Students’ first impression Tuesday, March 27, when meeting Mark Double, West Virginia University research assistant, was of his social nature. Matthew Colaluca, a senior environmental science major, had the same impression.
“He definitely broke the stereotype that environmental science people don’t like talking to other people,” said Colaluca.
Students attended Double’s presentation titled, “Where Have All the Chestnuts Gone and Can We Get Them Back?”
Double split his presentation into two parts: The history of the american chestnut tree and How to cure the blight that has ravaged the tree for the past century.
The tree used to be an integral part of 18th and 19th century America. The importing of root stock brought an unfortunate disease now known as chestnut blight to America, ravaging the tree’s population. Since then, scientists concocted three ways to combat the blight: hypovirulence, breeding and genetic engineering.
Double said he hopes attendees walked away with a few key ideas in mind.
“[Hopefully students received] an understanding of what the whole concept of chestnut blight is about, an appreciation of what the tree was, the struggles it has faced over the last 100 plus years and the hope for the future,” said Double.
Born and raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Double graduated with a master’s degree in micro biology. He originally wanted to work on acid mine drainage, but his plans did not work out.
Out of sheer need for a job, Double accepted a temporary job on researching chestnut blight. He has kept that temporary job since 1977, and will retire in October.
Janet Paladino, associate professor of Biology, explained that since WVU is a forerunner in plant pathology and Double worked for that institution, he was one of the best when it comes to chestnut trees.
“WVU is kind of the founder of plant pathology of the work in the American chestnut tree,” said Paladino, “Their work in genetic engineering has just come around in the last ten years or so, but they have been doing things for the last 40 years.”
Paladino had another reason for inviting Double to speak. Double said he is planning on providing Paladino a few saplings of the American chestnut tree for her to plant along the Waynesburg Unity Trail. Paladino explains that she hopes planting native trees will solve issues the trail has.
“Along the trail, at one time, it was completely cut down, and what comes back after a clear cut of forest is invasive species,” said Paladino. “So we have really have a big problem in controlling invasive species, because they take over the forest. So what we would like to do is give a chance for native trees to grow back in.”
While the presentation was meant to inform, science majors took Double’s experiences and engagement in his work as an inspiration. Colaluca said that Double encouraged him to keep pursuing environmental science.
“It’s interesting to see that you can get a doctorate walking around scratching trees with a bee comb and seeing what happens,” said Colaluca. “It also means that, if you do get a
doctorate, you’re not just spending time in a lab, you’re going around and talking about it, which is really important.”