Members of the Class of ’06 havereturned from their internships and sharedtheir various adventures with Center staff,faculty and fellow students. They are nowbusy incorporating their summerexperiences into their senior integrativeprojects (SIPs) which they will present inthe spring. The following summaries aretaken from their individual internshipreflection papers (the entire text of eachpaper can be viewed on the Center’swebsite at http://goodwin-nieringcenter.conncoll.edu/Seniors).

Ben Alander, a biology major,completed his internship at Save The Bay,

a non-profit conservation organizationbased in Providence, R.I. that specificallytargets the Narragansett Bay portion ofLong Island Sound. Alander conductedresearch on a Narragansett Bay salt marsh

that was adversely affectedby human constructionprojects. He investigated theeffect of habitatinfringement on thediversity and abundance oflocal invertebrate

populations by conducting biologicalsampling, including soil core samples andsurveys of macro and micro-invertebratespecies in the marsh. He will apply these

methods to his senior integrative project,an investigation of macro-invertebratebiodiversity and richness in theArboretum’s Mamacoke Island salt marsh.“My experience with Save the Bay gave mean extensive amount of insight into howthe research portion of habitat restorationgroups function: the background research,field work and final restoration proposal.The collection of data required long hours,both in the marsh and in the laboratory.While extremely time intensive, theexperience gave me the understanding thatbiology, especially field research, is —

fall 2005

newsletter

Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology & Environmental Studies at Connecticut College

Allison Baldwin, center,participated in river cleanupproject during internship inItaly with Legambiente.

continued on page 3

Environmental Internships, Class OF 2006

Environmental Connections fall 20052

Goodwin-Niering Centerfor Conservation biology & Environmental Studies

Connecticut CollegeBox 5293

270 Mohegan AvenueNew London, CT 06320-4196

Phone: 860.439.5417Fax: 860.439.2418

E-mail: goodwin-nieringcenter@conncoll.eduWeb site: http://goodwin-nieringcenter.conncoll.edu

Robert Askins, DirectorGlenn Dreyer, Executive DirectorGerald Visgilio, Associate DirectorDiana Whitelaw, Assistant Director

Amy Cabaniss, Campus Environmental Coordinator

Steering Committee

Phillip Barnes, ZoologyAnne Bernhard, Biology

Beverly Chomiak, PhysicsJane Dawson, Government

Ann Devlin, PsychologyWilliam Frasure, Government

Manuel Lizarralde, Botany & AnthropologyStephen Loomis, Biology

Arlan Mantz, PhysicsPeter Siver, Botany

Douglas Thompson, PhysicsDerek Turner, Philosophy

Scott Warren, BotanyMarc Zimmer, Chemistry

Board of Advisors

Wendy Blake-Coleman ’75Office of Environmental Information,

U.S. EPAJohn Cook

The Nature ConservancyDavid Foster ’77

Harvard Forest, Harvard UniversityRichard Goodwin

Professor Emeritus, Connecticut CollegeRalph Lewis

Connecticut State Geologist, RetiredHelen Mathieson ’52

Trustee Emeritus, Connecticut CollegeEdward Monahan

Connecticut Sea Grant ProgramNorman Richards

Mohegan Tribe Environmental Protection Department

Established in 1993, the Goodwin-NieringCenter for Conservation Biology &Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinaryprogram that draws on the expertise and inter-ests of faculty and students in the liberal arts toaddress contemporary ecological challenges. TheCenter strives to integrate all areas of learning todeal with the issues of sustainability and the nat-ural environment. Building on a scientificunderstanding of the natural world, the Centerinvites the social sciences, the humanities andthe arts to help understand and solve difficultenvironmental issues.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

legacy OF Paul Fell

The Connecticut College community and the environmentalstudies program suffered a major loss when Professor Emeritus Paul Fell died onDecember 1, 2005. Paul retired in 2003, but he remained active on campus, workingeach morning in his office in New London Hall and continuing to work with students

and colleagues on ecological research.After Paul arrived at Connecticut College in 1968,

he initiated a study of the developmental biology ofsponges. While he became well known for his researchon sponges, he devoted an increasingly large part of histime to field work on the ecology of tidal marshes andestuaries. He joined William Niering and Scott Warrenin a series of research projects that not only contributedto our understanding of marsh ecology, but also directlycontributed to efforts to protect and restore coastalmarshes. They showed how tidal marshes can berestored by removing barriers to tidal flow and theyrevealed how expanding stands of common reed(Phragmites) could change the ecology of a marsh.

At the time Paul joined the salt marsh researchgroup, environmental studies was largely the provinceof the Botany Department. Paul was the first facultymember in the Zoology Department (later called the

Biology Department) to concentrate on environmental research. He successfully workedto increase the importance of field biology and marine systems in the Biology curriculum.

Paul taught courses in marine biology and tropical biology that became an importantpart of the environmental studies program. Paul was a popular teacher even though hiscourses were considered to be among the most challenging in the biology curriculum.

