Category: Research

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Announcements Research Student Spotlight Undergraduate Experiential Learning

GCC Undergraduate Research Grant Awardees Present at Dennis Dean Research Conference

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May 16, 2022

 

Recipients of Global Change Center Undergraduate Research Grants recently presented their work at the annual Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference held on April 29, 2022.  Each student, under the mentorship of a GCC-affiliated faculty member, showcased their creative and scholarly accomplishments in several diverse research projects.

Please join us in commending these bright students on their exciting research accomplishments!

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Tyler Allen

Biology major
Mentored by Drs. Austin Gray and Bryan Brown

Impact of microplastics on native crayfish ectosymbiosis: Are fitness and growth affected?

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A Hokie Graduate this spring 2022, Tyler will embark on his graduate studies with the Gray Toxicology and Ecology Lab beginning Fall 2022.

Read more…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”62069″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Victorjose Catalan

Wildlife Conservation major, Pathways to Sustainability minor
Mentored by Drs. Meryl Mims and Traci DuBose

Projecting species distribution models across state landscape for conservation

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Hokie Graduate Spring 2022.

Read more…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”62070″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Gabi Dugan and Nicole Gaspari

Gabi: Biological Systems Engineering major, with a minor in Biomedical engineering
Nicole: Biological Sciences major, with a minor in Sociology
Mentored by Dr. Susan Whitehead and IGC Fellow Melissa Burt

Restoring connectivity: impact on ant seed-dispersal mutualisms

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Gabi and Nicole are working to share their project data on the Global Ants Database and publish their findings. Gabi is a Hokie Graduate Spring 2022, and Nicole plans to conduct undergraduate research in microbiology and cell biology projects during her upcoming senior year.

Read more…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”62071″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Amy Fiorellino

Environmental Science major, Geographic Information Systems minor
Mentored by Dr. John Jelesko

Poison Ivy urushiol levels are not correlated with microbe levels nor reproductive metrics

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]After graduating with her BS this spring, Amy will begin a new position working Environmental Health & Safety with a small-plane manufacturer in Kansas.

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Antonia Mendrinos

Clinical neuroscience and biology majors, chemistry minor
Mentored by Dr. Julia Gohlke

Adverse birth outcomes associated with proximity to poultry animal feeding operation in rural Eastern Shore, Virginia

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Antonia also presented her research to the Society of Toxicology conference in San Diego, California this past spring!

Read more…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_column_text]The Global Change Center at Virginia Tech, with support from the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, is proud to sponsor undergraduate students and their research projects that align with our mission for advancing collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to address critical global changes impacting the environment and society. Supported projects address basic and/or applied aspects of global change science, engineering, social science and the humanities and are sponsored by a GCC Faculty mentor.

Read more about the GCC Undergraduate Research Grant program here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Announcements Research Undergraduate Experiential Learning

Three Hollins students will join GCC faculty for undergraduate research in summer 2022

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May 5, 2022

The Hollins Partnership program, initiated in 2017, provides summer research experiences with Global Change Center faculty at Virginia Tech for select Hollins undergraduate students, with the explicit goal of identifying possible mentor-mentee connections/relationships for their future graduate training. Students will gain summer undergraduate research experiences through the Fralin Life Sciences Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, in conjunction with University-wide activities organized by the Virginia Tech Office of Undergraduate Research. The program has been on hold since 2020 due to the pandemic, and we are excited to resume this unique graduate student recruitment and training opportunity on campus again in 2022.

Join us in welcoming the following Hollins students to Virginia Tech this summer for undergraduate research experiences with GCC faculty Drs. Chloé Lahondère (biochemistry), Lisa Belden (biological sciences) and Ashley Dayer (fish and wildlife conservation)![/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”dashed”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”61926″ img_size=”800×800″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border” css=”.vc_custom_1651776756245{margin-bottom: 5px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Aqsa Fazal

Aqsa is a rising senior majoring in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry and a minor in biology and physics. She will be working Dr. Chloé Lahondère‘s Lab on a project dealing with mosquito-borne diseases. More specifically, she will focus on Culex territans mosquitoes which feed primarily on amphibians and will study the pathogens they carry and transmit to these animals. Aqsa is excited to grow her research experience and skillset at Virginia Tech this summer to aide in her ambition to pursue graduate studies in the future.

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Olivia Sacci

Olivia is a rising junior, biology major, and chemistry minor on the pre-veterinary track at Hollins University. Building on experience working with amphibians in both a clinical and zoological setting, her  research with Dr. Lisa Belden will focus on the symbiotic microbial communities that reside on amphibian skin as well as the microbiome-parasite interactions in honey bees. With aspirations to enroll in a dual DVM/Ph.D. program after her undergraduate studies, Olivia is excited to grow her skillset to support veterinary-based research.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”61935″ img_size=”800×800″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border” css=”.vc_custom_1651778684980{margin-bottom: 5px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Jessica Willebeek-LeMair

As a rising senior majoring in Environmental Science, Jessica has recently spent the spring 2022 semester studying abroad in Tanzania through the Hollin’s Field Studies program. She is very excited to work in Dr. Ashley Dayer’s Human Dimensions Lab this summer where she will assist in utilizing data from wildlife viewer surveys to write scientific reports.  In addition to growing data analysis and scientific writing skills, this research opportunity will provide Jessica a different social perspective on environmental conservation issues relevant to the Appalachian region. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Announcements Research Undergraduate Experiential Learning

GCC Undergraduate Research Grants awarded to eight students for 2021-2022

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November 23, 2021

This year the Global Change Center continued to support the research efforts of our undergraduate students through our Undergraduate Research Grant program. From mosquito control, to a shark identification phone app, to how landowners perceive conservation efforts and more – this year’s GCC undergraduate research grant recipients are conducting impressive work with GCC faculty. This year’s research grants, totaling ~$7,500 in funds, support projects led by eight outstanding undergraduate students spanning seven undergraduate majors.

