Emily Arendsen, a graduating Wayland High School senior who is planning to study biology at Hope College this fall, has been accepted into Hope College’s Watershed Research program this summer.

She will begin college a week early and will be collecting data from Lake Macatawa watershed.  The research project will investigate human impacts on the watershed by analyzing sedimentation rates, phosphate runoff, and microbe populations.

Emily was accepted into this program because of her research work with zebra fish as part of the Wayland Union High School science program in which students from AP biology, anatomy and other upper level science courses spend the last few weeks of the year conducting authentic research on the effects of such things as pollution and climate changes on zebra fish reproduction and embryonic development.  This program challenges students to research and develop investigations looking at how certain pollutants or climate changes will alter the ability of zebra fish to reproduce and develop normally.

This opportunity will further open doors for Emily, as it will allow her to pursue summer intern programs next year in which she can continue performing STEM research.

PHOTO: Emily Arendsen