Undergraduate Research Journal Discovery Released by Bumpers College, Division of Agriculture

Photo by Fred Miller; Cover Design by Gail Halleck.

The Discovery 2017 cover features Bumpers students (from left) Kaitlyn Walker who makes adjustments as Laura Corral models the finished top from their research, "Exploring the abilities of 3-D printing and its viability for consumption in the fashion industry."

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2017 edition of Discovery, the undergraduate student research journal of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, is available in the college's departmental offices.

An online version of the journal can be found at discoverymag.uark.edu/issues.

Journal articles detail the students' research conducted under the guidance of University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and other research faculty mentors. Students who have received a Bumpers College Undergraduate Research Grant are expected to submit papers based on their projects.

The 12 articles in this issue were written by undergraduate student authors representing 4 departments and 3 programs in the School of Human Environmental Sciences working with 25 mentors from Bumpers College and across the University of Arkansas.

This issue features a diverse array of topics representing diverse fields of study within Bumpers College including inter-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaborations within and outside of Bumpers College:

• Marketing tips for small-scale, local honey bee keepers in northwest Arkansas.
• Feasibility of producing and marketing industrial hemp as an Arkansas commodity.
• Economic benefit to farmers of genetic marker analysis to improve the genetic makeup of their herd.
• Evaluation of scientific approaches that assess contents of rumen chamber of stomach in ruminant animals to assess their health.
• The diversity of genes related to reproductive health and their effect on physical traits in cattle.
• Effects of labeling and consumer health trends on preferred ground beef color characteristics, fat content, and palatability.
• Consumer acceptance and sustainability of 3-D-printed fashion.
• Upcycling to design and create sustainable cosplay women and men's costumes.
• Crop diversification strategies to reduce risk and increase food security in Mozambique.
• Survey of college students to gauge presence of excessive communication at the beginning of a romantic relationship for power and control as it relates to those with narcissistic tendencies and low self-esteem.
• Concentration of chemicals in peanuts as it relates to reduced cell viability in colon cancer cells.
• Savings resulting from serving portioned compared to unrationed meals and snacks in a daycare setting.

Lona Robertson, interim dean of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, says "One of our goals is to prepare students to be responsible leaders with strong communication skills and problem-solving abilities. Inside this issue you will discover research studies from across the college that highlight and exemplify those qualities."

Mary Savin, professor of crop, soil, and environmental sciences, and faculty editor of Discovery comments, "This is my eighth year as faculty editor, and the projects that our students complete get more interesting each year, while the manuscripts they write continue to showcase their talents. This year's diversity of creative projects and research should make all Bumpers students, faculty, staff, and family proud."

Gail Halleck, a publications editor in the Division of Agriculture Communication Services unit, is the journal's managing editor.

Information about submitting manuscripts for the 2018 edition can be found online at discoverymag.uark.edu.