Arts and Sciences | Bell TowerOctober 17, 2024

Finding a Future in the Forest

Dr. Maurice Testa, UAFS associate professor of geoscience, knows natural talent when he sees it. And when he looked at Perla Romero three years ago, he saw it.

Perla, then a student in the College of Business and Industry planning to become a certified public accountant, was fulfilling a general education requirement in a physical geology class.

Here’s what Testa remembers from that class: “At first, I would see her mumble the answers very quietly and not raise her hand, though she always had the correct answer. I started calling on her to answer questions, and once she built up some confidence, she volunteered an answer to nearly every question.”

By the time Perla turned up in an Earth science course the next semester, she was a different person.

“This time, she was not shy and went beyond just answering questions,” Testa said. “She would ask more in-depth questions back at me. … Her scientific curiosity about the subjects and obvious interest in geoscience made her a natural fit.”

Perla began to see herself in the field.

“I thought, ‘You know what? This is what I want to do. This is what I feel is my purpose,’” she said.

“Perla is a detail-oriented student,” Testa said. “She is extremely organized and always has her next two or three steps planned out. (She) has transferred many of the organizational and analytical skills from her time in business courses into her geoscience work.”

Now a senior geology major, Perla has completed a second internship with the National Forest Service in Michigan. She had a chance to use GIS (Geographic Information System) software to map underground features and confirm them with “ground truthing” – going into the forest to see if the real world matches the features of the GIS map.

Testa explained the connection between Fort Smith students and the Hiawatha National Forest in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan.

“I have been working with the National Forest Service since 2018. My students and I have been working in the Hiawatha National Forest every summer for the last four years,” he said. “Originally, our project was investigating a 400-million-year-old coral reef system. We have since expanded to other projects, including mapping, groundwater dye tracing, and even quantifying microplastics.”

Perla’s internship allowed her to work on “groundwater, soil science, and GIS mapping projects … will enhance her skill set and make her a more competitive candidate for graduate school and in the job market.”

That is the critical role of internships.

“The hands-on experience and immersion into a position that an internship provides can help students understand what life is like in their chosen field, and that's difficult to teach in the classroom,” Testa said.

Perla Romero: In Her Words

Following her internship, Perla said she learned about Michigan geology, soils, ecology, and timber sales. She is especially proud that she increased her expertise in ArcGIS software.

What did you do? (Geology for Dummies style, please)

I used LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data to find karst features in the forest. Karst features are made from breaking down carbonate rocks like limestone over time. The main features I helped map were sinkholes. A sinkhole is a depression in the carbonate-rich bedrock due to acidic rainfall eroding the limestones deep within. As acidic rain travels through limestone it will eventually create a void that will grow until it causes a collapse of the topmost layer.

Finding sinkholes is important because they are a direct passage for our groundwater. If sinkholes are not monitored and protected, the groundwater could be contaminated. 

After I found features using LiDAR and other satellite imagery data, I needed to verify in person they were true karst features. I made a database for all karst features that included depth, size, a photo of the feature, and other key information. This helped keep track of verified karst features and areas that needed to be checked.

What will you take with you from this experience? Do you know what comes next?

During my internship with the Forest Service, I realized this is what I want to do as a career. I fell in love with working outside and collaborating with different specialties within the organization focused on conserving our National Forest for the future generations. 

After I graduate with my bachelor's in May, I plan on pursing a master's degree in hydrology with a concentration in karst hydrology. It would be amazing if I could collaborate with others on research abroad. My dream is to become a forest hydrologist at some point in my career. However, I am open to other career opportunities that allow me to work outside. 

How did UAFS prepare you for this experience?

I am a Fort Smith native that truly never thought about leaving Arkansas. It wasn't until I joined the UAFS Geoscience program that I realized there were opportunities everywhere! During my three years at UAFS I have travelled to 14 states and seven national parks. I was fortunate to start a research portfolio as an undergraduate geology student. This year will be my second national conference where I present my research to geologists from all over the world. Opportunities like these have elevated my confidence as a woman in geosciences.

I feel grateful to have passionate professors who prepared me well. Beyond geology material, UAFS has helped me develop professionalism and strong leadership skills. Being a writing tutor a on campus has given me hands-on teaching experience. As for professionalism, I am close to completing the gold level professional development program from Career Services.

I credit my leadership and problem-solving skills from my time in Student Government and leading registered student organizations like the Geology Club. As a first-generation student I made it my goal to use school resources to build up a good foundation that made me well equipped for opportunities like the one at the Forest Service. 

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