to see who can grow the best vegetable crops in lunar or Martian soil. The research findings from student teams help scientists understand how to feed future NASA missions, while exposing high school students to the research process.
Barney Geddes, NDSU assistant professor and Richard and Linda Offerdahl Faculty Fellow in microbiology, has partnered with surrounding high schools for the competition since 2021. Marley Lund-Peterson, a microbiological sciences graduate student, took over as the lead coordinator of the project this spring.
In addition to putting the scientific method into practice, Lund-Peterson said the project is a great way to get students introduced and engaged in science.
“Participating in Plant the Moon over the last two years has helped me see how impactful our outreach initiatives are for our surrounding community,” Lund-Peterson says. “Multiple students have expressed interest in science and/or microbiology after participating in the competition.”
Cady Wang, a student at Davies High School in Fargo, participated in the Plant the Moon challenge as a freshman. After the completion of the project, she reached out to Geddes to inquire about working in his laboratory at NDSU. Now a senior, she has spent two years in the lab helping to research how plants interact with their microbial communities. In 2023, Wang worked to develop her own research project, going on to win international science awards and presenting her research during the NDSU Explore research day.
This summer Wang was accepted into the Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an intensive five-week program where 100 of the world’s most accomplished high-school students conduct individual research projects and immerse themselves in the research process.
“Working in the Geddes Lab at NDSU has played a significant role in fostering my love of sustainability research,” says Wang. “Not just sustainable agricultural practices, but policies and systems that protect our planet.”
In addition to giving area high schoolers valuable hands-on experience in science, Lund-Peterson said the project highlights the importance of outreach in the community.
“Engaging with our surrounding community isn’t just an added task for scientists, it’s a core responsibility. Just as crucial as our work inside the lab, outreach fosters understanding, collaboration and trust, empowering us to create meaningful impact beyond the boundaries of our research,” Lund-Pederson says.
(Story adapted from NDSU University Relations)
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Learn more about Microbiological Sciences at NDSU
Contact Marley Lund-Peterson