Congratulations to the following students awarded this year’s GCC undergraduate research grants! Read more about their research projects below.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”dashed”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

The impact of microplastics on crayfish and branchiobdellidan annelids symbiosis

Tyler Allen, Biological Sciences

Working with Drs. Austin Gray and Bryan Brown

[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Although an estimated 80% of coastal plastic debris comes from inland areas…” tab_id=”1612293290617-6f7b2fb9-3309″][vc_column_text]Although an estimated 80% of coastal plastic debris comes from inland areas, work on their adverse effects on freshwater organisms lags behind those reported for marine life. Tyler will work to determine how different microplastics sizes and polymer types impact their ecosymbiotic relationship between crayfish and branchiobdellidan annelids. He hopes that the results will provide information on an aspect of microplastics pollution that remains unexplored.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58939″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border” css=”.vc_custom_1637079675791{margin-bottom: 5px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Projecting species distribution models under different climate scenarios for conservation

Victorjose Catalan, Wildlife Conservation

Working with Drs. Meryl Mims and Traci DuBose[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Shifts in temperature due to climate change will alter the distribution of species and increase global biodiversity loss…” tab_id=”1612297277623-b2f6f3b6-8c8b”][vc_column_text]Shifts in temperature due to climate change will alter the distribution of species and increase global biodiversity loss, requiring predictions of climate vulnerability for sensitive species. However, the effects of climate change vary spatially and temporally, and vulnerability is not the same for all species. Victorjose will build species distribution models that predict the range of anuran species across space in relation to their environment by using occurrence and climate data to predict responses of individual species to climate change and their vulnerability.  His research will help advance ongoing efforts funded by the U.S. Geological Survey to evaluate the sensitivity of frogs and toads across the United States to climate change.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58938″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Assessing urushiol’s contribution to poison ivy evolutionary fitness

Amy Fiorellino, Environmental Science

Working with Dr. John Jelesko[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Understanding the evolutionary trajectory of chemical defenses is relevant to understanding how plants…” tab_id=”1612297224175-e1b38224-b112″][vc_column_text]Understanding the evolutionary trajectory of chemical defenses is relevant to understanding how plants adapt to the extinction of antagonistic species during the Anthropocene.  Amy’s research will examine whether urushiol levels quantitatively promote the evolutionary fitness of poison ivy.  Amy will pair fitness data (number of offspring and germination rate) from individual plants with their urushiol levels to determine whether these chemical defenses are correlated, as well as whether they are related to environmental factors such as distance to surface water.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58954″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

The effects of engagement in research on landowner perspectives on science and conservation

Anna Klewicki, Environmental Conservation and Society

Working with Drs. Ashley Dayer and Bill Hopkins & IGC Fellow Rebecca O’Brien[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Although most United States’ land is privately owned, these areas…” tab_id=”1612294574054-6ff00c84-33d5″][vc_column_text]Although most United States’ land is privately owned, these areas have continually been understudied in the field of conservation. Anna’s project will examine how landowners’ interactions with biologists impact their perceptions of research and will help inform best practices to leverage access to private lands to support conservation outcomes. Through a series of interviews with landowners who interacted with researchers, Anna aims to better understand the role these interactions played in landowners’ subsequent conservation activities and their perceptions of science and an imperiled wildlife species.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58945″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Adverse birth outcomes associated with proximity to poultry animal feeding operation in
rural Eastern Shore, Virginia

Antonia Maria Mendrinos, Clinical Neuroscience

Working with Dr. Julia Gohlke[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Animal feeding operations (AFOs) emit ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds…” tab_id=”1612294975335-ebb3aea2-aaca”][vc_column_text]Animal feeding operations (AFOs) emit ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter into the air. Air pollution from animal feeding operations has been implicated as a contributor to adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight.  Using birth records through the Virginia Department of Health and poultry records from the Virginia Department of Environment Quality, Antonia aims to estimate pollution from the poultry farms on the Eastern Shore, Virginia and determine its effect on birth outcomes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58942″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

 Developing a shark identification app for online citizen science 

Lauren Morris, Biological Sciences

Working with Dr. Francesco Ferretti[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”SharkPulse, a crowdsourcing initiative that mines shark sightings from images…” tab_id=”1637077733872-b60d6e91-2940″][vc_column_text]

SharkPulse, a crowdsourcing initiative that mines shark sightings from images shared on social networks, stored in online portals, and submitted through mobile and web apps, uses citizen science to gather data to monitor global shark populations. Lauren will develop an interactive taxonomic identification web app that helps users identify sharks from collected images. The App will make shark identification more accessible for users, increase global shark data for future research, and expand public engagement with the SharkPulse initiative.