Students and faculty were continually impressed by the breadth of Paul’s knowledgein biology. On the first day in the field for the tropical biology course, for example, Paulcould stride along the edge of a mangrove swamp in the Virgin Islands or the Bahamas,identifying the invertebrates and fish by both their common and scientific names whilediscussing their physiological adaptations and ecological significance. In the classroomhe described complex structures and processes without wasting a word whilesimultaneously drawing elegant diagrams on the blackboard (sometimes with bothhands). In the field he expressed a quiet delight in seeing new organisms, inspiring theenthusiasm and curiosity of students.

Over the years Paul worked closely with many dozens of undergraduate students onsummer field projects, honors theses and independent studies. He taught students howto do careful and thorough field and laboratory work in order to answer importantgeneral questions.

Paul was an active member of the Goodwin-Niering Center and a central contributorto our ecology program. He helped build a program in marine and tidal marsh ecologythat continues to attract highly motivated students to the college. The faculty andstudents who worked with him will always draw upon his teaching and enthusiasm.

Robert Askins

Please help us conserve!In order to reduce our paper usage and general costs we wouldlike to recommend that you read our newsletter on our Website at http://goodwin-nieringcenter.conncoll.edu. Please con-tact us at 860.439.5417 or goodwin-nieringcenter@conncoll.eduto be removed from our hard copy mailing list. Thank you.

Paul Fell, Katherine Blunt ProfessorEmeritus of Zoology

simply put — hard work. I came awayfrom the internship with the sense that Ihad contributed in quantifying a seriousecological problem associated withNarragansett Bay. My hope is that the dataI collected and analyzed will be utilized asa basis for the future restoration of theGooseneck Cove salt marsh area.”

Allison Baldwin spent hersummer working with Legambiente(League for the Environment), an Italianenvironmental NGO in Lombardia, Italy.As an environmental studies major,Baldwin worked on two different projects.The first was a nature camp for children,ages 7 – 11, which took place atCampsirago, a tiny, 20-person village on ahill in the Colle Brianza region ofLombardia. For the second project,Baldwin was responsible for aninternational work camp in the city ofLecco on Lake Como. Working with oneof the other adults fromCampsirago, she helpedorganize a project with 14people between the ages of 18and 28 from countries all overthe world including Turkey,South Korea, France, Belgium,Latvia and Germany. Theproject entailed improving theriver system of the city and herinternship centered onorganizing daily activities:transportation to and from thework site; daily food orders;collaboration with city officialsand city volunteers; andgeneral coordination of othervolunteers. “I entered myaffiliation with Legambientewith the main objective oflearning how environmentalactivism is employed in otherparts of the world and seeing if Icould become completely immersed in avolunteer project abroad. The children’scamp was extremely useful in that I wasable to help inspire an excitement fornature and the outdoors in children, aswell as learn about the local environmentmyself. The international work camp wasalso inspiring in that, despite the fact thatthe work was physically challenging andrelatively unimportant on a global scale, itwas carried out with a passion andexcitement that I could never have

foreseen. It was here that I trulyunderstood the phrase ‘think globally, actlocally’.” For her senior integrativeproject, Baldwin will explore theenvironmental side of Italian politics,focusing on the strength of the ItalianGreen party and the role of NGOs indefining environmentalism.

Environmental studies/economics majorSelin Devranoglu interned in anenvironmental organization in Istanbulcalled Bumerang, a newly establishedorganization that currently focuses on theproblem of toxic substances in Turkey. Thefounders of Bumerang are also Greenpeacevolunteers, working closely withGreenpeace Turkey. One of the short-termgoals of Bumerang for the summer was togather an information base for Turkey’snational implementation plan for theStockholm Convention on persistentorganic pollutants (POPs). During the

internship, Devranoglu’s main responsibilitywas to conduct research about theStockholm Convention and about Turkey’sstance in regard to this convention.Devranoglu also worked on severalGreenpeace campaigns, including theenergy and oceans campaigns, and helpedwith preparations for fairs, translations, andgeneral office work. She worked in theRecycling Fair that took place during thesecond week of July in Istanbul, andattended lectures about current recycling

methods and possible improvements andfuture plans in Turkey. “This experience hasbeen very valuable because there is no betterway of learning about these issues thanactually working actively in anenvironmental NGO in Turkey. Since Iam continuing my education in the U.S.and not in Turkey, I have always felt theneed to learn more about theenvironmental issues of my home country.For my senior project, I will focus on theenvironmental problems in developingcountries and the environmental policiesthat are in place to deal with theseproblems. I plan to focus on the problemof increasing amounts of municipal andindustrial waste as a result of economicdevelopment and the methods used fordealing with this problem, such as open-system waste incineration technology.”

For the first time in the history of theCenter, two of our students interned with

the sameorganization,neither oneknowing untilthe first day ofthe internshipthat they

would be spending their summer together.Meghan Lucy and LaurindaWong, biology majors, working forOcean Alliance’s Cape Ann Whale Watch,

Internshipscontinued from page 1

continued on page 4

Environmental Connections fall 2005 3

Megan Lucy and Laurinda Wong led whale watching trips out of Glouster, Massachusetts.

