{"id":47013,"date":"2022-12-07T08:03:21","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T13:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=47013"},"modified":"2022-12-08T08:47:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T13:47:16","slug":"community-outreach-utc-faculty-volunteering-as-research-mentors-for-cgla-students-biology-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2022\/12\/community-outreach-utc-faculty-volunteering-as-research-mentors-for-cgla-students-biology-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Community outreach: UTC faculty volunteering as research mentors for CGLA students’ biology projects"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chattanooga

Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy students visited the UTC Library Nov. 29 to learn ways to do research using the library\u2019s resources. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dianabel Perez knows she wants to do a research project on \u201cCommunity Education Methods on Climate Change.\u201d<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s about all she knows at this point.<\/p>\n

A senior at the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Perez admitted: \u201cI\u2019m kind of falling behind,\u201d followed by a slightly contrite smile.<\/p>\n

The 10-page research paper and in-person presentation aren\u2019t due until next spring, so she has some time to dive into the topic. That\u2019s one reason she recently spent two hours at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Library, learning ways to do research using the library\u2019s resources.<\/p>\n

Ten UTC Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science female faculty members have volunteered as research mentors for the 43 CGLA students working on biology-based projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just hoping that they can give me advice or ideas for my senior project because I\u2019m kind of lost on what to do,\u201d said Perez, who plans to enroll in UTC after she graduates from CGLA in the spring.<\/p>\n

Dr. Gretchen Potts, department head for Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, said the department is always looking for ways to connect with the local community, and the chance to work with CGLA was a perfect opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the faculty in the department participate in continuous outreach efforts with the community,\u201d she said. \u201cThis year, the CGLA Senior Projects provided a unique opportunity for 10 women faculty members from BGE to mentor these graduating students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I asked the department for volunteers, these 10 women immediately responded to my call. Some have volunteered in previous years, but this year marks the first time we have sponsored 10 mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hope, she said, is to maintain an ongoing relationship with CGLA to \u201ccontinue to promote student success.\u201d<\/p>\n

The projects being mentored by UTC biology faculty include:<\/p>\n