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Optimization of an attractive toxic sugar bait trap to control Aedes j. japonicus invasive mosquitoes

Helen Oker, Biochemistry

Working with Dr. Chloé Lahondère[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Aedes j. japonicus is an invasive mosquito in the USA that is a known vector of pathogens…” tab_id=”1612294740181-e03b4626-6707″][vc_column_text]Aedes j. japonicus is an invasive mosquito in the USA that is a known vector of pathogens. Helen plans to optimize Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) for mosquito control by determining factors influencing their attractiveness to the mosquitoes. To do this, she will use a combination of field and laboratory experiments to test the efficacy of various odorant components emitted by the ATSB. Ultimately, this project will provide an efficient alternative and sustainable control method to reduce mosquito populations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58958″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Plant functional and morphological traits impact carbon transport to aquatic ecosystems

Aaron Price, Crop and Soil Environmental Science

Working with Dr. Brian Badgley & IGC Fellow Stephanie Duston[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”How specific plant traits impact the flux of carbon from soil is poorly understood…” tab_id=”1637077846138-b7e9bbb0-d5d8″][vc_column_text]How specific plant traits impact the flux of carbon from soil is poorly understood. In greenhouse experiments, Aaron will test the relationship between root traits of different plants and concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leaching from the soil system. Aaron will calculate the percentage of carbon transferred between the soil and water and how those relate to plant characteristics and soil carbon cycling. Determining how plant traits drive carbon exchange will improve carbon accounting in existing models of coupled soil and hydrologic systems.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”58940″ img_size=”300×300″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1612284837166{padding-top: 12px !important;padding-right: 12px !important;padding-bottom: 12px !important;padding-left: 12px !important;background-color: #4c89bf !important;}”]The Global Change Center at Virginia Tech, with support from the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, is proud to sponsor undergraduate students and their research projects that align with our mission for advancing collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to address critical global changes impacting the environment and society. Supported projects address basic and/or applied aspects of global change science, engineering, social science and the humanities and are sponsored by a GCC Faculty mentor.

Read more about the GCC Undergraduate Research Grant program here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Accolades Climate Change Faculty Spotlight Grants News Research

Three teams awarded GCC seed grants in fall 2021

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August 27, 2021

Each year, the Global Change Center (GCC), along with the Institute for Society, Creativity and the Environment (ISCE) at Virginia Tech, accept proposals from GCC faculty to support interdisciplinary research that will lead to collaborative proposals submitted to extramural funding sources. We seek projects that link multiple faculty programs and take advantage of unique combinations of expertise at VT, have societal implications and/or a policy component, deal with emerging global change issues that have regional significance, and have high potential to eventually leverage external resources.

Congratulations to the teams awarded GCC seed grants this fall![/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”dotted”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”57268″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_border_circle_2″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

Coupling Social Science and Watershed Modeling to Improve Ecological Health of Streams in Agricultural Landscapes

INVESTIGATORS:

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Assessing the Potential of Bat Guano Accumulations as Ecosystem Archives in VA

INVESTIGATORS:

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Predictability of Virginia’s Coastal Aquifer Response to Sea-level Rise and Water Consumption for Hazard Assessment 

INVESTIGATORS:

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Categories
Advocacy Blog Educational Outreach Environmental Justice Global Change IGC Interfaces of Global Change IGEP Outreach Research Student Spotlight

IGC Fellows engage in science policy action through the Virginia-Science Community Interface coalition

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August 3, 2021

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As conservationist Rachel Carson once said, “The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery, not over nature, but of ourselves.”  This sentiment is even more important today in a world that is facing a climate crisis. Through the interdisciplinary graduate education program of the Global Change Center (GCC), Interfaces of Global Change (IGC) Fellows are trained to uphold the GCC mission: to advance interdisciplinary scholarship and education to address critical global changes impacting the environment and society. The program empowers students with tools to be successful in collaborative research and to engage the wider community as part of the solution to global environmental challenges. One way in which Fellows have fulfilled this mission is through the creation and development of the Virginia-Science Community Interface coalition.

Started in 2019, The Virginia Scientist-Community Interface (V-SCI) is a coalition of scientists and engineers who are dedicated to getting science into the hands of community members. The inception of V-SCI was based on the fact that, while community-driven advocacy and activism can often be backed up by science, this expertise is not always available for local issues. Thus their mission is to provide scientific expertise for community-driven activism and advocacy in Virginia and the region as an independent and volunteer-led organization. The work often involves cross-checking industry and government documents with scientific literature across multiple disciplines.

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We work at the interface between scientists and nonprofit, grassroots, and community leaders to provide expertise for local and regional advocacy issues.

