In any group of outstanding students, Patrick Burns is, well--outstanding. The Dayton, Ohio, earth sciences Honors senior has a stunning record of achievement: in academics, research, and service. On the Dean’s List every quarter, he will graduate in June with Honors Research Distinction and most probably Summa Cum Laude, as well.

Burns has been inducted into three national honor societies: the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Phi Kappa Phi; and Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the national earth sciences honorary. Burns recently received the prestigious University Board of Trustees Student Recognition Award.

The quality of his research equals his classroom performance. His research poster, “Calculating Volume and Area Change in the Tropical Qori Kalis Glacier, Peru,” won first place in the 2009 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum’s Physical Sciences category. Working with master photogrammeter Henry Brecher at the Byrd Polar Research Center (BPRC), Burns examined maps from l975 to 2008 to calculate areal and volume changes for the glacier. Last summer, Burns did quantitative field research in Peru, as part of a larger project which aims to quantify the role that central Peruvian glaciers have for local community water resources. This generated his senior Honors research thesis, “Geochemical Analysis of waters in a Tropical Glacial Valley, Peru.” Berry Lyons, SES, and Bryan Mark, geography, have been project mentors.

Burns has had several significant opportunities to do meaningful research, some projects funded by a variety ofscholarships and internships, including the Willis E. “Bill” Rector Scholarship, the School of Earth Sciences’ Goldthwait Scholarship, the Arts & Sciences’ Student Scholarship, and a 2009 Shell Research Internship. Burns has been a student researcher at the BPRC and an intern for ODNR’s Ohio Geological Survey.

“The Shell Undergraduate Research experience gives students the chance to do real-world research without having to worry about paying their bills,” Burns said. “Essentially, they were paying me to do research, which I couldn’t have done if I’d had to get a summer job.”

Working with Frank Schwartz, SES, Burns spent seven weeks late last summer measuring the impact on urban streams when storms wash run-off contaminants, such as lead and zinc, into them. Sensors helped him monitor water conditions every minute during the three big storms that came his way.“And, yes, I was out in them,” he said, “sitting on the banks in my raingear. I tried to get out there at the start and stay until they died down.”

Burns seizes every opportunity to learn; then finds a way to share it. He shrugs off the amazing amount of time and energy he spends to do that. “I enjoy working with young students; I love to teach and try to impart my love of science and exploration,” he said, and credits his parents with providing the example of service to others.

Typically, Burns found a way to engage some local youngsters in his stream project. By talking to them about “their stream,” he gained five enthusiastic helpers to measure water height and the satisfaction of knowing that at least five young people had a hands-on introduction to the research process.

Since 2007, through the Wonders of Our World program, Burns has taken his zest for teaching science to local elementary schools, guiding students doing science experiments. Additionally, he has volunteered at Harambee Elementary School helping students with reading and math, since 2009. And, he is always an enthusiastic and willing recruiter at a wide variety of events for potential students, sharing his experiences and love of Ohio State and science.

When asked what he does for fun, after a rather long pause (for Burns--research, class and volunteer work are fun) he said, “Well, I might be hanging out with my girlfriend—we’ve dated since high school, or playingIntramural soccer or basketball—which I’ve done every year I’ve been at Ohio State. “

Burns has applied to teach high school science for two years through Teach for America; he has also applied to five graduate programs in, what else, water resources. “I can’t seem to get away from water,” the very serious Burns’ quipped.

Whichever path is chosen, Burns will walk it with all the dedication, focus, care, and thoughtfulness he applies to everything in his life.