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Engaging Students of All Disciplines in Environmental Issues: Leveraging Research Grants to Break Down Academic Silos (Part 1)
Dr. Chris Halle
Program Developer, Center for Environmental Inquiry, Sonoma State University
Vegetation management needed to maintain safety in powerline rights-of-ways (ROWs) has significant effects on local ecosystems. A (60-year) series of studies on the east coast has demonstrated that introducing “ecosystem edges” through large tracts of forest can enhance habitat for many species, as well as providing wildlife corridors for larger fauna. However, translating these results to ecosystems on the West Coast is problematic. Even identical management techniques may have dramatically different effects in different ecosystems.
To address this need, the Center for Environmental Inquiry (CEI) at Sonoma State University and the Pollinator Partnership have worked with utility providers PG&E and SMUD to identify three locations to study ROW vegetation management on the west coast (Figure 1). Each of the three sites contains plots that are treated by mechanical means only, as well as plots that use spot herbicide treatments. With funding provided by the TREE Fund, we have: (1) obtained at least three years of pollinator and vegetation observations at each site (Figure 2), (2) trained students of all disciplines to apply their specialties to environmental issues, and (3) established a fledgling ROW vegetation monitoring network on the U.S. West Coast.
The mission of CEI is to create communities of students, faculty, and community members that are interested in working together on pressing environmental issues. CEI attempts to “break down” academic silos by actively recruiting students and faculty by using small 10k challenge grants (in this case, either funded by the TREE Fund, or matched by CEI). The grants can be used for student salaries, supplies, field trips, etc. We have been successful in engaging many faculty and students in environmental issues, including students from disciplines as diverse as philosophy, computer science, and communications. Many of these students have changed the direction of their studies and careers based on this environmental engagement.
As one example, for this ROW study, researchers installed camera traps to document the effect of vegetation management on wildlife movement. Such image datasets often contain large numbers of “false alarms”, which are triggered by vegetation blowing in the wind or cloud shadows moving across the ground. Distinguishing them from “true capture events” (images of actual animals, humans, vehicles) requires a substantial amount of personnel time.
Look for Part 2 in our December 2023 issue.
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