Eva Legge has been named a Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar by the Society of American Foresters and was also awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. (Photo courtesy of Eva Legge)

Legge will receive a $10,000 scholarship to pursue her research on the role mycorrhizae play in boosting forest resilience. Mycorrhizae are fungi that grow on the roots of trees and plants and provide mutual benefits. As a Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar, she will gain valuable professional development and networking opportunities. In addition to connecting with SAF members across the country, she can also submit her research to an SAF journal and collaborate with staff and partners at the SAF headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This latest award comes on the heels of Legge winning a  from the National Science Foundation over the summer. Like the Mollie Beattie award, the NSF fellowship includes a stipend and access to professional development opportunities. According to the NSF program, its mission is to “help ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States.”

Legge is part of A&S biology professor  Mycorrhizal Ecology Lab and SUNY ESF Professor  Applied Forest and Fire Ecology Lab. As a member of these teams, she studies how climate-adaptive forest management, such as timber harvest, assisted tree migration and prescribed fire, affects the symbiotic relationship between fungi and forests. Their goal is to devise strategies to safeguard these crucial yet delicate symbioses, ultimately aiding in the development of effective forest management practices.

“Climate change will likely add to the many stressors facing eastern U.S. forests. However, the positive benefits of fungal partnerships with tree roots can, in certain contexts, increase a forest’s stress tolerance,” Legge said in an .

With this funding, she will continue her research exploring the connection between forest management, mycorrhizal symbioses and seedling success. She hopes to improve management practices and maximize the advantages mycorrhizae offer to “future-adapted” seedlings, thereby enhancing the resilience of America’s forests.

Eva Legge (second from left) and her team have been conducting their latest field research in Huntington Forest, located in the Adirondacks. (Photo courtesy of Eva Legge)

“Eva is an exceptionally driven graduate student motivated by addressing critical knowledge gaps in forest ecosystem resilience to global change,” says Fernandez. “Her research focuses on the crucial role of belowground dynamics in forest resilience, bridging fundamental ecological research with applied forest management. Her multidisciplinary approach promises to advance both basic scientific understanding and sustainable land management practices in a changing world. I am thrilled to see her outstanding work recognized with these prestigious awards.”

Learn more about the ���Ի���.

“The range of symposia, presentations and events happening on campus this spring is a testament to the rapidly expanding culture of undergraduate research engagement at the University,” says Kate Hanson, director of the (SOURCE). “They highlight the contributions of undergraduate student research and creative work, provide opportunities for dialogue and conversation and offer the chance to learn about some of the fascinating work happening across campus.” The events are free and open to the public. Students are encouraged to attend and learn about the work of their peers.

Thursday, March 21, 4-6 p.m., Sheraton ���ϲ����� Hotel & Conference Center, Comstock Room

Students from multiple disciplines will give 10-minute “Orange Talk” presentations about their research, scholarly and creative work. Recipients of the new Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring and Outstanding Campus Partner in Undergraduate Research awards will be announced.

(Poster/Interactive Display Session)
Friday, March 22, 2-4 p.m., Sheraton ���ϲ����� Hotel & Conference Center, Regency Ballroom

Students will present their in-depth research and scholarly and creative work through poster sessions and interactive displays.

Students present their research at the fall SOURCE Research Expo. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Friday, March 22, 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m., National Veterans Resource Center

Events include a poster session and keynote address by State University of New York (SUNY) provost and SUNY Research Foundation president Ram Ramasubramanian. Also planned are oral presentations on communications and security, energy, environment, smart materials, health and well-being, sensors, robotics and smart systems. An ice cream social and awards announcements are also planned.

Friday, March 22, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sheraton ���ϲ����� Hotel & Conference Center, Comstock Room

Lender Center for Social Justice 2022-2024 Faculty Fellow , professor of anthropology and the Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies in the , together with her student research team, will present findings on the social justice implications of artificial intelligence and how that issue plays out in ���ϲ�����. .

Chronos Conference (The Undergraduate History Journal)
Friday, April 5, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Bird Library, Spector Room

Thursday, April 11, 1-3 p.m., Bird Library, Peter Graham Scholarly Commons

Undergraduate and graduate students from and the will offer poster presentations about their research on LGBTQ subjects and issues. The event is organized by the . is requested.

Friday, April 12, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Goldstein Student Center, Rooms 201 ABC

The 10th annual ���ϲ����� Neuroscience Research Day Conference is organized by the neuroscience program. The event showcases the breadth of neuroscience research happening at ���ϲ�����. is required.

This fall 2023 project at a SOURCE research event uses lego blocks to illustrate a concept. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Friday, April 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Life Sciences Complex, Milton Atrium

Students will showcase their research through both oral and poster presentations. Dozens of projects will illustrate the wide-ranging, strong research contributions undergraduates are making to advance the mission of the college.

Friday, April 26, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Newhouse 3, Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium

Student and faculty research and creative activities will be showcased to encourage collaboration in the  and across campus. Presenters include undergraduate students Isabel Madover (visual communications) and Sophia Maciejewski (broadcast and digital journalism).

Friday, April 26 (time to be announced)

Student participants in the LSAMP Program will present their research.

Tuesday, April 30, 3-5 p.m.

This celebration of undergraduate scholarship is an annual recognition of student research achievement in the social sciences. Several awards will also be announced.

Architecture Directed Research Final Reviews-
Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, Slocum Hall

McNair Scholars Research Symposium (date to be announced)

Consult ���ϲ����� for more information about additional upcoming research events and awards announcements. For more information on undergraduate research opportunities, visit the .

Now in their final year at ���ϲ�����, Treloar and Nayrouz feel confident they can fulfill the campaign slogan they ran on—to amplify student voices and meet the needs of students—when the dynamic duo was elected president and executive vice president, respectively, of the . The SA is the official student governing and advocacy body for the nearly 16,000 ���ϲ����� and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry undergraduates.

