CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Nearly a dozen colleges and universities from across West Virginia were represented during the 12th Annual Undergraduate Research Day Wednesday at the State Capitol, a day highlighting research projects at the Mountain State’s schools.
In all, more than 100 student researchers participated.
Among them was Dillon Muhly-Alexander, a Herndon Fellow from West Virginia University, who has worked with WV Foodlink which connects people to food resources.
“I want to stay in West Virginia and I want to help address the concerns for the future that West Virginia has and currently over 15 percent of West Virginians struggle in terms of having access to food on a regular basis,” said Muhly-Alexander.
WV Foodlink is a project from the Food Justice Laboratory in WVU’s Department of Geology and Geography.
The WV Foodlink partners are Facing Hunger Food Bank, Mountaineer Food Bank, Volunteer Organizations Active In Disasters, WV Farmer’s Market Association, West Virginia GIS Tech Center, WV Food and Farm Coalition, Appalachian Foodshed Project, Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
At the organization’s website, people can search the state for food assistance through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other meal programs.
Currently, only a limited number of counties are part of that database, but Muhly-Alexander said the goal is to identify partners in all 55 counties before the end of the year.
“I really hope that people see the need for what Foodlink is doing and that we can continue to grow as a public resource,” Muhly-Alexander said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Other topics during Undergraduate Research Day included research on chemical spill response, a technique for identifying hot spots for deer-vehicle crashes in West Virginia and the evolution of azaleas in the southeast.
In addition to presenting their research, students and faculty members heard from Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin during Wednesday’s event.
Participants had been scheduled to attend from Marshall University, WVU, Wheeling Jesuit University, West Virginia State University, WVU Institute of Technology, West Liberty University, University of Charleston, Shepherd University, Glenville State College, Concord University and Fairmont State University.