The Spring 2015 Service Learning events were a great success and packed full of environmental fun. During this semester, CEES staff, many student volunteers, and dedicated staff from Indianapolis parks and organizations were able to revive large areas of native Indiana habitat by removing extensive amounts of invasive plant species and performing much needed trail restoration. We were able to complete 9 service learning events during March and April at various locations around the Indianapolis area. (more…)
CEES Makes a Splash at the Earth Day Indiana Festival
Guest blog submitted by IUPUI undergraduate, Jacki Renforth (jmguyer@umail.iu.edu), a Senior in the Communications Studies Program. Jacki’s news story, which focuses on environmental initiatives at IUPUI and the Earth Day Indiana Festival, is a part of her course final project in J200 – Reporting, Writing, and Editing.
Earth Day is over, but not for the IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science staff and volunteers. (more…)
Edge of Field: April Showers Bring Samples!
Danielle Follette, CEES Staff, and Jacob Burch, CEES Undergraduate Intern, have become quite familiar with the agricultural landscape over the past few months as the April showers are providing data for CEES’ Edge of Field research project. During a rain event, collection of water samples is triggered by water flow volume and collected in ISCO samplers. (more…)
Undergradaute Environmental Internship
Guest blog submitted by IUPUI undergraduate student Michael McCormick (mccormim@imail.iu.edu), Environmental Science Major .
I have always been very interested in science, specifically animals and plants. Due to this interest, I decided to pursue an internship with the Department of Public Works Land Stewardship Program. In this internship, I am working to restore native plant vegetation to a pond on the north east side of Indianapolis. (more…)
Modeling Enhanced Meander Scar Zones using LiDAR Digital Elevation Models
In our quest to work out the details in regional mapping for Indiana’s Fluvial Erosion Hazard (FEH) Mitigation Program, we developed a new technique to enhance meander scar zones, the remnant paths of streams and rivers. Using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) from the 2011 – 2013 Indiana Orthophotography and Elevation Program we modeled an approximate alluvial plain for a reach of the Whitewater River in Southeastern Indiana. (more…)
New Member of the DSE International Team
We are pleased to welcome Indiana University School of Education Ph.D. student, Jenna Gatzke, to our DSE International Team! Jenna will be coordinating communication and education activities among network partners. (more…)
Recent Flooding in the Ohio River Valley observed by NASA Satellites
Recent flooding in the Ohio River Valley was captured by NASAs Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). (more…)
MOSES
Service Learning Coordinator, Danielle Follette, and Education Outreach Coordinator, Elizabeth Johnson, spent an energizing three days with farmers at the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services (MOSES) Organic Farming Conference in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The workshops were diverse and informative, focusing on organic practices that reduce soil erosion, decrease water consumption and contaminants, and increase farmers’ yields. Needless to say, CEES staff found plenty of opportunities to learn about creative and cutting edge farming practices and to meet people with whom to engage in some really informative conversations. (more…)
Alternative Spring Break #JagBreak
I had the enormous pleasure of serving as trip advisor for one of IUPUI’s Alternative Spring Break Trips through the IUPUI Division of Student Affairs – Community Service and Civic Engagement. Alternative Breaks at IUPUI are student-led, social issue-focused, and service-based trips that take place during the fall, spring, and summer academic breaks. These trips are an “alternative” to standard college break trips: they are alcohol- and drug-free and focus on creating positive, sustainable change in communities and cultures across the US. (more…)
CEES Supported Undergraduate Research
Guest blog submitted by undergraduate student, Samantha Brickles (sbrickle@umail.iu.edu)
In January of 2014 I embarked upon a research project with my faculty mentor, Dr. Kathy Licht. As an undergraduate Geology major at IUPUI, an independent research project has been an exciting and fulfilling opportunity. The project has been a rewarding learning experience and, like much scientific progress before me, a little puzzling at times. (more…)