Promising to amplify student voices and meet the needs of ���ϲ����� and SUNY ESF students, Will Treloar (left) and Yasmin Nayrouz are excited to serve as Student Association president and executive vice president.

Treloar and Nayrouz are excited to hold these student government leadership positions while striving to get as many student voices as possible involved in the decision-making process on campus.

“Throughout my time in Student Association, the one thing that keeps me going is seeing the difference you can make on campus. Becoming SA president offered another opportunity to make a difference on campus, and it’s hard to turn that down,” says Treloar, who is studying economics and policy studies in the .

Treloar and Nayrouz have been involved in SA since their first year on campus. Before being elected to their current leadership roles, Treloar was speaker of the assembly and Nayrouz was vice president of university affairs.

They both credit their previous student government leadership roles with preparing them for the challenges of leading the SA.

Yasmin Nayrouz

“This organization has enabled me to make positive changes on campus, and I want to continue helping our students. Student Association advocates for and on behalf of students when speaking with administration to address student concerns—from Title IX policies to dining hall concerns—and by legislating to fund and create events or initiatives that support the well-being of our students,” says Nayrouz, a dual major who is studying English in the and public relations in the .

Serving as the leaders of the University’s undergraduate student population, Treloar and Nayrouz say the best way for them to have an impact is by listening to the needs of the students, making themselves accessible and working hard to ensure student concerns are heard and addressed.

With the fall semester underway, SA’s leaders continued a tradition started in the Spring 2022 semester, when the inaugural Student Body Needs Survey was delivered across campus. Treloar says the feedback from the survey has been tremendous, allowing SA’s elected leaders to put their fingers on the pulse of the student body.

The survey is just one way SA engages with ���ϲ�����’s undergraduates, but incorporating student feedback has guided the goals Treloar and Nayrouz have for the 2023-24 academic year.

Their main objectives include:

• following through on the Sustainability Report that was passed last year;
• continuing to foster an inclusive, accessible and welcoming campus for all;
• engaging with traditionally underrepresented student populations;
• supporting registered student organizations;
• improving the quality of the food in the dining halls and student accessibility to food through complimentary grocery trolley runs; and
• ensuring American Sign Language services are offered at all student events.

Will Treloar

They’re also looking forward to organizing on-campus events, including the Harvest Festival, Mental Health Awareness Week and the Fall and Spring Into Action volunteer efforts.

“This year will be considered successful if we’re able to get students involved in more University decision-making processes,” Treloar says.

“If our students know and feel that they can confidently come to the Student Association to address their concerns and make a positive impact on campus,” that will be a successful year, adds Nayrouz.

The ���ϲ����� Univesity and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) Faculty and Staff Bowling League is seeking new members. This is a fun handicap, non-sanctioned league accepting bowlers who are currently employed at the SUNY ESF or the University. Skill level does not matter; the beginner to high average bowler will be accepted. Beginners will be encouraged and coached by the more experienced and skilled bowlers. On Tuesdays from September through April, the league bowls at the Village Lanes at 201 E Manlius St, East ���ϲ�����, from 4:55 to 7:30 p.m. Practice bowling is 10 minutes before the league starts. Weekly fees are about $15 each week.

This league has a long history of bowling in the area, from Drumlins in the ’60s to the present day. Members have always been recruited from the University and SUNY ESF community. Last year, the league successfully recruited several new members; unfortunately, a few members will not be returning. New members who would like to join a team full-time or become league subs are encouraged to join. Each team consists of four bowlers with one or two substitutes. As an incentive, fees for league subs are paid by the team.

League play starts Wednesday, Sept. 12. A practice session will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 5; those interested are welcome to come and check out the league and teams.

Captains are Ray Leach, Aaron Knight, Jason LaTray, Dana Cooke, Eric Greenfield, Randy Money, Sue Taylor-Netzband and Mike Satchwell.

For more information, contact Paul Szemkow, league secretary, at 315.960.2066 or pszemkow@esf.edu or Dana Cooke, league president, at 315.559.7014 or shortorder@danacooke.com.

As part of several new research initiatives by the Lender Center to accelerate efforts to address the racial wealth gap and help dismantle the root causes of wealth disparity, the funded proposals—supported by the —provide support to scholars with new or ongoing research projects that relate to the causes, consequences and solutions on the problem of ever-expanding economic and social inequality.

The architecture team’s research project, “Closing the Racial Wealth Gap through Environmental Justice and Participatory Design,” intends to identify ways that the built environment can have a positive impact on basic life needs that are typically neglected in underprivileged communities, which include communities of color, low-income, disability, the elderly and immigrant populations. Through three phases—data analysis and design research, curricular implementation and impact and transferability—the team hopes to better understand the entrenched systems (policy, municipal, zoning, etc.) that have created and exacerbated racial wealth gaps.

CloudHouse Shade Structure, a temporary pavilion designed by Iman Fayyad in collaboration with the City of Cambridge in 2021, provided a space for respite in a park frequented by nearby daycare and school children as well as public housing residents in a low-income neighborhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo by Iman Fayyad)

With this knowledge, their project intends to engage communities through design technologies using Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other participatory tools to create opportunities for exchange, participation and co-production of knowledge to empower communities to have a voice into what is modeled and built within their local environments.

“The highlight of this project is its focus on participatory planning, a challenge that we will address through both technology and design, merging disciplines and expertise,” says Abu-Hamdi, principal investigator (PI) for the project. “The Lender Center is supporting our growing roster of faculty engaged in community-facing research, allowing us to become further recognized as a reliable partner to local communities, demonstrating the value of design in relation to ongoing economic, infrastructural, social and spatial challenges.”

In phase one of the team’s project, design strategies centered around environmental justice concerns such as urban heat islands and shade, accessibility/universal design and building construction technologies, will be developed to address how inadequate physical infrastructure, specifically with regard to design and construction, has historically excluded members of minority communities from participating in the construction, selection and design of community facilities, municipal resources and public recreation. In this way, communities, policymakers and planners can better understand the conditions that generated current developmental problems and the potential interventions that could reverse detrimental effects through design.