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A number of IGC Fellows have co-authored reports, led projects, and given presentations as part of the coalition, including Isaac VanDiest, Daniel Smith, Joshua Rady, Kerry Gendreau, Alaina Weinheimer, and Tyler Weiglein. Together, they aim to empower communities to advocate for themselves. Reflecting on his experience with V-SCI, Isaac says, “My graduate program has taught me about global change in the classroom, and V-SCI has given me the opportunity to put skills to work in a real-world setting.” An added benefit to the coalition is that students from different universities across the Southeast are able to interact and address a diverse set of local and national issues. As Daniel says, “V-SCI has allowed me to broaden my knowledge of science and policy, and to immediately apply that knowledge to solve a problem. The consistency of the group meetings has helped me gain confidence in work outside of my direct area of research.”

Fellows recently shared their work through a presentation titled, “V-SCI: Connecting Science with Local Environmental Advocacy,” at the 6th Annual IGC Research Symposium this past spring. Additionally, Isaac, Daniel, Joshua, and Kerry are working to designate V-SCI as an official IGC IGEP capstone project and encourage other Fellows to join.

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The coalition has created multiple reports addressing local environmental efforts in the community such as the Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC’s (MVP) proposal, the Eviction Crisis for Seniors in Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Impact of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline on at-risk-species. Current projects that are actively recruiting volunteers include addressing industrial pollution in southwest Virginia, exploratory healthcare advocacy work, and protecting the candy darter. 

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Advancing their mission will require continued efforts from objective scientists who are interested in community advocacy. With over 100 graduate student members from 7 institutions in their growing network, V-SCI provides ample networking, leadership, and research opportunities. Currently, V-SCI is looking to recruit more members for ongoing projects this summer. The coalition welcomes individuals at all levels and from all backgrounds, both personally and professionally. No disciplinary knowledge related to the projects is expected and they are happy to provide mentorship.

The coalition also continually seeks feedback and reviews from senior scientists who support their mission. If you are interested in learning more about their work and how to get involved, V-SCI leaders hold open office hours every Friday at 1pm EST (zoom link here).

For more information, view the V-SCI Student Group Flyer, or contact info@viginiasci.org.  

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Categories
Blog Interfaces of Global Change IGEP Research Student Spotlight

Interfaces of Global Change Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Heather Govenor

The Wisconsin River from Ferry Bluff

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June 25, 2021

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Cave exploring, rambling over moss-covered rocks, and weekend hikes with her sister and father are some of the cherished childhood memories of Interfaces of Global Change (IGC) alumna Dr. Heather Govenor. For as far back as she can remember, Heather has been “interested in how living things interact with their environment” she says. She credits these family trips as instilling a deep appreciation of nature and an interest in how changes in the environment are ultimately a reflection of human activity. This early fascination with the paradoxical fragility and resilience of nature fueled her research and career efforts to reduce society’s impact on the environment.

Before joining the Virginia Tech community, Heather earned her BS in Biology from Penn State University where her research focused on insect populations. While there, she developed a passion for science communication that paralleled her work as a researcher, ultimately leading her to the IGC Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP) and the Global Change Center (GCC).

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]From coordinating elementary school enrichment programs in Erie, PA to developing and leading English as a Second Language (ESL) curricula for children and adults, Heather recognized the importance of communication skills and advocacy. “I’ve always been interested in helping someone achieve their goals,” Heather reflects, “and strived to cultivate a more collaborative environment for research and outreach.”

Heather then moved west and entered Michigan State University’s Master’s in Entomology program, with a focus in Specialization Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. While there, she evaluated the impacts of abiotic (e.g., light, nutrient) and biotic (e.g., prior season’s defoliation) stressors on the defensive chemistry and growth of paper birch and sugar maple tree populations and the health of insects feeding on those trees. After successfully defending her MS, she joined an international engineering and consulting firm as an environmental specialist in the Blacksburg area. There, she applied federal and state risk assessment guidance on projects through legislation like the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Heather’s work focused on assessing soil, water, and sediment in sites contaminated with organic compounds and metals. Heather says, “I enjoyed the work because it allowed me to solve real-world problems, assessing contaminants that cause issues for both environmental and human health.” During this time, she continued to participate in STEM education both as a General Education Diploma (GED) Instructor at Virginia’s New River Community College and an ecology and conservation tutor for Biology majors at Radford University. Heather joined the environmental consulting firm EnSafe, an environmental services firm that provides engineering, environmental, health & safety, and technology services to clients worldwide, in 2013 as a Risk Assessor. However, soon after, she began to “assess” what she envisioned her long-term contribution to the scientific community to be and looked towards Virginia Tech for potential opportunities.

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Read more about Heather’s doctoral research featured in a Fralin Life Sciences Institute Spotlight in spring 2017!
Filling in the gaps: a Ph.D. student researches how sediment affects aquatic communities in the NRV and beyond

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Seeking to build upon her already impressive resume, Heather first joined the Biological Systems Engineering Department in January 2014 under the co-advisement of GCC affiliates Drs. Leigh-Anne Krometis and Cully Hession. Under their guidance she was able to investigate the influence of human activities on streams through the StREAM Lab at Virginia Tech. The StREAM Lab runs along 1.3 miles of Stroubles Creek adjacent to the campus and is a full-scale stream lab equipped with high-resolution monitoring capabilities for studying hydrologic, ecological, and societal questions related to the restoration of streams and their watersheds. Heather’s dissertation research focused on the impacts of fine sediment on aquatic invertebrate community health and related policy implications for sediment management under the US Clean Water Act. Sediment input into aquatic systems has increased with human population growth, urbanization, and habitat disturbance. According to a 2017 report she published based on data collected through the Clean Water Act, sediment is the second largest stressor to surface waters nation-wide. To address these knowledge gaps, Heather examined the effectiveness of current sediment management approaches in order to design more appropriate remediation plans.

