Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Winter 2013 | Page 54

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Fieldwork in Costa Rica
While conducting research in Costa Rica, this
conservation geneticist also watches God order his steps.

Photos courtesy of Dr. roDney scott

by Monica M. Jones

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hether from marshes in DuPage County
or from lakes, swamps, and rivers in Costa
Rica, freshwater turtles that face potential
challenges in their environment have been
a focus for Dr. Rodney Scott, associate
professor of genetics. By analyzing
the DNA of these turtles, he hopes to
contribute to their long-term survival.
In the work he has done in Illinois,
Dr. Scott has studied mating patterns
in the endangered species, Blanding’s
turtles, since making the transition to
conservation genetics about six years
ago. “I felt that in order to do science for
the benefit of God’s creation, I wanted
to find a project with a much more
direct application to my work,” he says.
Having taught at Wheaton since 1989 and
conducted research in the field of botany
during most of that time, Dr. Scott moved
from basic research to more applied
research. For the past several years, he and
his students have worked with the Forest
Preserve District of DuPage County to
gather blood samples from baby Blanding’s
turtles for DNA analysis.
Two years ago while in Costa Rica,
Dr. Scott connected with the biology
department chair at the Universidad de
Costa Rica (UCR) who, after hearing
of his research, encouraged him to come
back on sabbatical.
That opportunity was realized in
early 2012 when Dr. Scott returned to
Costa Rica, on sabbatical sponsored by
a Wheaton Alumni Association Faculty
Grant, the administration of Wheaton
College, an Aldeen grant, and a Fulbright
grant. He worked at the university for
five and half months, on three different
research projects in conservation genetics.