“There is a lot of opportunity to push our own disciplines in service of climate justice, sustainable building practices and community involvement,” says Fayyad, co-PI for the project. “Through our combined efforts with research, practice and teaching, we can consider how to make public spaces healthier, more accessible and equitable, and importantly, explore how design can empower communities by providing aesthetic value as well as functional, efficient and necessary infrastructure to improve the livelihoods of marginalized populations.”

Tree Canopy Score in ���ϲ�����, New York (Rendering by Daniel Cronan)

Site-specific implementation is another primary goal of the first year of funding and phase two of the project. The team plans to create and prepare content for curricular development of a studio course jointly led by faculty at the ���ϲ����� School of Architecture and SUNY-ESF in which students will research, design, develop and build proposals for public infrastructure for select communities in the City of ���ϲ�����. To propose the curriculum, the team will develop design research over the next year as “products” (tools and techniques) that students will use as part of the course.

“We see this endeavor as a great challenge and hope to expand the scope of this year’s research focus to provide transferrable skills, frameworks and expanded resources to build awareness and resilience within these communities,” says Cronan, co-PI for the project.

In the third phase of the project, the team will assess the applicability of their research and development of the BIM platform, as a digital twin, for broader purposes and for a variety of sites—rural, urban, large or small. This interface, and the site-specific design interventions that can be realized, are key to community empowerment in any location, to serve any variety of community needs. Through the BIM application and design proposals (both in the form of a built prototype and further speculative variations), the team’s co-production framework of analysis and design will allow for transferability to future research applied to communities with similar concerns and further research beyond the applied case study for ���ϲ�����.

“We are grateful to the Lender Center for providing this opportunity for us to evolve our research and for supporting efforts on campus to connect with our immediate communities in ���ϲ����� as well as address greater systemic issues across the United States,” says the team.

The team will present their collected data, built proposal and speculative future proposals at the annual , jointly hosted by SUNY-ESF and ���ϲ����� faculty and students, in March 2024 and March 2025. For more information about the Lender Center for Social Justice’s programmatic initiative to explore the racial wealth gap in the United States, visit .

The first event will be a virtual learning and development session on April 6: . Recycling laws and regulations vary by county, state and country and there is often confusion over which items belong in the recycling bin. In this session, students, faculty and staff can sign up to learn what is recyclable and what happens to your recyclables on and off campus. Sustainability Management will decipher how commonly confused items should be disposed of and answer any questions.

Another virtual learning and development session hosted by Sustainability Management will be held April 10: . Native habitats are disappearing rapidly. Are you missing Monarch butterflies and other native butterflies? In this session, learn how to select and plant a native garden to help support pollinators to provide nectar and pollen, and support pollinator habitats. As a affiliate, Sustainability Management will share insights into starting a new pollinator garden and how to start your own.

On April 18, Sustainability Management will host a at Schine Student Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sustainability-related campus organizations, services and groups that serve ���ϲ����� and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) have been invited to attend, including:

• Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA)
• ���ϲ����� Student Association Sustainability Committee
• ���ϲ����� Dynamic Sustainability Lab
• ���ϲ����� Haulers
• ���ϲ����� Food Services
• ���ϲ����� Graduate Student Organization Climate Action Committee
• SUNY ESF

Learn how these organizations and others play a part in sustainability on campus, how to get involved and come with any burning questions you might have.

Other events include a clothing swap on April 19 from 1 to 4 p.m., hosted by the Student Association Sustainability Committee. Students can bring a few items, browse the selection and try on their choices before swapping!

The Dynamic Sustainability Lab will also host a Sustainable Film Festival and screening of “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” with a special interview with director Chris Renaud on April 7. On April 11, 2020 presidential candidate, businessman and climate activist from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Eggers Hall.

One of the goals of the most recent is to improve communication and engagement with the campus community. Events like these are an opportunity for Sustainability Management to engage with students, faculty and staff, answer questions and learn how we can improve as a department to limit the University’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

For more details on many of these events, check out the . For the virtual sessions, you can click on the registration link to attend. Follow Sustainability Management on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @SustainableSU or visit for more information. With questions or suggestions, email sustain@syr.edu.

How can everyday people make sense of climate change’s effect on the planet and human life? Through creative outlets like storytelling, interpretation and art, the humanities can demonstrate how environmental concerns are intertwined with social, economic and cultural issues. Addressing the climate crisis through a humanistic lens is a guiding principle behind the Environmental Storytelling Series of CNY, says co-founder , Dean’s Professor of Community Engagement and associate professor of writing and rhetoric in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

“Oftentimes when people think of environmental justice they think of carbon emissions, ocean acidification, melting icecaps, deforestation and other incredibly important causes and consequences of climate change,” explains Nordquist. “What they don’t often consider are the ways that environmental justice is intertwined with social justice and racial justice.”

Coordinated by A&S’ (EHN) and , the (ESSCNY) is an initiative of community-based arts and humanities programs geared toward the pursuit of environmental justice. This year’s series, “Environmental Storytelling and the Collective Work of Repair” is part of the 2022-23 on Repair. Programming throughout the year has featured photography, poetry, readings, talks and film screenings by different environmental storytellers.

As the climate crisis worsens, research has shown that low-socioeconomic communities are often disproportionately affected. Factors such as education, political power and access to resources play key roles in climate vulnerability. As climate change becomes more widespread, existing inequalities can become exacerbated, which is why collective organizing–coming together to share information and act– is critical at this particular time.

Connecting With Local Youth through Artistic Expression

Engaging youth across the city and region is an important facet of ESSCNY. Last December, the series welcomed poet , whose award-winning “ecopoetry” challenges readers to reckon with the colonial legacies which have shaped people’s relationships with the environment. Francis was also a featured presenter during the Department of English’s

Lauren Cooper

Lauren Cooper, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of English, helped organize Francis’s visit and curated a learning guide on . Her work on that project was supported by a from the Humanities Center and the .