Environmental Connections fall 20054

a non-profit organization located inGloucester, Mass., whose main goal is topromote the conservation of whales andtheir ocean environment througheducation and research. As field researchersand environmental education interns,Lucy and Wong spent four days a weekaboard the whale watch vessel, HurricaneII, with the remaining day spent at theOcean Alliance office. On the whale watchboat they became proficient with variousteaching tools that were used to educateand engage passengers and were alsoresponsible for collecting quantitativeand qualitative data when watchingthe whales. For her senior project,Lucy will conduct research on manyaspects of biodiesel fuel and prepare aproposal to present to Cape AnnWhale Watch outlining theadvantages of turning Hurricane IIinto a completely “green” whale watchvessel run on biodiesel. The proposalwill include modifications to theengine; locating mechanics in the areawilling to support the project;sponsorship by other organizations;cost and vendors of biodieselingredients; advertisement suggestionsfor website and brochures; and muchmore. Wong’s senior project will be astudy of the effects of military sonaron cetaceans. “My internship withOcean Alliance was an incrediblyvaluable learning experience. I’venever had any experience workingwith whales and this was the perfectopportunity. Not only did I learnabout whales, but I also got to passmy knowledge along by talking withpassengers on the boat. This internshipalso allowed me to learn about differentaspects of the marine environment andconservation of marine mammals and wasvery helpful in preparing for my seniorproject. Weekly intern meetings allowed usto share environmental/marine-relatedinterests.” (Laurinda Wong)

“My goals to connect with people anddevelop contacts in the field of marineresearch were met during the internshipand were developed further through dailyconversations with people from all over thecountry out on trips to see whales, whichultimately led me to finally settle on mysenior project. Luckily, and surprisingly, Iworked with Laurinda Wong this summer.

We were both very influenced and movedby our experiences and discussions withthe staff, and wanted to take thesethoughts further in order to put somethinginto action. With questions frompassengers about boats’ effects on thewhales, and seeing how whales behaved aswe motored through their home, wepondered what we could do to help thesituation. It is somewhat peculiar that wego out every day with our dirty dieselengine and noise pollution and circlearound through the whales’ habitat.Having only been slightly familiar withbiodiesel fuel before this summer, it is a

subject that I now find extremelyinteresting.” (Meghan Lucy)

Alaya Morning, an ethnobotanymajor, spent her summer interning forCity Slicker Farms, a collection of six smallurban vegetable gardens locatedthroughout the West Oakland, Calif. area.The non-profit organization is committedto providing low-income residents of WestOakland with affordable locally andsustainably grown produce. One day each

week was spent working in the officeand the rest of the week was spent atthe garden sites: planting, watering,harvesting, fixing, washing, selling,singing, chatting and learning asmuch as she could from Ingrid, thefarm’s year-round managingapprentice. The favorite days wereFridays. Starting in the afternoon andheading into late evening, Morningand Ingrid, often joined by manyfriends, harvested, washed andbundled fresh vegetables for thesliding-scale farm stand the nextmorning, eventually transporting theveggies from each of the smaller sitesto the larger garden in a bicyclerickshaw created especially for CitySlickers by a local cart-maker. “Myinternship with City Slicker Farmswas an extremely important part ofmy education. I was able to put intocontext all of the environmental andbiological systems work I have studiedin my courses here at ConnecticutCollege. Additionally, I was able toobserve the trial-and-error processwhich is key not only in gardening

but also in establishing andmaintaining a non-profit, volunteer-run organization. I have also been

exposed to the importance of this type ofspace in urban areas. Many of themembers of the West Oakland communitywere black Americans with strong familialroots in the rural South (Louisiana) andhad grown up on the farms of their parentsand grandparents. They knew the mosteffective ways to prune tomatoes, why ourokra failed, and how to keep the roosterfrom attacking when you went to collecteggs. From an ethnobotanical perspective,these garden plots in West Oaklandbecame important spaces in transmittingand preserving knowledge from one

Allaya Morning worked in West Oakland, Calif., oncommunity-based, sustainable,urban farms.

Internshipscontinued from page 3

“I was able to put intocontext all of theenvironmental andbiological systems work Ihave studied in my courseshere at ConnecticutCollege.” — Alaya Morning

generation to the next.” For her seniorproject, Morning plans to focus on theimportance of land access in buildingecological identities and in maintainingthe space in which more sustainablefutures may be created.

