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Pharm fellow helps students ace science fair

by Weslynn Chubb
Public Relations
Fishing around for bacteria on toilet seats and door handles may not seem like glamorous work, but for Georgia Richardson and Erica Carson, it was a realistic introduction to the field of pharmaceutical science and microbiology.
 
With the help of Kevin Enzweiler, Pharm.D., infectious diseases pharmocatherapy fellow, 10-year-old Richardson, a fourth-grader at Buist Academy, and 14-year-old Carson, an eighth-grader at James Island Middle School, tested cultures and examined slides as part of their science fair project research. 
 
The two students conceptualized their individual projects and wanted to study bacteria that people are in contact with everyday. Richardson came up with the idea to investigate how different household cleaners kill bacteria, while Carson, working with household cleaners as well, also wanted to identify the bacteria on door handles in her home and in other common places.
 
After planning how to study their individual subjects, the students needed help learning the technical aspects of how to conduct their planned research, and Enzweiler was happy to teach them how to use the equipment in his lab so that they could put their ideas into play.
 
“To them, just seeing a culture plate with bacteria on it is thrilling,” said Enzweiler, who spent approximately 20 hours during a three week period supplying needed materials and answering questions that the girls had about the lab equipment. 
 
The hard work that the girls invested paid off, and they were both recognized for their research. Rich-ardson won third place in the Life Science Division at the Buist Academy Science Fair and received a letter of congratulations from Gov. Jim Hodges. Carson won first place at the James Island Middle School Science Fair and went on to display her work at the Charleston County Science Fair.
 
While donating his time to help amateur scientists, Enzweiler was also at work on his own research for the university. His study of the relationships between antibiotics and bacteria resistance earned him a spot at the Conference of Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy in Orlando in June, where he was one of three presenters chosen out of 25 applicants.