As a scholar who specializes in the climate history of the Romantic period and its relationship to Romantic literature, she says artistic forms such as poetry offer new ways of thinking about, interacting with and living with the environment.

“The way we’re taught to think about the environment matters for climate action and it comes from inherited legacies of humanist thought. The poems we read in school, the landscape postcards we buy, the places we think are valuable and worth saving for aesthetic reasons and the human/nature binary all have their roots in older European humanist traditions,” says Cooper. “If we want to change how we think, we need to first come to terms with those legacies and look to the writers, like Vievee Francis, who are trying to teach us new ways of orienting ourselves.”

To put this in perspective, Cooper points to Banff and Yellowstone–the first national parks in Canada and the United States–which reflect Romantic ideas about pristine uninhabited wilderness and its value for humanity. Each feature massive snowcapped mountains, beautiful lakes, towering forests and thundering waterfalls. But what Cooper explains is often forgotten are the stories of those who lived there before those lands were turned into national parks.

“They were home to Indigenous populations who were forcibly kicked off their land in order to create this version of ‘wilderness,’” says Cooper. “Environmental storytellers and poets like Francis allow people to recognize the myths they’ve been told about the environment—many of which elide violent legacies of colonialism and racism—in order to transform their ecological relationships.”

Students from Write Out participated in a writing workshop with poet Vievee Francis at the Salt City Market as part of the Environmental Storytelling Series of Central New York. Photo credit: Katie Zilcosky

During Francis’s visit, ESSCNY hosted a writing workshop with Write Out, a community-based creative writing collective for middle and high school students in ���ϲ�����. Francis shared her poetry, which draws on histories of slavery, Blackness, intergenerational trauma, family history, personal history, literary history and environmental history, and the students wrote responses inspired by Francis’s work.

“In Write Out we try to impress upon the students that poetry is a living thing; people are still writing it, it still matters and their voices are unbelievably important,” Cooper says. “Seeing Francis read in-person to a crowded room of intent listeners brought that point home more effectively than we could ever have done otherwise.”

Cooper, who plans to become a professor of English after she defends her dissertation, says one of the most rewarding aspects of being a part of the ESSCNY team is getting to think and talk about the environment in a manner that is distinct from her own research.

“Academia so often cordons us off into our own specialties, to think and learn individually or with a community of people who are trained to think and learn just like you,” notes Cooper. “This series is a chance to do interdisciplinary work that is vital, timely and engaged in a meaningful way with the community around us.”

Collective Action

Central to the mission of ESSCNY is developing an ongoing exchange among people in the city of ���ϲ�����, the broader Central New York area and ���ϲ�����, says Nordquist. One example of this was a program in the spring which brought attention to reproductive justice within the city of ���ϲ�����.

SeQuoia Kemp, founder of and founding member of , an organization providing perinatal care to Black, African and Indigenous communities in ���ϲ����� and CNY, led an event titled “Environmental Justice is Racial Justice is Reproductive Justice.” The program traced out the relationship between environmental racism and reproductive justice, highlighting how the health of mothers is a key barometer of community health.

ESSCNY hosted SeQuoia Kemp for an event bringing awareness to reproductive justice. Photo credit: Jason Kohlbrenner

Kemp’s event brought attention to Maternal Toxic Zones–areas deemed unsafe spaces for maternal health. Her work raises awareness on how factors such as air pollution, food insecurity and housing insecurity are tied to the conversation of environmental justice. Events like Kemp’s allow community collaborators to educate members of the University on the environmental challenges that are most pressing to individuals living in the city of ���ϲ�����, from home environment to neighborhood environment to natural environment.

“Our intention is to bring about ongoing discussion across ages and across community spaces,” says Nordquist. “Instead of a standard speaker series, we’re pursuing an ongoing exchange among people across the city and the region around these important issues.”

A Helpful Guide to Learning

To engage communities in continuing dialogue, each event is accompanied by a learning guide, developed by faculty, staff undergraduate and graduate students at ���ϲ�����, SUNY ESF, and local secondary schools. The idea is based off of Kettering Foundation Issue Guides, which frame public concerns in a manner that positions options for action in a clear and meaningful way. Similar to the Kettering guides, ESSCNY learning guides provide a brief overview of an environmental issue, an introduction to the storyteller, helpful terms to know, discussion questions, writing prompts and calls to action. They are then shared around the community at schools, libraries, community centers and online.

Winston Scott

Winston Scott, a Ph.D. student in sociology in the Maxwell School, was awarded an Engaged Humanities Fellowship over the winter to lead the coordination effort of a . Scott, who is also an operations coordinator for Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center, collaborated with Kemp to produce components for that guide, including calls to action for individuals who are lacking adequate access to perinatal care.

Documentarian Jason Corwin spoke with students about how he uses digital media in his environmental justice initiatives. Photo credit: Jason Kohlbrenner

Nahar says working with the series has allowed her to tap into her identity as both a scholar and an activist, aligning with her long-term goals of being an advocate for climate justice.

“Since I am in the religion department in A&S and the environmental studies department at ESF, it was a good fit to work on something related to the stories we tell ourselves and each other about what life feels like at this moment of the climate crisis, and how we replenish ourselves, our communities and find the stories that give us hope,” says Nahar. “As humans, it is important to learn from and cherish each other and other species with whom we share this planet.”

Looking Forward

The series will wrap up with two more anchor events this spring featuring on April 13 and 14. Lakey, who co-founded the Earth Quaker Action Team, will discuss that organization’s pursuit of ecojustice as it relates to race, class, queerness and the climate crisis. He will also speak with university and community members about crafting nonviolent social change campaigns to be inclusive, powerful and successful.

Looking to the future, EHN was recently awarded a $40,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, which will support ESSCNY for several years to come, says Nordquist. Next academic year, activities will focus on the intersections of housing and environmental justice. Events and learning guides will explore the relationship of racial segregation, discriminatory land use practices and environmental exposures such as lead, superfund sites, asthma risks and substandard living conditions.

