MSU Science Research Floods In | Video

Amy Fox | 6/21/2012

Last night, Minot State University held a public forum about environmental health issues. Research conducted by a Minot State University faculty and students was the focus of the event.

Almost all laboratory research projects are done in the classroom. For one group of MSU students, the research took them outside the classroom.

"In this case it`s like the project found us,” said MSU Research Student Brady Burckhard. “We`ve been working with similar things in the lab the last couple of years. And, the flood it was devastating thing, but it kinda popped up on our doorstep and a big opportunity with the mold."

MSU students and chemistry professor Mihkail Bobylev collected spore samples inside the flooded home.

"When we entered the house, we saw different molds everywhere. So we see white molds, black molds, green molds and brown molds everywhere. So you can see there are really was flooded up to the roof completely,” said Bobylev.

The real world science project allowed students to have a hands-on experience out in the field, which they will never forget.

MSU Graduate Brady Burckhard said, "I was totally like a candy shop like you said. It`s just exciting. We`re like kids in a candy store. Just didn`t know what to start with. Just wanted to get it all done with."

The home the mold samples came from was left untouched for five months.
Burckhard reflects on his experience. "Right before walking in, I was a little bit nervous. I didn`t know what quite to expect. I was excited when we actually got in there. It was kinda overwhelming because it just hits you at one time. You try to take everything at one time. You see mold everywhere and you`re not sure where to start."

The house that provided the mold samples has been demolished, but the research material it left behind provided a once in a lifetime science project for the students.

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