Environmental studies major AdannaRoberts interned with the New YorkCity Department of Education (NYCDE)under the Office of Occupational Safetyand Health (OOSH), whose mission is toensure a safe and healthy environment forstudents and DOE employees. Robert’s

duties included takingindoor air qualitycomplaints; filling out therequisite indoor air qualitylogs and making computerentries into the database;conducting indoor air

quality investigations; learning to prepareindoor air quality reports; learning how touse and maintain a variety of indoor airquality equipment; preparing trainingmaterials; assisting OOSH’s safety andhealth trainers during training sessions;scheduling the delivery and collection ofmedical waste kits from NYCDE sites; andperforming clerical and administrativeduties relating to the delivery of safety andhealth services. “My learning objectives forthis past summer were to get hands onexperience in the field of occupationalsafety and health. This internship was myfirst experience with this field, and, as aresult, I was very excited and lookedforward to what was in store for me overthe summer. Specifically, I learned how totest indoor air quality, along with writingreports on my findings. This was anexcellent opportunity for me because I wasable to conduct tests outside of thelab/classroom. All of my original objectivesfor this internship were met and I was ableto accomplish what I set out to do.Overall, this internship was an activelearning experience and the progress that Imade during the summer should bereflected in the success of my SIP.” For hersenior project, Roberts will analyze thepurposes of occupational safety and healthand its relationship with indoor air quality.

Joel Scata, a government major,spent his summer working with theAtlantic Council of the United States, aforeign policy think tank based inWashington, D.C., whose mission is topromote constructive U.S. leadership andengagement in international affairs based

on the central role of the Atlanticcommunity in meeting the internationalchallenges of the 21st century. As agovernment major, Scata worked for theProgram on Economics, Energy, and theEnvironment, focusing on two projects:

the “Clean Air for AsiaProject” and “A MarshallPlan for Energy and WaterSupply in DevelopingCountries.” Scata wasinvolved in preparing for theMarshall Plan meeting, the

concept of which is loosely based on theplan that was developed for thereconstruction of Europe after World WarII. Scata helped research and select a groupof applicable countries to be chosen for theinitial test plan and prepared documentsdescribing each country’s political status,economic background, and current energyand water sources. He also helped establishbasic criteria to narrow the developingnations into a group of countries to bepresented at the second meeting. Finally,Scata conducted research on energysecurity as a topic, specifically, the growingenergy consumption by China and how itaffects the United States. “Overall, Ibelieve my summer internship experiencewas very advantageous. It helped me togain a better understanding of a topic thatinterests me, an idea of future careeraspirations, and to prepare for my seniorproject. I would recommend theinternship program at the Atlantic Councilof the United States to future Goodwin-Niering Center students.” For his seniorproject, Scata will research the short andlong-term threats that the United States’energy needs will present in the future,highlighting the nation’s oil dependencyproblem and how this makes the UnitedStates vulnerable in numerous ways. Hewill study whether changes in thetransportation sector could be an effectivesolution.

Government major Ceileigh Symeinterned with the Wildlife Friends ofThailand Rescue, Rehabilitation andEducation Center in Petchaburi, Thailand,an organization that promotesenvironmental education and the rights ofanimals, and strives to give animals abetter life by providing a safe haven andre-releasing them if possible. Syme spent agreat deal of time assisting in the spayingand neutering of local stray dogs, as well ashelping other volunteers with manydifferent types of animals, including a

binturong, civet cats, gibbons, ostrichesand otters. The area that she concentratedon the most, however, was working withelephants. Many of the elephants at theCenter had previously endured a difficultlife; others came from tourist camps wherethey continuously gave rides to touristswho would sit on wooden contraptionsstrapped to the animals’ backs. Themonotony and physical strain of a life likethis can be very difficult for an elephant to

bear and Syme’s job as avolunteer was simply toimprove the lives ofelephants, both physicallyand mentally. Dailyfeedings, washings, and rivertrips were her main

responsibilities, as well as pickingpineapple plants for the elephants to eat.Often she was required to sit atop an

elephant to better guide it on long forestwalks or on walks to the river. “Thisinternship only increased my passion foranimal rights and also my interest inecological connections. By being privy toseeing not only endangered but alsocommon animals being viewed as simply amonetary commodity, I was often shockedand inspired to fully throw my energy intounderstanding why so much atrocity canhappen to animals and how these actionsthen have environmental effects. I waseven more reminded of the importance ofcultural barriers and differences inunderstanding the values that are at thecore of these problems. Working inThailand with such wonderful animals ona day-to-day basis was beyond incredible. Inever imagined my expectations to be soutterly fulfilled. It was a collection ofexperiences that has given me perhaps oneof the most valuable learning opportunitiesI have ever had.” Syme’s senior project willgrapple with the issue of economicdevelopment in Thailand, India, andJapan, attempting to understand therelationship between economic prosperityand the value placed on animals withinthese cultures.