Through increased support and participation, Nordquist expects ESSCNY to grow in both scope and impact in the coming years. Through its diverse mix of events, programs, workshops and courses, which connect local community members and members of the university with the region’s and world’s leading environmental storytellers, ESSCNY will remain an important space for individuals to tell their stories and advocate for environmental equity.

“This effort is inspired by a sense of urgency around climate crisis,” says Nordquist. “The series offers an opportunity to mobilize more people across the region so we can invest together in better understanding and acting in response to ecological issues.”

All are welcome to attend and honor the important contributions of respected members of the University community. For more information about the service, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901.

The names of those who have passed away will be read and candles will be lit collectively in their memory. The service will also include prayer, spoken remarks and music. Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available.

The service is inspired by the Remembrance Scholars’ motto of “Look Back, Act Forward,” a call to action to remember those we have lost and act forward in their memory.

If you know of someone who passed away between Jan. 1, 2022, and the present, please forward their name and affiliation to Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu by Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Six SUNY-ESF graduates joined the School of Education’s M.S. in Science Education (Grades 7-12) program together in fall 2022. Pictured in Professor Sharon Dotger’s science education teaching methods class are (front row, L to R) Nolan Lawroski, Lara Collins, Mary Hillebrand, and Liz Malecki and (back row, L to R) Meghan Morrol and Mae Hurley.

That last scenario is certainly the case for six SUNY ESF graduates who, in summer 2022, enrolled in the School of Education’s (SOE) 13-month

Recruiting science students from SUNY ESF just made sense to , associate professor and science education program leader. “Science education students must have a bachelor’s degree in a science that aligns with New York State’s criteria for the subject-area certification,” she says. “SUNY ESF offers 27 undergraduate programs, many of which are aligned with biology certification. Our close proximity and collaborative arrangements with SUNY ESF make communication regarding our master’s program relatively easy.”

“Having a critical mass of SUNY-ESF alumni beginning their teacher preparation together as a cohort has the potential to support them on their journey as well as catalyze a deeper relationship in the future for the two institutions,” says SOE Interim Dean .

Dotger first met with prospective science education students at SUNY ESF before the 2021 winter break. She explained the advantages and benefits of SOE’s science education teacher preparation program, including a curriculum that focuses on putting equitable and antiracist education into practice, a 50 percent SOE scholarship for all master’s and certificate students, New York State teacher certification for successful graduates, and extensive, guided field placements that begin within a few weeks of the start of SOE classes.

“This term, my students have a nine-week, half-day field placement in Jamesville-Dewitt or Solvay, two local school districts where I have had long-standing collaborations with science teachers,” says Dotger. “I’m grateful that host teachers have been so welcoming, and I know that the teacher candidates will have opportunities to practice the inclusive and equitable science teaching we’re studying in methods class.”

“Our candidates are clear that science is relevant to the daily lives of everyone,” says Dotger. “This course and its placements are designed with the intent of our student teachers helping young people develop that clarity, too.”

The SUNY ESF Science Education Cohort

Lara Collins

• Hometown: Coppell, TX
• SUNY-ESF Major: Wildlife Science
• Activities/Hobbies: Hiking, snowboarding, swimming, kayaking—“Basically anything related to the outdoors and nature”

What drew you to the M.S. in science education?

The fact that it’s a one-year program, the 50% scholarship, and that I qualify for a teaching certificate if I successfully complete the program. Also, there is no relocation because the program and placements are in the ���ϲ����� area, and I can teach older school students, which I prefer.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring to your classroom?

I want to learn from my peers about how to be a student teacher. I also want to understand how to deal with bullying, how to communicate with parents, and so forth. I hope to take ideas I like but also remember things I don’t want to duplicate in my class.

Why should young students learn and understand science?

We are continuously expanding our knowledge about the earth, but so much still needs to be discovered. Young students need to learn about scientific methods so they can solve problems and create a better quality of life.

Mary Hillebrand

• • • Hometown: Buffalo, NY
    • SUNY-ESF Major: Environmental Education and Interpretation
    • Activities/Hobbies: ���ϲ����� Western Equestrian Team, SUNY-ESF Bass Fishing Team, plus hiking, birding, and horseback riding

What drew you to the M.S. in science education?

Professors Ben and Sharon Dotger led an informational meeting at SUNY-ESF, which was recommended to me by SUNY-ESF Professor Shari Dann. They were so kind, passionate, and really got me interested in the program. I love to share the “cool stuff” about science and help people connect to nature.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring to your classroom?

I ultimately want to learn how to best engage, inspire, and empower every single student. I want to help students find their voice and show them how cool science can be.

Why should young students learn and understand science?

Science is understanding the world we live in, from what’s going on in our bodies to how you turn on the TV to how elephants came to be. Knowing how to engage in science and scientific thinking is how we make sense of the world.

Margaret “Mae” Hurley

• • • Hometown: Rochester, NY
    • SUNY-ESF Major: Environmental education and interpretation
    • Activities/Hobbies: Writing, art, collecting, roller skating, and video games

What drew you to the M.S. in science education?

This is a formal teacher preparation program, with good career options and the possibility that I can travel with my degree.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring to your classroom?

An understanding of my practice, including planning, as well as learning skills and then practicing them in the field placements.

Why should young students learn and understand science?

Learning science creates informed and educated members of society that will continue to help, protect, enhance, and understand the world around us.

Nolan Lawroski

• • • Hometown: Shelby Township, MI
    • SUNY-ESF Major: Environmental biology, with specialties in mycology and parasitology
    • Activities/Hobbies: Baking, cooking, and video games

What drew you to the M.S. in science education?

It was a perfect opportunity at the perfect time. And all things considered, it is relatively affordable.

What do hope to learn that you can bring to your classroom?

