Incline student honored for science

Joanne Heslop from Incline Village has been named science Student of the Month for September for Northern Nevada.

Heslop is a senior in high school and home schooled by her mother Kathy in Incline Village.

"I have been very interested in working with Joanne in her research of the relationship between atmospheric temperature and carbon dioxide release rates from the soil since it is an issue that receives a lot of attention within the international scientific community," said associate research professor Paul Verburg, who studies effects of climate change on natural ecosystems at the Desert Research Institute and has been Heslop's mentor. "I continue to be particularly impressed by her scientific maturity that goes well beyond her age. She has done all of the work herself and my involvement was limited to giving her pointers regarding the design and experimental protocols of her research."

Verburg was referring to Heslop's project that earned her a second place finish overall at the 2007 Western Regional Science and Engineering Fair and an entry into the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Albuquerque, NM.

"I have been working with Paul Verburg on this project and tested weekly for how much carbon dioxide is present in the soil to see how it contributes to global warming," Heslop said during an interview on KOLO-TV in Reno on Sept. 25.

"I'm looking at environmental studies as a possible major in college."

The Science Student of the Month program is sponsored by KOLO-TV, the Desert Research Institute and the Western Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The students are selected by a panel of teachers, scientists and community leaders after being nominated by teachers, advisers, parents and other community leaders. The program recognizes outstanding K-12 students in the Northern Nevada region for their science, technology, engineering and mathematics research, activities and accomplishments. DRI pairs up the student with a faculty member as a mentor and KOLO-TV awards one of the students a $2,000 prize.