Under the canopies of the Austin Cary Forest (ACF), Emma Martin spent many hours conducting research for her undergraduate honors thesis. Martin, a UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences graduate who majored in environmental science, emphasized research as her campus involvement halfway through her undergraduate journey in CALS and she found a unique experience with the UF/IFAS Research Internship program.
Martin’s undergraduate research may have ended, but her experience was unforgettable. She was able to use her research experience to grow as a scientist and apply her knowledge from the classroom in a different setting.
With Jason Vogel, Ph. D. as her advisor, Martin’s honors thesis was titled Soil CO2 efflux in southeastern pine stands: Effects of forest management practices. A previous study observing the changes in soil CO2 after prescribed burnings in ACF ignited Martin’s curiosity. Looking to examine the effects of different harvesting approaches, Martin collected data on the changes of soil CO2 after group and single tree harvesting in ACF.
Data collection days in the Austin Cary Forest were long but gratifying for Martin. An average data collection day started at 6:00 a.m. for Martin and her team, collecting measurements from eleven plots concerning soil CO2 flux, temperature and moisture.
Her research came with challenges that Martin used as learning moments, leaning into new experiences with data analysis software to better understand the impacts of carbon dioxide in the soil of southeastern pine stands. From data collection days in ACF to the undergraduate symposium, which challenged her to step out of her comfort zone, Martin’s approach to involvement emphasized intentionality in finding the right fit to thrive and appreciation for the variation in experiences.
“Explore every opportunity,” said Martin.
She felt the UF/IFAS Research Internship provided more beneficial learning opportunities than she could have imagined.
As data collection days slowed down, a highlight of Martin’s research came with sharing her research for the first time at the undergraduate symposium at the University of Florida. Martin was feeling a rollercoaster of emotions before the symposium, but she found a sense of community in being able to see other students and their research.
The symposium shifted her perspective to the importance of being an effective science communicator.
“It’s an opportunity to bring everything learned in the classroom into one experience,” said Martin
The event was a turning point in enhancing her skills as a scientist and increasing accessibility of research-based information with the public.
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