Classroom management, lesson planning skills, and how to adapt to different learning needs of my students.

Why should young students learn and understand science?

It is the reason we are able to understand how everything in the world works.

Elizabeth “Liz” Malecki

• • • Hometown: Buffalo, NY
    • SUNY-ESF Major: Governmental education and interpretation, with a specialty in governmental writing and rhetoric
    • Activities/Hobbies: SUNY ESF Woodsmen team during undergraduate, plus hiking and backpacking

What drew you to the M.S. in science education?

It was a great opportunity to further my education at an excellent school.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring to your classroom?

The methods and skills to make science more accessible for all students.

Why should young students learn and understand science?

Biology is much more than just learning about mitosis or evolution. Biology—and science as a whole—is about learning how to observe, question, and critically think about the world around us. These skills are used every day, and it is important that young people are equipped with them.

Meghan Morrol

• • • • Hometown: Rochester, NY
      • SUNY-ESF Major: Conservation biology, with a specialty in native studies and a major interest in mycology
      • Activities/Hobbies: “I love all things outdoors and find myself doing lots of hiking and camping. When I am not outside or in the classroom, I am usually crocheting, writing, or doing yoga”

What drew you to the M.S. in science education?

The idea of an accelerated one-year program that prioritized antiracist pedagogy drew me to this program. Now, more than ever, we need teachers who can work collaboratively to educate diverse learners in a way that honors each student’s strengths and needs.

What do you hope to learn that you can bring to your classroom?

I hope to find equitable teaching strategies that push students to investigate their world and approach problems with a spirit of inquiry. At its core sciences pushes us all to meet everything with an open mind. As a teacher, I strive to reflect open-mindedness and reasoning and to constantly encourage my students to think critically about their environment.

Why should young students learn and understand science?

Young students need to learn how to ask questions and decipher the world around them using evidence. Science is crucial to preparing students to have the reasoning and inquiry needed to understand the world we live in.

Learn more about the School of Education’s  or contact Rebecca Pettit, inquiry and application specialist, at rrpettit@syr.edu or 315.443.2956

The celebration seeks to honor the life and legacy of individuals who exemplify the spirit, life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. yet have not received widespread recognition or been previously honored for their efforts. These individuals represent a direct expression of ���ϲ�����’s commitment to fostering and supporting a university welcoming to all.

If you know an individual who should be honored and celebrated, please consider nominating them for our 2023 celebration.

included the Institute of Technology at ���ϲ����� Central Varsity Football Team, ���ϲ����� community members, and ���ϲ����� faculty, students and staff.

Nominations may be made in any of the following categories:

• youth/teen from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
• adult from Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga or Cortland counties
• currently enrolled student at ���ϲ����� or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
• faculty or staff from ���ϲ����� or SUNY ESF

The Unsung Hero Award nominations are due by Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Nomination forms can be found .

The 2023 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place on Jan. 22, 2023, in the JMA Wireless Dome. Further information will be announced in the coming weeks at .

With questions regarding the Unsung Hero Awards, please contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu.

Those words convey the atmosphere evident at last week’s inaugural BioInspired Institute symposium and the sentiments of students, faculty, staff, University leaders and external stakeholders attending the event to describe the research cluster’s efforts of the past three-plus years.

In celebration of academic excellence and institutional collaboration, nearly 140 attendees overflowed the Life Sciences Building atrium, where 57 undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows presented posters illustrating their interdisciplinary research projects. The work of institute members spans the fields of life science, engineering, physics and chemistry and is focused in bioengineering and biomedical projects involving smart materials, development and disease, and cell form and function.

As the first in-person conference the institute has been able to host, the event represented the diversity of projects being undertaken by undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, along with faculty from dozens of interdisciplinary research labs. The unique collaboration features initiatives by faculty and students in the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering and Computer Science, and uniquely also includes researchers and centers at neighboring institutions SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Fifty-seven students presented project posters. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Setting A ‘High Bar’

Chancellor Kent Syverud expressed enthusiasm at how the institute has intertwined diverse interdisciplinary interests, generated projects bridging two University colleges and forged new working relationships among colleagues at three different academic institutions. He said that the institute’s successful evolution is precisely the type of cooperative effort envisioned when the research cluster was first developed and that the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering and Computer Science have “set a high bar for what a collaborative partnership can achieve.” The institute also “has lived up to many dreams already” in work seeking cures for cancer, bioprinting organs and developing smart mesh that communicates medical information, he said. The BioInpsired team is growing quickly too because Invest ���ϲ����� funding has allowed the hiring of 11 new cluster-dedicated faculty this year, with plans in progress to hire 12 more, Chancellor Syverud said.

Postdoctoral fellow Ashis Sinha presents his lightning talk to the audience. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter said the institute’s pursuits, path and progress, despite two years of COVID challenges since its 2019 founding, is “on this dynamic trajectory that, for me, is a model for a lot of the work that we want to do at the University more broadly.” Ritter said she is deeply encouraged by the institute’s record of training 120 students and post doctoral fellows, engaging over 60 faculty from three different institutions, and significantly boosting the dollar value of grants received. All of those markers “are evidence of the power of this interdisciplinary approach,” she said.

M. Lisa Manning, director of the institute and William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, enjoyed seeing how the conference facilitated interactions among researchers from various disciplines, allowed visual presentations of the breadth of research underway and generated connections between interdisciplinary collaborators. “Biochemists find they can better understand neurodegenerative diseases when they think about the involved proteins as a material that self-segregates due to physical interactions,” Manning said. “And biomedical engineers can develop better biomaterials for healing wounds by incorporating new anti-microbial compounds.”

Making Connections

Postdoctoral fellow Ashis Sinha, who came to the institute in 2021 after earning a Ph.D. from Upstate Medical University the year before, presented a poster and a lightning talk on how molecular mechanisms contribute to Rhett syndrome pathology and new therapeutic interventions. For him, the symposium presented an opportunity to connect with many other researchers. “I work in a neuroscience/biology lab and to learn about the research being undertaken in the physics and biomaterials divisions was intriguing,” Sinha said. “It was also challenging to prepare my presentations with enough detail to convey the challenges of my project and highlight key findings for a non-biology audience. It was a great learning experience.”

