news-category: Academics

Undergraduate Research Involves Using Fruit Peels to Remove Copper from Water

2020 Gardner-Webb University Summer Scholar Laura Herrera in the GWU lab where she did her research.

Experience Prepared Laura Herrera-Santin, ’22, for Rigors of Graduate School  

This past summer, Gardner-Webb University student Laura Herrera-Santin, of Gastonia, N.C., took another step toward realizing her goal of becoming an OB/GYN. She gained laboratory experience in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Summer Program, which helped to prepare her for graduate school.

Herrera-Santin is a first-generation college student, inspired by the sacrifices her parents made so that she could get an education. “I want to be able to give back to them for working so hard for me to have a better life,” Herrera-Santin affirmed. “They are very supportive by encouraging me to do my best every day and by accompanying me to events where I have received awards.”

Laura Herrera-Santin

She is a biomedical concentration major and chemistry minor, who will graduate in 2022. As one of 11 students who received a summer Undergraduate Research Scholar grant, Herrera-Santin worked 40 hours a week for five weeks on her project, which she hopes to present in a professional forum. Her faculty mentor was Dr. Venita Totten, professor of chemistry.

“The faculty were a tremendous help,” Herrera-Santin noted. “They were willing to help me when I had questions. They were extremely cautious about social distancing, and at the same time, allowed us summer scholars to feel close with the experience.”

Her research involved testing the viability of certain fruit peels to remove copper from water. “I got the idea to use fruits for the research, because that’s something common that everyone would know about and most people have or can get in a grocery store,” Herrera-Santin offered. “I used kiwi, tangerine, and banana peels that had been dried for 24 hours and ground.”

Through the experiment, she discovered that she needed several fruit peelings to get the results she wanted. Through trial and error, she found a combination to get closer to the outcome she expected. “This research has not only prepared me for my career by experiencing real research and experimenting on my own, it has opened my eyes to researching more on ways to help the environment,” she asserted. “It’s been an unforgettable experience, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. Gardner-Webb University is an amazing school full of great opportunities.”

She encouraged other students to apply for Undergraduate Research. “Come open-minded, because anything can happen,” she said. “Also, don’t be intimidated by the thought of working on your own because the mentors/faculty are very open to helping with anything. It is a life-changing experience that is unforgettable.”

Laura Herrera-Santin

Previous News Article

Gardner-Webb Announces New Vice President for University Advancement

Next News Article

Gardner-Webb School of Divinity Appoints Three Faculty Members to Endowed Positions

Related News

  • News Article

    Students in the Gardner-Webb University College of Arts and Sciences Recognized in Awards Ceremony

    Students Honored for Academic Excellence, Service and Achievements BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences recently presented awards to students in recognition of their hard work, dedication and excellence. Professor and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Robert Prickett noted, “We continue to be impressed by our extraordinary College […]

    Students holding their awards
  • News Article

    Karen Bruce Serving as Gardner-Webb Interim Vice President for Advancement

    Experience Includes Higher Ed Administration, Alumni and Student Engagement BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Karen Bruce has been named interim vice president of Advancement at Gardner-Webb. She will remain in this role while Nate Evans, former vice president of Advancement, is serving as the University’s interim president. Bruce came to GWU in 2024, after serving eight years at […]

    A wide shot of the Gardner-Webb quad with students walking to class
  • News Article

    Runnin’ Bulldogs Men’s Tennis Claims Program’s First Big South Tournament Championship

    Team Advances to NCAA men’s Tennis National Championships May 15-18 in Waco, Texas BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Big South All-Conference standout and freshman newcomer Boyd Schreiber took down Trevor Gray 6-5, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to clinch the 2025 Big South Men’s Tennis Tournament Championship for Gardner-Webb over UNC Asheville on April 18 at the Lexington […]

    The men's tennis team poses after winning the Big South Conference.