Training Future Scientists: Teaching Microbial Source Tracking (MST) to Undergraduates

While major universities have the largest numbers of science majors and are recognized for their productivity in peer-reviewed research, liberal arts institutions and more recently community colleges are increasingly important in providing research training for students. Undergraduate research is an increasingly important aspect of the undergraduate educational experience to learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills and is an important factor for student recruitment and retention. This chapter describes the efforts of Roanoke College (a small 4-year liberal arts college) and El Paso Community College in training undergraduate students in environmental microbiology, both successes and challenges, including research techniques such as microbial source tracking (MST). Examples of MST projects conducted by undergraduate students and simple protocols are offered, as well as resources for educators of undergraduate students.