Fourth-year doctoral student Jingjing Ji researches behaviors of elastin-like polypeptides and how proteins repel water. (Photo by Diane Stirling)

Another presenter, fourth-year doctoral student Jingjing Ji, said participating in the poster session offered the chance to help her learn to communicate about and understand the relevance and importance of her research. She said she appreciated gaining feedback on her work, which looks at the behaviors of elastin-like polypeptides and how proteins repel water. “I am so glad my modeling work was highly praised by the researchers in the poster session. Now, I am developing an interactive web-based online platform to perform the calculations which will offer a user-friendly interface to the research community.”

Win Thurlow, executive director of ���ϲ�����-based biomed industry association MedTech and a BioInspired external advisory board member, said he was impressed by the array of research that is taking place at the institute. “Today has been an exciting day to really witness the depth of the scholarship and to harness the collaborative nature of what’s going on here,” Thurlow said. “It really has the power to be transformative with respect to where we go in the biomed industry and where we go in terms of medical developments. This is exactly the kind of path that we need to take as we look to grow this industry locally, regionally and nationally.”

M. Lisa Manning, institute director, with symposium award winners, from left: Nicole Maurici, Maryam Ramezani, Nghia LeBa Thai, Nicholas Najjar, Amber Ford, Lauren Mayse, Gargi De, Ashis Sinha and Professor of Biology Susan Parks. Not pictured is award winner Mengfei He. (Photo by Angela Ryan.)

Remarkable Energy

Jeremy Steinbacher, the institute’s director of operations, echoed that positive assessment. “The enthusiasm and positive energy at the event was remarkable. We truly got a chance to show everyone what we have been doing for the last three-plus years in building community and supporting them with programming,” Steinbacher said. “Hopefully, we set a vision for the future and generated even more enthusiasm for continuing to build the institute.”

Awards were presented for poster and presentation talks. The top poster award went to Maryam Ramezani (biomedical and chemical engineering). Lauren Mayse (biomedical and chemical engineering and physics) was awarded second place; third place went to Nicole Maurici (SUNY Upstate Medical University); and Amber Ford (chemistry) received an honorable mention.  Nicholas Najjar (chemistry) was named as the researcher whose project has the best chance of commercialization. His work involves promising therapeutic substances that may help alleviate nausea, emesis and anorexia in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Nghia LeBa Thai (biomedical and chemical engineering) won the Stevenson Biomaterials Award, with Gargi De (civil and environmental engineering) winning second place. Two awards were presented for lightning-talks to Mengfei He (physics) and Ashis Sinha (biology).

The SU and ESF Faculty and Staff Bowling League is seeking new members. This is a fun handicap, non-sanctioned league accepting bowlers of all genders who are currently employed at the College or University. Skill level does not matter; the beginner to high average bowler will be accepted. Beginners will be encouraged and coached by the more experienced and skilled bowlers. At present, the league bowls at Village Lanes, 201 E. Manlius St. in East ���ϲ�����, from 4:55 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, September through April. Practice bowling is 10 minutes before the league starts. Weekly fees are about $15 each week.

The league has a long history of bowling in the area; from Drumlins in the ’60s to the present day. Members have always been recruited from the SU and ESF communities. Last year, the league successfully recruited several new members; unfortunately, a few members will not be returning. This leaves the league short one team.

The league is searching for new members who would like to join a team or become league subs. There is also an opening for a full team. Each team consists of four bowlers with one or two substitutes. As an incentive, fees for league subs are paid by the team.

League play starts Sept. 6. There will be a practice session on Aug. 30; those interested are welcome to come and check out the league and teams.

Captains are Ray Leach, Aaron Knight, Jason LaTray, Dana Cooke, Eric Greenfield, Randy Money and Sue Taylor-Netzband.

For more information, contact Paul Szemkow, league secretary, at 315.960.2066 or pszemkow@esf.edu or Aaron Knight, league president, at 315.446-1011 or acknight@esf.edu.

Vedyun Mishra G’21

Vedyun Mishra G’21, a graduate student in the School of Architecture, has been selected for Metropolis Magazine’s Future100, an elite group of architecture and interior architecture students from the U.S. and Canada.

The inaugural award recognizes the top 100 graduating students in North America who, as emerging leaders, are interpreting and reimagining the fields of architecture and interior architecture.

Selected from a diverse pool of nearly 300 candidates, Mishra is one of only 50 architecture students to receive the honor, selected based on the creativity, rigor, skill and professionalism exhibited by his portfolio and nomination entry.

“We were blown away by the quality of work you and your peers submitted, and we felt that you represent a bright future for our industry—one of beautiful, thoughtful, innovative, sustainable and inclusive design,” said Avinash Rajagopal, editor in chief of the magazine, in the award letter.

Mishra was nominated by Paul Crovella, assistant professor of forest and natural resources management at SUNY-ESF, and Daekwon Park and Fei Wang, assistant professors in the School of Architecture.

His contains a number of projects that explore modularity as a way of addressing pressing social challenges. In Recondition, a veteran support facility, Mishra looks at using principles of evidence-based design and universal design to conceptualize a new type of assisted living community for service members and their families who have been affected by the repercussions of war and deployment.

And in JAN Connect, a prototype idea submitted to UnBox2017—an international competition that challenged participants to model public spaces out of recycled shipping containers—Mishra and his partner created an 8-foot by 8-foot module system to amalgamate various public utilities for underserved districts such as a space crunch metropolitan like Delhi, India.

A rendering of Ancient Hammam bath house and wellness center, designed by Vedyun Mishra G’21.