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Heather was awarded multiple fellowships during her PhD including the Cunningham Doctoral Scholar Award, the IGC Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (IGEP) Fellowship, and the Jean B. Duerr Scholarship. And yet, with all of these commitments, she continued her outreach work. When asked about her favorite memories from her time at Virginia Tech (aside from the research, of course) she said, “The IGC-sponsored trip for students to Washington D.C.; the outreach programs; and the inclusive, interdisciplinary nature of the program in general.” As both a member of the IGC Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and President of the Alpha Epsilon Agricultural Engineering Honors Society, she was able to collaborate with students and faculty from across the university.  After successfully defending her dissertation, “Sediment Management for Aquatic Life Protection under the Clean Water Act” in 2017, she continued her work at EnSafe in nearby Radford, Virginia.

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Now, as a Certified Senior Ecologist with over 20 years of consulting experience, Heather continues to work in interdisciplinary teams composed of geologists, chemists, and engineers to determine appropriate remedial actions to protect ecological resources. Through her work, she aims to incorporate advanced approaches to ensure effective, practical, and defensible stewardship of environmental resources throughout Virginia and Appalachia. The aspect of her work that she enjoys the most is, “working with a variety of people from different backgrounds. Every project brings something new with it so each is a learning experience. It’s a collaborative environment similar to that at Virginia Tech.” Heather continues her work as an educator and science communicator outside of work as well, tutoring ESL students and working as a freelance copyeditor. Along with fellow alumnae Drs. Laura Schoenle, Cathy Jachowski, and Gifty Anane-Taabeah, she also recently participated in an IGC career development discussion through the IGC Third Seminar course. She hopes to participate in similar alumni activities in the future and remain active in the Virginia Tech community. True to her initial interest in the natural world, Heather plans to continue instilling a wide appreciation of nature through her work so that future generations will be able to walk the same paths and climb the same rocks that she did as a child.

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Read previous Alumni Spotlights from these IGC Graduates!

 

Dr. Laura Schoenle, Assistant Director and Coordinator of Undergraduate Research and Honors within the Office of Undergraduate Biology (OUB) at Cornell University, July 2020

Dr. Cathy Bodinof Jachowski, assistant professor at Clemson University in the Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department, April 2019[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Announcements Research Student Spotlight Undergraduate Experiential Learning

GCC Undergraduate Research Grant Awardees Present at Dennis Dean Research Conference

Panorama of crystal clear mountain lake in Alps

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June 25, 2021

 

In a year complicated by the global pandemic, three recipients of Global Change Center Undergraduate Research Grants succeeded in conducting impactful research and presented their work at a campus conference attended by hundreds of Virginia Tech students and faculty. Omar West, Tess Alexander, and Ash VanWinkle displayed their ability to communicate complex research by presenting at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference held in April 2021. Each student, under the mentorship of a GCC-affiliated faculty member, showcased their creative and scholarly accomplishments on three diverse research projects.

Please join us in commending Omar, Tess, and Ash on their remarkable research accomplishments!

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Omar West

double majoring in Biology and Nanomedicine

The effect of pH and symbiont density on a cleaning symbiosis

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”56260″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]“Omar is the glue that holds everyone in the lab together,” commented GCC affiliate Dr. Bryan Brown, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences. “As a freshman he worked at McDonald’s to support himself, but the funding from the GCC allowed him to instead focus on his research.” As a Roanoke native and an accomplished Eagle Scout, Omar West first became fascinated by science at a young age. “Watching science fiction shows and movies opened my eyes to all of the possible technologies that could be created from science,” he commented, noting that the importance of research is that it can ultimately benefit humanity.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Read more about Omar’s research project…” tab_id=”1624564233128-8e054a0b-031f”][vc_column_text]Now entering his senior year at Virginia Tech, Omar first joined the Brown lab as a freshman in 2018 as a Biology and Nanomedicine double major. Research conducted in the Brown lab broadly focuses on community ecology in aquatic systems by conducting experimental tests of ecological theory, most notably through field experimentation. Initially contributing to many of the lab’s ongoing projects, Omar developed his independent research project almost two years ago. The research focused on the cleaning symbiosis between crayfish and worms known as ecosymbiotic annelids. Knowing that worms inhabiting the crayfish play a hygienic role for the crayfish that is mutualistic at low and intermediary levels, Omar wanted to investigate whether changes in pH affect the overall health of a crayfish by shifting the worms to high, or parasitic, levels. The results of the study revealed that relatively basic pH of 8 in combination with an intermediary worm count of 6 led to the greatest survivability of the crayfish and the overall fitness. Omar is currently participating in a summer REU program with the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in the lab of Dr. Sandra Loesgen. There, he will conduct assays on microorganisms from jellyfish and bacterial strains from Antarctica. As for Omar’s long-term goals, he plans to enter a graduate program upon completion of his degree next year. “Better keep a close eye on me. Because I’m going to change the world someday.” [/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]

