Projects
Christina
"The main objective of my project is to cultivate a better understanding of microbial communities in compost that produces less greenhouse gases than typical compost. In order to accomplish this, I will be taking samples from two different composts: a control group that is typical compost and a treatment group that has biochar added which reduces greenhouse gas emissions in compost. After getting samples of the two types of compost, I will run DNA extractions and analyses on the compost to gather more information about what happens to microbial communities when greenhouse gases are reduced. Using this and information from other SCoOP researchers, I will inform other scientists in the field and the general public about sustainable composting."
Ariana
"My project involves the examination of how the addition of compost as an amendment influences the growth rate of the plants and different bacterial communities in compost. This research is done to analyze if different variations of plants with compost as an amendment are likely to harbor growing microbial communities that aid in the growth of plants based on the observance of germination rate, plant height, mass, and shape. I believe my research is important and useful in the expansion of our current knowledge of both microbial communities and compost as a treatment."
Bridget
"The animal mortality compost project centers around the microbial succession during the course of the composting process, as well as measuring the leachate formation over time. Large animal carcasses, such as a cow, will be the main focus of this experiment. As a research assistant, my main job is to extract and sequence the DNA from the samples that are collected. Samples will be taken on a periodic basis, so that we may track the microbial succession over the course of the composting process."
Abbie & Grace
"The goal of our project is to see how the presence of electronic waste affects the microbial populations in compost in number and in the genes they express. Our experimental design involves inserting at home compostable packaging as well as electronic waste into piles of compost at the NC State Composting Facility. We are going to take samples at specified time points and measure the temperature, number and type of bacteria present, and the genes being expressed by them. The data from the different samples will be compared to see what is different between general compost, compost in the presence of compostable packaging, and compost in the presence of electronic waste. We hope to gain insight in how and which bacteria could aid in the breakdown of electronic waste."
Drew
"One of the most challenging problems in the textile world is textile waste, and one way to reduce this waste is to incorporate these fabrics into composting. Introducing these fabrics into microbes communities will allow for a breakdown of the fabrics eliminating the waste as well as provide a clean and rich soil base product. What I will be doing is analyzing three samples of 100% cotton fabric, 100% wool fabric, 100% hemp fabric, 100% silk fabric, 100% polyester fabric, and 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester fabric. With these fabrics I will put them into the thermal sages of composting. These stages are the peak of microbes creation and will provide the fastest breakdown rate. From this experiment I hope to analyze the fabric breakdown rate, the amount of fabric breakdown, microbial communities DNA, and if the breakdown system is aerobic or anaerobic."
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