West Virginia State University

04/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2024 14:35

WVSU Graduate Student Wins First Place at 1890 ARD Biennial Research Symposium for Methane Emissions Study

WVSU Graduate Student Wins First Place at 1890 ARD Biennial Research Symposium for Methane Emissions Study


4/22/2024 Contact: Jack Bailey (304) 766-4109 [email protected]

April 22, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WVSU Graduate Student Wins First Place at 1890 ARD Biennial Research Symposium
for Methane Emissions Study

INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- Bhuparaj Bhattarai, a graduate student at West Virginia State University (WVSU), recently won first place in the Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and Environment poster category at the Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD) Biennial Research Symposium.

The project, titled "Methane Emissions in the Sediment of Highly Impacted Appalachian River," aimed to understand the biochemical methane production potential and variation of archaeal populations within the sediment of the Kanawha River in West Virginia. Bhattarai's WVSU faculty mentor was Dr. David Huber, professor of biology.

Rivers and streams are natural methane sources, contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions despite their relatively small size and land coverage. However, due to their dynamic nature, the factors influencing the extent and magnitude of emissions from flowing water bodies still needs to be determined. Research exploring the contribution of rivers to global greenhouse gas emissions has been limited. Therefore, Bhattarai's study aimed to enhance understanding of the methane production potential and variation of archaeal populations within the sediment of the Kanawha River.

The research results concluded that the methane production potential from river sediment varied between locations and within layers in the exact location.

USDA-NIFA-2021-38821-34706 and Evans Allen funds supported Bhattarai's work.

Follow West Virginia State University and WVSU Extension Service on Facebook and Twitter @WVStateU.
West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multigenerational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a "living laboratory of human relations," the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.
West Virginia State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. It does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, ancestry, age, blindness, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or other category that is protected under federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws as protected characteristics.

-WVSU-