— compiled by Michele Crowley

Environmental Connections fall 2005 5

“I never imagined myexpectations to be so utterlyfulfilled.” — Ceileigh Syme

The Goodwin-NieringCenter is pleased to welcome ten newsophomores into the certificate program.Students and their majors are listed below,left to right, front row first:

Bianca KisselEnvironmental Studies

Lindsay MichelEnvironmental Studies

Katherine SerafinEnvironmental Studies

Eliza GreenmanEnglish

Kathryn GutleberEnglish/Environmental Studies

Gabe SidmanHistory/Environmental Studies

Kelsey JacobsenFrench/Environmental Studies

Jessica LeClairInternational Relations/EnvironmentalStudies

Cara DonovanHispanic Studies/Environmental Studies

Christina ComfortBiology

Saving Energy One Bulb AT A Time

Did you know that one compact fluorescent light bulb uses approximately 70percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and lasts up to 10 times longer?Students in the Renewable Energy Club and Students Against Violence to the Environment(SAVE) Club are aware of the energy savings that can be gained and they’re doing somethingto help the campus conserve energy this winter. Thus far they have purchased 1,400compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and, with the help of the House EnvironmentalRepresentatives, began a door-to-door distribution in November. Each student receives a freeCFL in exchange for turning in a standard incandescent bulb. With the high energy costs, anestimated $6,400 savings will be welcomed on campus.

VENDING MISERS

Ten Vending Misers, devices to power down vending machines when not in use, were purchasedlast summer. The units reduce consumption of electricity by half. With the help of Peter Horgan,College Engineering Services Manager, the students in the Renewable Energy Club installed theVending Misers on lesser-used vending machines on campus. With a refund from ConnecticutLight & Power for using the devices, the club will be investing in more Vending Misers. For moreinformation on these and other initiatives, please visit the Green Living web page athttp://greenliving.conncoll.edu. — Amy Cabaniss

Welcome TO THE Certificate Class OF 2008

Using compact fluorescent light bulbs willreduce the College energy bill.

6 Environmental Connections fall 2005

In November 2005, theGoodwin-Niering Center was pleased towelcome Doug Thompson, associateprofessor of physics, astronomy andgeophysics at Connecticut College, as aguest speaker for the Certificate Program.Thompson addressed the entire campuscommunity during the college’s weeklyCommon Hour with a lecture titled “Lifeon the Mississippi River Delta: TheEngineering Battle to Control the LargestRiver in the U.S.” Because of the recentflooding in the delta region fromHurricane Katrina, this topic wasparticularly timely. In preparation, Centerstudents read the chapter on theMississippi in John MacPhee’s classic bookControlling Nature.

The Mississippi River Delta covers anarea that extends across the entire width of

the state of Louisiana. Throughout thegeologic past, the river worked its way eastand west across the state, creating a vastflat landscape of wetlands and riverchannels. The introduction of trade andindustry to the area created a new need forflood control and navigation. Following amassive flood in 1927, the federalgovernment stepped in as the mainantagonist to the mighty Mississippi. Overthe last 80 years, continued engineeringattempts to control the river have createdan environment that is no longer inequilibrium.

Focusing on human interaction withthe Mississippi River Delta, Thompsonstated that between 1929 and 1947 theriver’s length had been reduced by 35%near Baton Rouge through the creation ofnew channels to improve navigation. Healso indicated that levees are not the bestmeans to prevent flooding because theysubside and constantly need to be rebuilt,noting that the New Orleans levees werebuilt up to 15 feet high, but had sunk to12 feet in less than 25 years. “Levees arenot foolproof and, unfortunately, we sawthat with Hurricane Katrina, inparticular,” said Thompson.

He concluded his talk by discussing theimpacts of human and natural activity onthe Mississippi River Delta. Theaccumulation of sediment deposits aroundthe deltas has been curtailed by the closingof distributory channels. This alteration,combined with the loss of coastal wetlandsand other changes in the landscape fromhuman activity has increased erosionproblems around the Delta. Estimates ofthe cost for saving the Louisiana marshesmay be as high as $15 billion.

Thompson’s research falls within thediscipline of geology and the sub-disciplineof fluvial geomorphology. Geomorphologyis the study of the landforms and thenatural processes responsible for theirformation. Many of the geomorphic topicsof interest include the landforms andprocesses associated with rivers, glaciers,landslides, beaches and arid regions.Fluvial geomorphology includes the studyof stream and river channels and thephysical processes operating in theseenvironments.

Guest Lecturer Focuses ON

Mississippi river flooding

Associate Professor of Physics, Astronomy andGeophysics Doug Thompson spoke to the campuscommunity about the dynamics of the MississippiRiver delta.

Environmental Connections fall 2005 7

The Center is pleased to announcethat the proceedings of our 2003environmental conference are nowavailable from Edward Elgar Publishing,Inc. as America’s Changing Coasts: PrivateRights and Public Trust. Based on 13presentations at the conference, the bookwas edited by Diana Whitelaw and GeraldVisgilio, associate directors of the Center.Following a comprehensive overview bythe editors, this volume’s expertcontributors provide detailed discussionsof important legal, ecological and socialissues associated with coastal resourcemanagement, as well as the mostsignificant challenges confronting land useplanners and resource managers in coastalcommunities. Using an interdisciplinaryapproach to perplexing questionssurrounding the issue of developmentversus protection, the book presents abroad approach to coastal issues involvingprivate rights and the public trust.

