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Davis College Students Shine at Texas Academy of Science Meeting

Norman Martin | March 7, 2025

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Two standout undergraduates from Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources brought home high honors from last weekend’s 128th Texas Academy of Science Annual Meeting in Waco, Texas. Hosted by Baylor University and McLennan Community College, the conference ran from Feb. 28 to Mar. 1.

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“One integral component of the undergraduate experience in Davis College in general, and the Department of Natural Resources Management in particular, is research experience that provides hands-on training beyond the classroom,” said Richard Stevens, Interim Chair and Caesar Kleberg Endowed Professor of Wildlife Conservation. 

“One very important step of successful research is the dissemination of the knowledge that comes from the work,” he said.  “These students have done an outstanding job representing the university and exemplify the kind of award-winning education/training that can be attained at Texas Tech University.”

Among the top winners from Texas Tech were:

  • Julia Bullock, a senior animal science/biology major from Lubbock | First Place | Conservation Ecology | Environmental DNA detection of the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow
  • Kale Humphries, a senior natural resources management major from Corinth | First Place | Freshwater Science | Increased salinity suppresses diversity of colonizing invertebrates in a field mesocosm experiment

Other students presenting included Vera Ye, a senior micro-biology major from Lubbock in the conservation ecology poster sessions. Her project was titled, “Detection of non-native freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in central Texas using environmental DNA.” In addition, doctoral student Hayden Hays from Haslet presented a talk on The effects of invasive feral hog on channel conditions and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the South Llano River in the program’s freshwater science section.

In other action, Matthew Barnes, an associate professor within the Department of Natural Resources Management, was recognized with a Texas Academy of Science Past President's Award as he concluded his four-year term on the organization’s board of directors. At Texas Tech the Plano native’s research program focuses on the ecology of environmental DNA (eDNA) and eDNA applications to improve fundamental ecological understanding about the distribution and dispersal of species, primarily in freshwater ecosystems. 

His long-term research experiences include predicting species occurrence with species distribution models and geographic information systems (GIS) and investigating invasive species impacts through field observations and laboratory experiments. Barnes’ doctorate is from the University of Notre Dame.

The state’s oldest scientific society, the Texas Academy of Science has been dedicated to promoting science excellence in the state of Texas since it was founded in 1880. Its mission centers on promoting scientific research in Texas colleges and universities, as well as encouraging research as a part of student learning and enhances the professional development of its professional and student members. 

CONTACT: Richard Stevens, Interim Chair and Caesar Kleberg Endowed Professor of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Natural Resources Management, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-6843 or richard.stevens@ttu.edu

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