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Show -- 6- WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 DIXIESUNNEWS.COM For more information on the new research v-- - , lab, watch Flori 0 Wentzells video at DixieSunNews.com. An mm? inphib y New lab home to 15 species, grants research opportunities BY LAUREN DAVISON Staff Writer Tucked away in the upstairs of the Science Building are more than 1 5 kinds of animals, including the newest addition: Poison Dart Frogs. Now, dont shy away from the Science Building just yet. Not only are the Poison Dart Frogs not actually poisonous, but they are tiny, blue and too innocent for their harsh name. The lab is the first of its kind to grace Dixie State University, and it is home to amphibians, reptiles and fish, and endless research opportunities are in the future. Jennifer Ciaccio, an assistant professor and lab director, created the lab in the beginning of fall semester to give students a space to conduct research. The one thing that we didnt have going into university status was a place where students could actually come and do research (where) they wouldnt be disturbing other classes, Ciaccio said. The reason that there is not an actual classroom space in this lab is specifically so you can let undergraduates do research in here regardless of when classes are meeting. Ciaccio hopes to continue to provide more research opportunities by incorporating more animals into the lab. Ciaccio said obtaining some animals requires specific permits. Working on vertebrate for independent research is a lot more complicated or involved with permitting, rather than for classes, Ciaccio said. So right now, we dont have any vertebrate research that is independent research. We dont have those resources right Trent McElroy, a freshman biology major now, but were working on getting them. from Littleton, Colo., said the lab has helped The lab currently has everything from extend his knowledge of animals and how to African Clawed Frogs and Leopard Frogs to care for them. Axolotls and a Jacksons Chameleon. Caring Ive already had a decent idea of how to for the animals keeps Cami McKellar, a senior take care of different things, McElroy said. biology major from Sandy, hard at work. But to see all the sets and to see the organiMy job is to keep everything alive, McKelzation they have on the spread sheet to keep lar said. So we just want to extend the lifetime track of everything, thats been the most of our animals so we can use them and learn helpful thing is getting an idea of how to get from them. I keep them alive, so that involves organized. lot of cleaning and feeding, and it involves a The lab is open to any students interested lot ff research as well. I started this job thinkin conducting research or even students who ' I I ing, hope dont run out of stuff to do, but I are simply interested in taking a gaze at the never run out of stuff to do. foreign animals. Ciaccio welcomes curious McKellar said tire lab is a logical and valustudents with open arms. able addition to the science department. This space is open for any student who We wanted to have an organismal lab, wants to do research and for any class, McKellar said. In the science department, its Ciaccio said. Even if they are not at a point have. should We awehave just something you where they are ready to do official, indepensome classes like ichthyology, herpetology and dent research, they can still get started up here. marine biology, and if we can have animals Come on in. Even if they just want to come up that represent those courses, and we can do and check out our super-coanimals, which some research with them as well, that would are super awesome, they are more than welbe great for the students. come to come in and look around. THOMAS HENDhR DIME SUN NCVVS c. ol Spray, r dont singe, for summer skin BY LAUREN DAVISON Staff Writer Tis the season of brown legs and bronze faces, and pale folks f everywhere are feeling tire piessure. I I i rifd iPS i , Cami McKellar, a senior biology major from Sandy, feeds and cares for the animals in a new research lab, including the Jacksons Chameleon, Myrtle. The new lab, established last semester for classes to conduct research, is located in the Science Building and is open to any students who want to visit and learn more. A A Spray tanning is much less risky than relying on UV rays. Be kind to your skin and purchase a membership for a spray tan salon and stay away from the tanning beds. OK, so Im one of those pale folks. My grandparents are Scandinavian, and unfortunately, they did not bless me with natural, olive skin. Amongst all tire St. George tan broads, Im left searching for options to shed sun-kisse- d, my winter-whitenes- s. Surpris ingly enough, achieving a gorgeous, healthy tan isnt as easy as I thought. Lets get one tiling straight: Tanning beds are out of the question. I was a tanning bed fanatic in high school, and after a skin cancer scare, Ive sworn off tanning beds. I hate to admit that tanning beds are the fastest, easiest and most realistic way to get dark. However, artificial tanning is harmful and leaves people n looking like a leather coat. According to the FDAs website, tanning beds can cause cancer, premature aging, eye damage and immune suppression. cancer-ridde- Scary stuff. Lets move on. Now, I would love to have enough hours in the day to be able to lather up in sunscreen, lay out and get a natural glow. But really? Who has tune for that? I dont. Plus, even natural sunlight can cause skin damage. So I tried the next best thing: spray tanning. I was a huge spray tan skeptic. Ive heard horror stories about a person going into a spray tan salon as a normal human and coming out an Oompa Loompa. But my fears didnt stop me from testing the spray tan waters. Hey, Im a pale, desperate woman. see TAN page 7 'A Year in Japan' diary entries sweetly illustrative BY MARA BRADDY Opinion Editor I know Ive been bitten by the travel bug when I find myself reading travel diaries on the floor of Barnes and Noble for six hours straight. That isnt all true. I was reading other ' books ' not just travel diaries. f But Ill admit it: A couple of hours by the on a pool sunny Saturday afternoon was all I needed to finish Kate T. Williamsons travel diary titled A Year in Japan. A few pages in and I could already feel my stomach aching with the pain and desire to jump ship and head for Japan. My fascination for Japan goes back to when I was very see JAPAN page |