Our program requires that junior environmental science majors research the current understanding of some environmental or ecological issue, then design a research project to further add to our understanding of that issue. The research project is generally carried out in the fall of the senior year. In the spring of the senior year, the student writes a detailed research paper and presents their project as either a poster presentation or a seminar.
Projects for the Class of 2010
Christina Pinkerton will be carrying out her research project at the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. She will be researching seaside sparrow nesting density and success, comparing marshes that have been grid ditched or have undergone an Open Marsh Water Management project with those that are pristine.
Brooke Hale is partnering with Alexandra Echandi and the Department of Conservation and Recreation to monitor vernal pools in the Blue Hills Reservation and the possible impacts of trail use on vernal pool water and habitat quality. She will be using wildlife cameras to monitor the use of vernal pools by mammals, and also using HOBO dataloggers to continuously monitor temperature and light intensity.
Chelsea Lefavor will be doing a herpetofaunal survey of Pond Meadow Park in Braintree, Massachusetts, comparing the types of reptiles and amphibians found in various terrestrial and freshwater habitats in the park.
Amber Wiersma will be conducting a spider biodiversity survey in early successional habitats found on the Willow Brook Farm site protected by the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts.
Dan Reid is interested in the effects of road salt on terrestrial invertebrate density. He will be comparing roads that are heavily salted to those that are not salted.
Julia Cook will be working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Neponset River Watershed Association to grow Galerucella beetles for release into Fowl Meadow for the control of purple loosestrife. She will also be involved in monitoring purple loosestrife monitoring before and after the release.
Craig Morley will be investigating whether lead is migrating from a former hazardous waste site onto nearby school and residential grounds.