Outstanding presentation award for Viviana

Congratulations to Viviana. She won the award for outstanding oral presentation from among 865 student presentations at a major national scientific conference. Way to go, Viviana! She delivered her award-winning presentation at the 2015 SACNAS conference (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) , held in Washington, DC, in October. Viviana presented findings from her master’s degree research, which investigated how the nutrient status and fertility of residential soils is influenced by the manner in which people manage their yards. She generally found elevated levels of some nutrients, organic matter, and microorganisms in soils that receive more frequent applications of reclaimed water than those that are watered less frequently with conventional water. As water supplies grow scarce, many cities increasingly encourage their citizens to use reclaimed water. This resource, however, is chemically distinct from “regular” potable water, and Viviana’s research is beginning to unpeel some of the unintentional consequences of its use.