From tracking ticks on disc golf courses to unlocking the secrets of graphene, the Oklahoma Academy of Science has been nurturing scientific curiosity for over a hundred years.
Imagine a scientist in 1923, painstakingly recording observations in a lab book, with no easy way to share findings with peers across the state. Now, imagine that same scientist, upon reading a brief item in the journal Science, discovering a community—the Oklahoma Academy of Science (OAS) 5 . For a century, this organization has been the backbone of scientific inquiry in Oklahoma, providing a vital forum for researchers, diffusing knowledge to the public, and inspiring generations of students. In a world increasingly driven by data and discovery, the OAS has tirelessly worked to ensure that the flame of scientific progress in Oklahoma continues to burn brightly.
The Oklahoma Academy of Science is not a single research lab, but a collaborative engine that powers the entire state's scientific ecosystem. Founded on a set of clear and enduring principles, its purpose is fourfold 1 :
To truly understand the OAS's impact, we can examine a specific, relatable research project presented at its annual meeting. In 2021, undergraduate researcher Jessie Merrifield from the University of Oklahoma was awarded for the Best Undergraduate Paper for a study titled "A Comparison of Tick Abundance on Disc Golf Courses in Urban and Suburban Central Oklahoma Parks" . This project is a perfect example of how OAS-supported research addresses questions with direct implications for public health and outdoor recreation.
Researchers identified disc golf courses located in both urban and suburban parks in central Oklahoma. This allowed for a direct comparison between different development densities.
Using a standard ecological technique called flagging, a square meter of white cloth is dragged along the ground in a systematic pattern across predefined areas of the courses.
Ticks, attracted to the cloth and clinging to it, were collected at regular intervals.
Collected ticks were carefully identified and counted. The data was then analyzed to compare abundance between the urban and suburban sites.
The core finding of this research was a significant difference in tick abundance between the urban and suburban disc golf courses. While the specific numerical data from the study is not published in the search results, the recognition of this work as the best undergraduate paper underscores its scientific rigor and importance .
Significant difference in tick abundance between urban and suburban disc golf courses
Suburban parks create more favorable habitats for ticks than urbanized parks
| Award Category | Project Title | Researcher & Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Best Undergraduate Paper | A Comparison of Tick Abundance on Disc Golf Courses in Urban and Suburban Central Oklahoma Parks | Jessie Merrifield (University of Oklahoma) |
| Best Graduate Paper | Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Georeferenced Herbarium Records in Oklahoma and Texas | Sierra Hubbard (Oklahoma State University) |
| Outstanding Undergraduate Poster | Bee Pollination Patterns Within a Three Sisters Garden | Hallie Reed (East Central University) |
| Outstanding Graduate Poster | Environmental Stewardship in Citizen Science Participants | Cheyanne Olson (Rogers State University) |
| Scientific Section | Project Title | Researcher & Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | Interaction of DNA Nucleobases with Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons | Pujan Khatri (East Central University) |
| Applied Ecology & Conservation | Seasonal Variation of Arthropods Colonizing Decomposing Mammalian Carcasses | Sam Ray (East Central University) |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Conservation of Kinase Domains in the Insulin/TOR Signaling Pathway of Drosophila | Aidan Long (Oklahoma Christian University) |
| Biomedical Sciences | Biological Characterization of the Cytotoxic Effects of Novel Lactate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors | Hanna Hill (Southwestern Oklahoma State University) |
The "tick study" and many other projects presented at OAS meetings rely on a suite of standard tools and reagents. For ecological and field biology research, the toolkit is both physical and methodological.
A large, white cloth used to collect ticks and other small arthropods from vegetation and leaf litter by dragging it along the ground.
Used to precisely mark study sites and transects, ensuring data can be replicated and accurately mapped.
For recording real-time observations, weather conditions, and sample counts directly at the collection site.
Reference guides used by scientists to accurately identify collected plant and animal species.
Essential for analyzing collected data, determining if observed patterns (like urban vs. suburban differences) are statistically significant.
Adapted to COVID-19 with a successful virtual format
Presentations
Attendees
The Oklahoma Academy of Science has repeatedly proven its resilience. When the COVID-19 pandemic made in-person gatherings impossible in 2020, the Academy adapted seamlessly, holding a virtual meeting that featured 87 presentations and was attended by over 128 people—a format they declared a success 3 . This flexibility ensures that the exchange of ideas continues uninterrupted.
From its early mentions in Science in the 1920s 4 5 to its upcoming 2025 meeting at Oral Roberts University 1 , the OAS has been a constant catalyst for scientific growth in the state. It not only celebrates completed research through its awards and publications but also actively shapes future scientists by providing a supportive platform for students to present their first major projects. As it moves into its second century, the Oklahoma Academy of Science remains a vital institution, dedicated to investigating the material resources of the state and, most importantly, cultivating the human curiosity that drives discovery forward.