DSU sophomores present microplastic research at National Conference
May 9, 2025
Basbo Ayelazono and Vanessa Ocansey, two international students from Ghana, recently shared their microplastic research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh.
The duo worked with biology professor Dr. Kristel Bakker to conduct the research, and Dr. Andrew Sathoff, assistant professor and undergraduate research coordinator, attended the conference with the students.
Ocansey expressed interest in conducting undergraduate research after learning about fellow student Emme Josko’s project that attempted to identify educational skeletons.
Josko sent Ocansey a paper about finding microplastics in the reproductive organs of men, which then inspired her to conduct microplastic research with Ayelazono and Bakker. The two sophomores collected water and sentiment samples from Lake Herman, Lake Madison, Lake Thompson, and Lake Henry.
“We stored the samples in the lab for a few weeks, and when we came back from winter break, we began testing the sediment and water samples,” Ayelazono said.
All four lakes had microplastics, and Lake Henry had two types of microfilament. Establishing this as a fact provides a baseline for future studies on the health impact of ingesting microplastics and how to reduce concentrations in water, wildlife, and soil.
After confirming their findings, Sathoff encouraged Ayelazono and Ocansey to apply to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Of the 5,000 conference attendees, “We were the only ones from South Dakota,” Ocansey said.
They enjoyed learning from other researchers, receiving positive feedback from attendees, and learning about new research tools and methods.
Ocansey, who is interested in attending medical school to become a neurosurgeon, will be shadowing at the local hospital this fall and may take a break from undergraduate research.
Ayelazono is excited to continue working on microplastic research over the summer at the University of Utah and potentially again in the fall with Dr. Bakker.
“I have always wanted to work in the health industry, and I love the research aspect of it because that is where all the magic happens,” Ayelazono said.