ConferenceProceedingsPublished

8 Environmental Connections fall 2005

This newsletter marks the beginning of aregular column that will provide updates onaccomplishments by faculty associated withthe Goodwin-Niering Center.

Peter Siver, the Charles and SarahP. Becker ’27 Professor of Botany haspublished the first in a series of threeworks on freshwater diatoms Diatoms ofNorth America: The Freshwater Flora ofCape Cod, published by Koeltz ScientificPublishers. The volume includes morethan 1,000 micrographs of the organisms.Siver served as lead author with PaulHamilton, a research scientist at theCanadian Museum of Nature. Juniorauthors from the California Academy ofSciences assisted. Along with EduardoMorales, a research scientist from theAcademy of Natural Sciences inPhiladelphia, Siver and Hamilton areworking on the next two volumes, whichwill focus on other parts of the easterncoast of North America. Siver is a notedexpert in limnology, which is the study oflakes, and phycology, the study of algae.He has also focused his research on acid

rain and theeffects ofenvironmentalstresses onaquaticecosystems.Recently, heco-discovered50 million-year-old fossilsof a commonfreshwatergroup of algae,

which may unlock clues about theevolution and environmental degradationof freshwater lakes and the characteristicsof lake ecology during ancient geologictime periods.

Professor Siver also received a $25,000grant to monitor 20 Connecticut lakes todetermine levels of nutrients and plantmaterial, which can affect water quality,recreational use and aquatic health. Thegrant, which funds the first phase of afour-year project to monitor up to 60 lakesthroughout Connecticut, was awarded bythe Connecticut Department ofEnvironmental Protection. The 20 lakeswill be randomly selected and locatedthroughout the state. The study willprovide a baseline so that researchers will

be able to monitor changes in levels ofplant material over time. Siver willdetermine if the lakes’ biologicalproductions are “oligotrophic” (lakeshaving low level of biological production)to “hypereutrophic” (lakes having highnutrient concentrations and significantalgal blooms). “Property development,industry and agricultural practices canincrease biological material in lakes,” Siversaid. “It’s crucial to monitor Connecticut’slakes, which have scenic and recreationalvalues and are used as sources of water fordrinking and by industry,” Siver said.“Increased biological productivity mayresult in murky water, low oxygen levelsand stressed fish.”

Anne Bernhard, assistantprofessor of biology, received state fundingfor a project that will study the impacts ofsalt marsh restoration on microorganismsin Long Island Sound. The $23,440 grantcomes from funds raised by the sale ofLong Island Sound license plates.Bernhard will conduct her research at BarnIsland Wildlife Management Area inStonington, site of many previousConnecticut College research projects, andother undisturbed marshes in Stonington,Groton and New London. Results fromthis study will help clarify the impact ofsalt marsh restoration on microbialcommunities, and may have applicationsto future marsh restoration andmanagement. Bernhard collaborates withscientists at Woods Hole OceanographicInstitute and the Marine BiologicalLaboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. Herwork has been published in the scientificjournals Applied and Environmental

Microbiology, Estuaries and Water Research.In her Connecticut College lab, Bernharduses molecular methods to identify themicrobes and study how the communitieschange under different environmentalconditions by following changes in geneabundance and expression.

Professor Bernhard has also co-authored research on an elusive oceanmicrobe that is now considered to be amajor link in the world’s fragile nitrogencycle. Her research has been published inthe Sept. 2005 edition of Nature,considered one of the most prestigiousresearch journals. Bernhard and theresearch team, which was headed by DavidStahl of the University of Washington,successfully cultivated the tiny microbeCrenarchaeota in the laboratory anddiscovered some surprising facts about thediet and lifestyle of these microbes, whichsurf the seas in almost unimaginablenumbers. Crenarchaeota survive byoxidizing ammonia to nitrite and thesheer weight of their numbers may makethem big players in the world’s nitrogencycle — converting ammonia into otherharmless nitrogen compounds.Additionally, their nitrogen-metabolizinggenes look superficially similar to those ofas-yet-uncultured terrestrial cold-livingCrenarchaeota, which could indicate thata nitrogen-based lifestyle originated inthese ancient organisms, rather than inbacteria. Bernhard, who joinedConnecticut College in 2004, is aspecialist in the role of microbes inmarine and estuarine ecosystems andtheir interactions with other organisms aswell as with their environment.

Center Faculty News

Assistant Professor of Biology Anne Bernhard studies microorganisms in tidal marshes and estuaries.