Tess Alexander

majoring in Biology, with a minor in National Security & Foreign Affairs

Does big data bring opportunity, bias, or both for conservation? Exploring open access species occurrence data

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”56264″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]The phrase “community scientist” has become ubiquitous in modern parlance. Whether it’s sampling water from your local reservoir, scanning hours of footage for an elusive endangered species, or simply uploading photos of spring blooms to a plant identification app, the public have become the largest producers of natural history data in history. But do these data have downsides? And how might those downsides affect the ability to use these data to understand the risks of climate change to many different species? These are the questions that Tess Alexander posed as part of a continuing research project in the lab of GCC affiliate Dr. Meryl Mims, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences since 2017.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Read more about Tess’s research project…” tab_id=”1624564854200-355d8127-b06c”][vc_column_text]The Mims Lab investigates how biological and environmental factors influence the vulnerability of species to climate change. They use data from diverse sources, from population genetics to publicly collected natural history data. Joining the lab in 2019 as a Biological Sciences major with a minor in National Security & Foreign Affairs, Tess excelled in the lab environment, both as an integral team member and later as an independent researcher. “Tess approached her research with curiosity and initiative much like a graduate student,” says Meryl. Working closely with IGC fellow Chloe Moore, Tess sought to determine whether occurrence data (or a record of a species’ exact location in space and time) used in combination with environmental data to develop species distribution models (SDMs) can be used to predict where a species likely occurs without inherent bias. She used R programming to compare occurrence points of two frog and one toad species in the United States from two publicly sourced databases to examine the quality and potential biases of these data. When asked why this research was significant, she said, “It is crucial because these species play a major role in food webs, consequently impacting humans.” Her results suggested that occurrences derived from these databases are biased towards human collection efforts in areas such as parks and population centers, and SDMs using these data need to account for these biases to better predict distribution of biodiversity. “Being able to evaluate the reliability of large-scale, opportunistically collected species data will allow us to examine questions related to data over- and under-representation across space, the extent and spread of invasive species, and changes in species distributions over time,” says Meryl. The next steps of the project will include exploring other species and occurrence databases and correcting for the biases Tess discovered. And while Tess has graduated this year, she plans to continue using her analytical skills in the public sector, not too far from her hometown of McLean, Virginia. [/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]

Ash VanWinkle

majoring in Biochemistry, with a minor in Chemistry

Development of an attractive toxic sugar bait for the control of Aedes j. japonicus

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”56268″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]From trapping the tooth fairy as a young child to trapping mosquitoes for research in order to better understand the impacts of climate change on disease vectors, Ash VanWinkle has always examined the world through the lens of a scientist. Her initial scientific curiosity was sparked many years ago, after receiving a circuit set as a Christmas gift. “I used it to build an alarm to catch my dad being the Tooth Fairy when I lost a tooth, and from then on I was curious about all the things (mischievous and otherwise) science could do,” she recalled. This natural interest in science eventually led her to join the Virginia Tech community as a Biochemistry major with a minor in Chemistry. Ash joined the lab of Dr. Chloé Lahondère in 2020 and began working with graduate student Lauren Fryzlewicz (a previous recipient of a GCC Undergraduate Research Grant), researching how climate change can impact disease vectors such as mosquitoes.[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Read more about Ash’s research project…” tab_id=”1624565235196-a573edb2-829a”][vc_column_text]“I am really grateful to the GCC for supporting undergraduate research and for supporting Ash’s project in particular,” Chloé remarks. “Ash’s project focuses on an invasive mosquito species for which no control method currently exists.” The invasive species Aedes j. japonicus is a potential vector of West Nile virus, a disease with no approved treatment or vaccine that impacts millions worldwide, and is competent for several other viruses including dengue. “With warming climates,” Ash said, “the active range for mosquitoes is growing, and we hypothesize that drier climates will encourage more mosquito activity.”  Using the GCC grant funds, she has been able to address this problem by creating and testing novel attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs) for mosquito control. To test this, boric acid, which is lethal to mosquitoes, was mixed with various solutions of sucrose and various fruit sugars to use in feeding assays. Ash found that survivability was much lower in mosquitoes fed solutions containing boric acid compared to those who weren’t, proving the efficiency of ATSBs in this invasive species. The next steps for this project will be to couple the ATSBs with a suitable trap and test its efficiency in the field during warmer months. Graduating this year with a publication in the works and the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research Symposium Policy Award in tow, Ash intends to enter VT’s Master’s in Biochemistry program. Ash reflects back on one of her most important influences, “I wouldn’t have had any opportunity to do any of this without my dad. It was his funds received through the Post-9/11 GI-Bill that allowed me to go to college, and he has supported me in more ways than I can count over the past three years.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Global Change Center at Virginia Tech, with support from the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, is proud to sponsor undergraduate students and their research projects that align with our mission for advancing collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to address critical global changes impacting the environment and society. Supported projects address basic and/or applied aspects of global change science, engineering, social science and the humanities and are sponsored by a GCC Faculty mentor.

