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WKU Home -> News -> Release
 Melissa Hendrickson received the award for her master’s thesis proposal “The Influence of Organic Acid on the Dissolution Rate of Limestone: Beaver Falls – Mop Spring, Tongass National Forest, Alaska.” Hendrickson is studying geochemical processes associated with interactions between limestone bedrock and naturally acidic waters draining from mountain wetlands common in southeastern Alaska. These interactions tend to neutralize the acidity, which in turn appears to influence the productivity of the area’s salmon spawning rivers. The work is taking place in Alaska’s remote Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest at 17 million acres. “This project represents a great example of basic research that provides a foundation for sound resource management decisions,” said Dr. Chris Groves, Hendrickson’s thesis adviser and director of the Hoffman Environmental Research Institute within WKU’s Applied Research and Technology Program (ARTP). “This project exemplifies the fundamental model of WKU’s ARTP, where students gain high-level professional experience while providing service to the public, in this case the U.S. Forest Service.” One graduate student is chosen nationally each year for the Wilson Scholarship, which includes a $1,000 award. The Karst Waters Institute’s goal in providing the scholarship is to attract and support new young karst scientists to continue research exemplified by the late Bill Wilson, a nationally prominent and innovative karst hydrogeologist. “Melissa’s work is enhancing the collaboration in karst research and education that continues to develop between the Forest Service and Western Kentucky University,” said Forest Service Geologist Jim Baichtal, who serves on Hendrickson’s master’s thesis committee. “We appreciate the experience in karst and hydrology that the University’s faculty and geoscience students bring to our efforts to protect these resources.” According to Dr. David Keeling, Geography and Geology department head, “Melissa’s research is an example of student engagement in issues of importance to the human condition. This scholarship will enable Melissa to conduct fieldwork in Alaska and is a great example of the competitiveness of Western’s students at the national level.” More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu. For information, contact Chris Groves at (270) 745-5974.
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