9

EACH SUMMER, students have theopportunity to collaborate with faculty onresearch projects. The following are thoseconducted during the summer of ’05 withan environmental theme:

Ecology and Conservation of EarlySuccessional Birds on Powerline Rights-of-WayAndrew B. McCullough and Visna NgovProfessor Robert Askins (Biology)

Microbial Biofilm Diversity in NewEngland Intertidal ZonesJeff BenderProfessor Anne Bernhard (Biology)

Large Woody Debris and Salmon Habitat inMaineKevin CookeProfessor Doug Thompson (Physics)

Biotic Survey & Inventory of Lakes andPonds along Eastern North AmericaSara Jayanthi, Lee Camfield, and JeffPelczarProfessor Peter Siver (Botany)

Taxonomy and Morphology of the DiatomGenus Stenopterobia in Waterbodies alongEastern North AmericaLee CamfieldProfessor Peter Siver (Botany)

Using a Paleolimnological Approach toUnderstanding Acidification of a small CapeCod PondSara JayanthiProfessor Peter Siver (Botany)

The Genus Frustulia in North CarolinaJeff PelczarProfessor Peter Siver (Botany)

Production, Vegetation Patterns, and FineScale Elevation Changes in the Response toExperimental Nutrient Enrichment of aMarsh-Estuary System, Plum IslandRandy Jones, Megan Hoover, AndreaBrear, and Erin MillerProfessor Scott Warren (Botany)

Student AND Faculty ResearchCollaborations, Summer ’05

Common HourFocuses ON FourAcademic Centers

Faculty and studentsfrom the College’s four academic centersshared their experiences in “The FourCenters: Faculty/Student Research andCollaboration” on Wednesday, Nov. 30, aspart of the college’s weekly CommonHour. The world is a web ofinterconnected cultures, issues and societalsystems. Academic centers at ConnecticutCollege help students “connect the dots”and are at the core of the college’sacclaimed interdisciplinary approach tolearning. Jane Dawson, Associate Professorof Environmental Studies in theGovernment Department, and a memberof the Center’s steering committee, andsenior Ceileigh Syme, a Governmentmajor, represented the Goodwin-NieringCenter at the event. Ceileigh spoke abouther internship with Wildlife Friends ofThailand Rescue, Rehabilitation andEducation Center in Petchaburi, Thailand,as well as plans for her senior project,which grapples with the issue of economicdevelopment in Thailand, India, andJapan, attempting to understand therelationship between economic prosperityand the value placed on animals withinthese specific cultures.

Visna Ngov (l) and Andrew McCullough participated in field ecology research concerning early successionalbirds with Professor Askins.

Senior Ceileigh Syme discussed her internship duringa Common Hour presentation hosted by the campus’four academic centers.

Environmental Connections fall 2005

10 Environmental Connections fall 2005

The Environmental Model Committee (EMC) is a standing Collegecommittee responsible for developing programs and policies that integrate environmentalsustainability into all aspects of campus life. Through efforts by the EMC, the

environmental coordinator positionbecame a full time, administrativeprofessional position this year. InSeptember, Amy Cabaniss came on boardto serve in this capacity.

Prior to coming to CC, Amy worked forsix years as a regional recycling coordinatorfor a planning agency that assists ninetowns in the Connecticut River EstuaryRegion. Her work included overseeing theconstruction of a household hazardouswaste (HHW) facility, organizing HHWcollections, providing town assistance,grant-writing, distributing compost binsregionwide, providing in-school programs,and more. Amy continues to serve her termas a member of the board of directors of the

North American Hazardous Materials Management Association.Amy’s background is in environmental conservation education. She has worked as an

environmental educator for approximately 22 years. She is a doctoral candidate inenvironmental studies at Antioch New England Graduate School where her dissertationwill focus on fostering environmentally-responsible behavior using community-basedsocial marketing.

Her environmental sustainability efforts at CC include facilitating EMC and EMCSubcommittee meetings that address energy conservation, recycling, green building,renewable energy and communications. She enjoys working with staff, faculty and studentson these issues and greatly appreciates everyone’s interest and dedication to environmentalissues. Welcome, Amy! Amy will be offering a column on campus sustainability efforts ineach issue of Environmental CONNections.

Cc’s New Campus EnvironmentalCoordinator

Campus Environmental Coordinator Amy Cabaniss

SeekingNominationsAlumniEnvironmentalAchievement Award

The Goodwin-NieringCenter is seeking nominations for itsAlumni Environmental AchievementAward. This award recognizes and cele-brates Connecticut College alumni whohave made significant contributions inany area of environmental endeavor,including research, education, landpreservation, conservation, communica-tions, activism, and others. Past recipientsare Dr. Linda Lear ’62, environmentalhistorian; Judy Irving ’68, filmmaker; Dr.David Foster ’77, forest ecologist; andAlexander Brash ’81, urban park/naturalarea manager. This is an ongoing requestwith no deadline, but we do ask thatnominations come with as much informa-tion about the person and their accom-plishments as possible. Nominations maybe sent directly to the Executive Director:glenn.dreyer@conncoll.edu.

Join THE

Recyclemaniacs!

This spring semester, Connecticut College isparticipating in a friendly competition with 90+U.S. colleges and universities. Recyclemania is a10-week competition to increase campusawareness and participation in recycling. Theinstitution that can achieve the highest recyclingrate and least garbage generation and disposal winsthe competition. Recyclemania runs from January29 through April 8. Spread the word and recycle,recycle, recycle!