Read more about the GCC Undergraduate Research Grant program here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Evolution New Publications Research

Coffee for the birds: connecting bird-watchers with shade-grown coffee

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VT News | March 2, 2021

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Since 1970, bird populations in North America have declined by approximately 2.9 billion birds, a loss of more than one in four birds. Factors in this decline include habitat loss and ecosystem degradation from human actions on the landscape.

At the same time, enthusiasm for bird-watching has grown, with more than 45 million recreational participants in the United States alone. Now, researchers are looking into how to mobilize these bird enthusiasts to help limit bird population declines.

Enter bird-friendly coffee.

Bird-friendly coffee is certified organic, but its impact on the environment goes further than that: it is cultivated specifically to maintain bird habitats instead of clearing vegetation that birds and other animals rely on.

Researchers from Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, Cornell University, and Columbia University explored whether bird-friendly coffee is on the radar of bird-watchers: are they drinking it and, if not, why not? The study results were published in the journal People and Nature.

“We know bird-watchers benefit from having healthy, diverse populations of birds, and they tend to be conservation-minded folks,” explained Assistant Professor Ashley Dayer of Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. “My colleagues and I wanted to dig into this key audience to determine their interest in bird-friendly coffee.”

Bird-friendly coffee is shade-grown, meaning that it is grown and harvested under the canopy of mature trees, a process that parallels how coffee was historically grown. But with most farms in Central and South America and the Caribbean converting to full-sun operations, crucial bird habitats for migrating and resident bird species are being lost.

Three people carrying bags and backpacks walk through a lush forest
Coffee pickers head to work on a shade-coffee farm in Antioquia, Colombia. Photo by Guillermo Santos.

 

“Over recent decades, most of the shade coffee in Latin America has been converted to intensively managed row monocultures devoid of trees or other vegetation,” explained Amanda Rodewald, the Garvin Professor and senior director of the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “As a result, many birds cannot find suitable habitats and are left with poor prospects of surviving migration and successfully breeding.”

Purchasing shade-grown coffee is one of seven simple actionsthat people can take as a step toward returning bird populations to their previous numbers. “But even simple actions are sometimes not taken by people who you would expect to be on board. Human behavior is complex — driven by knowledge, attitudes, skills, and many other factors,” explained Dayer, an affiliate of the Global Change Center housed in Virginia Tech’s Fralin Life Sciences Institute.

The research team surveyed more than 900 coffee-drinking bird-watchers to understand bird-friendly coffee behavior among bird-watchers.

“One of the most significant constraints to purchasing bird-friendly coffee among those surveyed was a lack of awareness,” said Alicia Williams, lead author and former research assistant at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Virginia Tech. “This includes limits on understanding what certifications exist, where to buy bird-friendly coffee, and how coffee production impacts bird habitat.”

“I was surprised to see that only 9 percent of those surveyed purchased bird-friendly coffee and less than 40 percent were familiar with it,” Williams added. “It was also interesting, though not surprising, that a large number of our respondents reported that the flavor or aroma of coffee was an important consideration in their coffee purchases, which could be a useful attribute of bird-friendly coffee to stress going forward.”

Dayer, who leads the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab, focuses on how to apply social science research to engage people in conservation efforts. “A lot of the work I do brings together a diversity of players who are really passionate about a conservation issue, and it’s been great to participate collaboratively with researchers from a range of backgrounds. This is a biological story, but it is also an economics story and a social psychology and communications story, and any solutions are going to require multiple perspectives.”

The next step to increasing awareness about shade-grown coffee and its potential impact on bird populations may include increased advertising for bird-friendly coffee, more availability of bird-friendly coffee, and collaborations between public-facing conservation organizations and coffee distributors.

– Written by David Fleming

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Related story

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CONTACT:

Krista Timney

(540) 231-6157

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Categories
Accolades Announcements Drinking water Global Change Research Undergraduate Experiential Learning Water

GCC Undergraduate Research Grant recipient Dexter Howard leads first-author publication from the Carey Lab

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March 1, 2021

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Dexter Howard, a former undergraduate researcher (B.S. ’20 in Water: Resources, Policy, and Management) and now PhD student with GCC affiliate Dr. Cayelan Carey, has first-authored a publication of his undergraduate thesis research. The paper, “Variability in fluorescent dissolved organic matter concentrations across diel to seasonal time scales is driven by water temperature and meteorology in a eutrophic reservoir”, published in the journal Aquatic Science February 2021. Read the article here.

Beginning in 2018, Dexter collected weekly samples of organic carbon (OC) in a Roanoke drinking water reservoir, thought to be the drivers of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in the water column. In 2019, data collection expanded to the sub-hourly level more relevant to the decision-making timescale used by reservoir managers. The team’s analysis and findings of the magnitude and drivers of OC variability in the reservoir are now published in the journal Aquatic Sciences. Dexter’s undergraduate research experience included mentorship by IGC fellow Mary Lofton, GCC faculty in the Reservoir Science Group at VT, and with support from the GCC Undergraduate Research Grant program and the Virginia Water Resource Research Center at VT.

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Categories
Announcements Research Undergraduate Experiential Learning

GCC Undergraduate Research Grants awarded to 7 students for 2021

Students in laboratory with science experiment research tiny persons concept. Biology, chemistry and physics educational environment vector illustration. Academic knowledge learning in university lab.

