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Students Discover Endless Possibilities in Summer Jobs Across OAC
August 31, 2011
From insect surveys, through biodiversity research to the care and feeding of an organic dairy herd, almost 300 undergraduate, diploma and high school students have been working across OAC units and regional campuses this summer.
“The best feature of working on campus is the fantastic opportunity to become familiar with and create so many connections to faculty,” says Derek Vella (BSc Food Science). In the Food Sensory Lab in the department of Food Science, Vella is contributing to an investigation of the role of polyphenolic compounds in cereal products, research that stems from the health benefit claims linked to whole grains.
Alicia Scott accepted a summer position in Animal & Poultry Science (APS) through the Undergraduate Student Experiential Learning program, part of the OMAFRA-U of G partnership. Working with experts in dairy research including Vern Osborne, APS, and Tom Wright, dairy cattle nutritionist at OMAFRA, Scott is collecting data for research on heat stress in calves.
“This position provides hands-on experience with producers,” says Scott, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Agricultural Business. “This builds a good personal connection and interaction with the farmers which I would not get sitting in an office.”
“We see this as an extension of our teaching role and a way in which we can provide hands-on training at the undergraduate and high school levels,” says Rene Van Acker, Associate Dean, External Relations, OAC. Students are involved in projects focused on grassland ecology, including biodiversity plots, vegetation and insect surveys, and climate change studies. “The College is exposing students to opportunities in agriculture, food, the environment and communities, and becoming a major employer for undergraduate and high school students.”
“It’s a constant learning experience offering endless opportunities for development and growth,” says Aurora Patchett, who will be entering her third year of the BSc in Environmental Sciences with a major in Ecology. She spent the summer planting miscanthus and switchgrass at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute for an ecological impact assessment of biofuel grasses.
“It’s one thing to have a summer job, but it’s another to have one related to science!” says Sarah McClymott, a third year Biological Science student. She landed her lab assistant role in Plant Agriculture four years ago as a senior in high school. The department employs about 25% of OAC’s summer students and the highest contingent of high school students.
OAC’s three regional campuses employ about 40% of the College’s summer students. Second year student Marc-André Picard has been busy feeding and milking the cows at the Alfred Campus dairy barn. He chuckles at the thought of receiving credits towards his diploma in Agricultural Technology when, according to him, all he is really doing is what he loves.
At Ridgetown Campus, research programs focusing on agronomy, crop protection, soil management and variety trials offer employment to over 70 students each summer. Some will work as many as four consecutive summers throughout their academic studies whether on campus or at regional research stations, or with area farm co-operators at off-site trial locations.