For more information, please visithttp://www.recyclemaniacs.org/ and contact Amy Cabaniss at 860-439-5218

Connecticut College hasa Renewable Energy Policy thanks to astudent-led initiative in 2001 thatearmarked a $25 per student annual feetoward purchasing electricity fromrenewable sources. The fee was originallyused to purchase the “green power” optionfrom the local utility then, when thatopportunity was discontinued, RenewableEnergy Credits (RECs) were purchaseddirectly. When formulating a Collegerenewable energy policy in 2004, thestudent Renewable Energy Club and theCollege’s Environmental ModelCommittee (EMC) decided to becomemore proactive by setting the actualgeneration of renewable energy as a higherpriority than purchasing RECs.

This fall, as a means of helping theEMC to sort through the issues and optionsrelated to various methods of renewable

energy generation, students in the Center’sCertificate Seminar formed groups toexamine wind, solar and hydroelectricenergy options. A fourth group workedspecifically on recommendations forcampus energy conservation. Each groupwrote a report and gave a class presentationthat evaluated environmental and economicpros and cons. Highlights of the students’findings, presented to the EMC inDecember, are summarized here:

SOLAR ENERGY

A growing number of colleges in NorthAmerica, including Connecticut College,are using solar power to help meet theirenergy needs. For example, Clark Collegein Vancouver, BC has been usingphotovoltaics (PV) for the past three years

to power crosswalks, street and bus stoplighting, telecommunications equipmentand some buildings. The environmentalimpacts associated with solar power arenegligible after installation. Importantaspects of solar power on campus include:

Pros: zero emissions once installed; verylow maintenance costs; can beinconspicuous; buildings can be designedfor passive heating; options for smallprojects like individual street lights;possible state, federal and privateopportunities for financial support.

Cons: high start-up and installation costs;very long “pay back” period; smallamounts of toxins used in panelproduction; constructing andtransporting PV equipment requiresenergy and produces air pollution andgreenhouse gasses.

WIND ENERGY

Wind energy produced bylarge turbines is starting to beused on campuses as anenvironmentally friendlymeans to generate power. Forexample, both CarletonCollege and the University ofMinnesota have installed windturbines that produce about 5million kilowatt hours peryear. For Carleton, a liberalarts college similar in size toConn, this represents about40% of total electricity use.

Like Connecticut College, theseinstitutions have some student funding,and their wind conditions are comparableto New London. The wind energy grouprecommended that wind speed tests beinitiated on campus to assess the feasibilityof a turbine, and that research should begininto outside sources of financial support.

Pros: zero emissions; low operational costs;faster payback than solar; “iconic.”

Cons: viability based on amount of windavailable; high initial cost; visual impact;noisy; potential threat to birds.

HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY

Hydroelectric power is produced when theenergy of moving water is converted by a

turbine into electricity. Water power isusually harnessed by using dams on riversand streams but systems which float in anestuary like the Thames, and use tidalenergy to generate power, appear to be alower impact option for the near future.

Pros: zero emissions; relatively fast payback of investment; could utilize existingdam on local small river.

Cons: water fluctuations; harm to riverand organisms; some discharge fromturbine issues; liability of off-site facility;less educational impact due to offcampus location.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Energy conservation, i.e. energy not used,is by far the most environmentally friendly,and often most cost effective, solution toenergy issues. The students working onthis issue made the followingrecommendations for our campus:

Replace all incandescent light bulbswith compact fluorescents, including acontinuation of the light bulb exchangeprogram for privately owned studentlight fixtures.

Increase the use of motion sensors forlighting in as many locations as feasiblewithin academic, administrative andresidential structures.

Increase wall, ceiling and floorinsulation in dormitories.

Improve/replace old windows withenergy efficient models.

Install a green roof on an existingcampus building.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM

THE CERTIFICATE SEMINAR

STUDENTS

After group presentations on each of thefour topics, students discussed theimplications of the three renewable energyoptions, and were asked to make acollective recommendation to the EMC.There was no support for a hydroelectricproject, moderate support for solar, and asignificant majority of the class endorsedwind. The class recommendation was thatEMC conduct feasibility studies for awind turbine installation, and install somesolar powered street lights fordemonstration purposes.

Center Promotes Renewable Energy Discussions

11Environmental Connections fall 2005

These photovoltaic panels, not visible from the ground, generate elec-tricity atop Park Dormitory in “The Plex.” The CollegeEnvironmental Model Committee is investigating options for addingadditional renewable energy generation capacity to the campus.

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Celebrate!

The Connecticut CollegeArboretum celebrates its 75thanniversary in 2006 with adisplay of historic photo-graphs and documents in theShain Library from May 15,to July 1. Believed to be fromthe 1920s, this is one of manyphotos depicting early studentuse of what soon became TheConnecticut Arboretum.