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February 2, 2021

COVID-19 may have constrained our ability to invest in new independent projects this year, but we continue to support the research efforts of our existing students. From ant seed dispersal mechanisms, to spawning behavior of Blacknose Dace in our local Toms Creek, to invasive mosquito control and more – this year’s GCC undergraduate research grant recipients are conducting impressive remote work with GCC faculty. The research grant funds awarded for 2021 support 6 projects led by 7 outstanding undergraduate students spanning 5 undergraduate majors.

Congratulations to the following students awarded this year’s GCC undergraduate research grants! Read more about their research projects below.

 

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Investigating quality of occurrence data for conservation 

Tess Alexander, Biological Sciences

Working with Dr. Meryl Mims & IGC Fellow Chloe Moore

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Biodiversity describes the variety of species in a habitat and is important for the development and function of ecosystems. It is studied using species distribution models (SDMs) that use occurrence and environmental data to predict where a species likely occurs. With the GCC grant, Tess will expand upon previous work to compare specific areas containing a high density of occurrences with landscape type, such as urban areas or in proximity to research facilities. She will also investigate patchiness, which is used to quantify the size and number of patches in distribution data. Her findings will contribute to a further understanding of potential biases across datasets to ultimately improve the predictability of SDMs.

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Restoring connectivity: impact on ant seed-dispersal mutualisms

Gabi Dugan, Biological Systems Engineering

& Nicole Gaspari, Biological Sciences

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The Savannah River Site (SRS) Corridor Experiment is a long-term ecological experiment to study how corridors function at the landscape scale. Previous work at SRS by IGC fellow, Melissa Burt, has examined how habitat connectivity and edge effects impact a ubiquitous mutualism in temperate forests: seed dispersal by ants. This work has shown that ants tend to move seeds further in habitat patches connected via corridors. Gabi and Nicole’s project will investigate the mechanisms behind that pattern by assessing how long-term manipulation of habitat connectivity has influenced ant functional traits. Analysis of these trait data will allow them to ask if the effects of habitat connectivity on ant seed-dispersal is mediated through landscape-level impacts on ant traits. 

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The effect of urbanization on nest structure and incubation temperature for song sparrows

Charlotte Moore, Wildlife Conservation

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Urban areas tend to be warmer than rural areas, and temperature plays a pivotal role in the development of songbird nestlings: increased incubation temperature increases the likelihood of hatching and decreases the incubation time—both leading to an increase in fledging success.Charlotte will analyze habitat differences in song sparrow nest construction and the effect on incubation and brooding temperature. This information can be helpful to wildlife managers and urban planners in the maintenance of more suitable habitat that promotes native bird populations.

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Spatial variability of microbial metabolism in mining-impacted and reference streams

Natalie Murphy, Biochemistry

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How microbial carbon cycling will respond to climate change-altered flow extremes and legacies of human impact are not well understood. Iron oxidizing bacteria populate mining-impacted streams and are of biogeochemical interest due to their role in stream carbon and nutrient cycling. This project will investigate how former coal extraction patches influence spatial variation in microbial carbon metabolism. 

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Spawning behavior of Blacknose Dace in Toms Creek in relation to temperature and potential nest association

Tal Tomlinson, Fish Conservation

Working with Dr. Emmanuel Frimpong[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”As part of a long-term study to understand the response of stream fish communities and their symbiotic reproductive interactions to climate change…” tab_id=”1612294740181-e03b4626-6707″][vc_column_text]

The objective of this study is to determine the spawning timing, mode, and microhabitat locations of Blacknose Dace in Toms Creek. As part of a long-term study to understand the response of stream fish communities and their symbiotic reproductive interactions to climate change, this information will be crucial to understanding how water temperatures determines the spawning of Blacknose Dace and whether this species participates in nest association with other cyprinid species in Toms Creek. 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”54353″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Determine the efficacy of a new baited trap to control invasive mosquitoes

Ashlynn VanWinkle, Biochemistry

Working with Dr. Chloé Lahondère[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”” collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Aedes j. japonicus is an invasive mosquito species in the USA and an active vector of West Nile Virus with only limited methods of population control…” tab_id=”1612294975335-ebb3aea2-aaca”][vc_column_text]

Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSBs) have recently emerged as an efficient mosquito control strategy that targets both male and female mosquitoes by exploiting sugar feeding behaviors. Ashlynn will work to determine the efficacy of existing ATSB against this mosquito species as well as its potential impact on non-target organisms. The data gathered will provide essential insights for the deployment of the ATSB at larger scales to control this invasive species.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”54354″ img_size=”300×300″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1612284837166{padding-top: 12px !important;padding-right: 12px !important;padding-bottom: 12px !important;padding-left: 12px !important;background-color: #4c89bf !important;}”]The Global Change Center at Virginia Tech, with support from the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, is proud to sponsor undergraduate students and their research projects that align with our mission for advancing collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to address critical global changes impacting the environment and society. Supported projects address basic and/or applied aspects of global change science, engineering, social science and the humanities and are sponsored by a GCC Faculty mentor.

Read more about the GCC Undergraduate Research Grant program here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]