Challenging Project Moves Students toward Educational Goals  

WAUKESHA – University of Wisconsin-Waukesha students Christopher Zahm, Oconomowoc, and Laura Ziegler, Sussex, conducting research during the academic year with their biology professor, Paul Zillgitt, investigated “Symbiotic Relationship between Aquaculture and Manure Digestion,” suggesting a way to dispose of waste and generate energy.

Chosen this year to represent the campus at the annual “Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research,” their work demonstrates the depth of creative discipline on the campus.  Some 111 projects by 164 students coming from all 13 four-year UW campuses and 8 of the freshman-sophomore UW Colleges campuses were displayed and discussed on Wednesday, April 18, in the Capitol building in Madison.

In their research, Ziegler and Zahm attempted to establish a symbiotic relationship between aquaculture’s role in making bio-diesel and the anaerobic digestion of cow manure in the production of methane gas. Ultimately, they hope to create a system that will allow farmers to dispose of excess wastes economically while generating a renewable source of fuel.

At the event, they spoke with UW System President Kevin Reilly, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, and a representative of the DNR and met with Representative Don Pridemore (R-Hartford) in his office at the conclusion.

Zahm will work in a fully-funded position as a research assistant at the Medical College of Wisconsin this summer and will study biochemistry at UW-Madison in the fall, where he has been accepted into a research program as well.

Ziegler, who seeks a future as a veterinarian, expects to finish her associate’s degree at UW-Waukesha next year and will continue her research with Zillgitt throughout the year. They plan to publish a paper then describing the results of the study.

UW-Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 freshman-sophomore University of Wisconsin Colleges campuses. For information about programs, admission, or financial aid, contact the Student Services office at 888-2UW-WAUK (888-289-9285) or visit the Web at www.waukesha.uwc.edu.

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