“Vedyun is no doubt a great student and an incredible collaborator,” says Wang. “He is a hard worker and more importantly, a critical thinker that has a strong passion for sustainability and a real-world design sense of architecture.”

In addition to the prestigious Metropolis Future100 honor, during his time in the School of Architecture, Mishra was named a winner in this year’s JUMP into STEM online building science competition, served as architectural lead for the joint ���ϲ�����/SUNY-ESF Solar Decathlon Design Challenge team in 2019-2020, was chosen to give a talk on the power of inclusive architecture at the student-run conference this month and, most recently, received a Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work.

“I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for my work. I always try to champion the thoughts of inclusivity and sustainability through my work and receiving this recognition definitely gives me encouragement to carry on this journey to build a more responsible world,” says Mishra.

After graduation, Mishra plans to join a firm that echoes his vision and allows him to contribute to the built environment through his research and design.

“I have been sincerely impressed by Vedyun’s leadership qualities and communication skills,” says Park. “Coupled with his proactive, confident and conscientious personality, I have no doubt that he will continue to grow as a thoughtful, competent and creative designer and leader.”

To view the full Future100 list, visit .

Due to COVID-19 and ongoing guidelines to promote health and safety, the 2021 ceremony will be offered entirely through Zoom. All are welcome to attend and honor the important contributions of respected members of the University community. Please register online on the . For more information about the service, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901.

The names of those who have passed away will be read and candles will be lit collectively in their memory. Remarks will be offered by Chancellor Kent Syverud, SUNY-ESF President Joanie Mahoney and others. The service will also include prayer and music by the Hendricks Chapel Choir, led by director Peppie Calvar. Communication Access Real-Time Translation and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available.

The service is inspired by the Remembrance Scholars’ motto of “Look Back, Act Forward,” a call to action to remember those we have lost and act forward in their memory.

“The Service of Commemoration not only provides us with a moment to honor those who have recently passed away, but in light of the ongoing global pandemic, we also view this particular ceremony as an opportunity to acknowledge all those who grieve—both near and far—and are in need of our shared support,” says Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol. “We hope this time of pause and prayer will nurture the spirit and soul of our campus community and beyond.”

Those who will be honored at this year’s ceremony are:

���ϲ����� Faculty/Staff/Retirees/Trustees/Friends (2019 to present)

Bruce Abbey, Clayton Allen, Joseph Antonuccio, Nicolae Babuts, J. Patrick Barrett, Jane Battaglia, Louann Beavers, Barbra Boatwright, G. Matthew Bonham, Margaret Bowser, Michael Brandt, Lorraine Branham, Michelle Brisson, Mary Ellen Brzozowski, Anne Brzuszkiewicz, John Burdick, Barbara Burrows, Margaret Charters, Sherman Chottiner, Cynthia Clark, Felix Cochren, Peter Compeau, George Comstock, Robert Congel, Nicoletta Cosgrove, Clarice Crawford, Olga Czerepin, Barbara Decker, Joseph Delaney, Marjorie (Ruth) Deuel, Wynetta Devore, Carrie Dischiave, Darshan Singh Dosanjh, Jerome Duda, Thomas Emery, Basil Fabbioli, Tim Featherstone, James Feuerstein, Bernice Fisk, David Flaum, Mary Ann Fraser, E. Bruce Fredrikson, Robert Frendak, Alexander Friedman, Annette Fuligni, Andre Gallois, Charles Gates, Frederick German, Joshua Goldberg, Carol Green, Cynthia Gridley, Barbara Harris, Kathleen Hartelius, William Headlee, Peter Herzog, Edward Ihle, Richard Ingersoll, Jerry Jacobs, Joseph Julian, Harvey Kaiser, Kathleen Kelly, Stephen Kramer, Richard (Dick) Lacy, Paul Lance, Bridget Lawson, Victor Joe Lazarow, Sid Lerner, Lowell Lingo, Donal Little, Floyd Little, Frederic Lyman, Sabine Mahunik, David Marc, C. Marshall Matlock, Joann K. May, Mary Ann McClanahan, Suzanne McDougal, Josy McGinn, Donald Meinig, William Meyer, John Miller, William Moon, Ann Mooney, Mildred Moreland, Robert Newman Jr., Mary O’Brien, Mary Lou Ogletree, Mohamed Onsi, Ardean Orr, Thomas O’Shea, Thomas Pastorello, Julius Pericola, Mary Perta, Evangeline (Angie) Petrarca, Frederick Phelps, Richard (Eric) Posenauer, David Potter, Felicia Proud, Joyce Puchalski, Charles Rauhe, Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke, Joan Roberts, Paul Rohadfox, Joan Sacco, Tara Schroer, Jane Spingler, Mary Ann Stevener, Joel Stinson, Lloyd Swanson, Sherri Taylor, Hailu Tefferi, Constance Timberlake, Gary Trento, Joseph VanBeveren, Thomas Vedder, Richard Vook, Molly Clark Voorheis, Scott Watson, Thomas Walsh, Evan Weissman, David Wilemon, Robert Wolfson, Ruth Livingston Wynn, Ruth Ziemer, Elizabeth Zimba

���ϲ����� Students (2019 to present)

Armand Ahishakiye, Noah Buntain, Charisse Calaquian, Will Georges, Allan Gonzalez, Brianna Herrera, Ryan Kolenovic, John (Jack) Lundin, David Moran, Zaiden Geraige Neto, David Moran, Margaret Petri, Trevor Daley Pierce, Laura Rodriguez, Helena Kibasumba Sekarore, Clément Sutter

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Faculty, Staff, Emeriti and Retirees (2019 to present)

Scott Becksted, Robert Chambers, Phillip Craul, Thomas Petrie, Guy Pirolla, William Porter, Norm Richards, Scott Saroff, Lorraine Scoville, Johannes Smid, Robert Werner, William T. Winter

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Students (2019 to present)

Matthew Crovella (ESF affiliated), Jared Fearby, David Lang, Beth Ann Newkirk

If you know of someone who passed away between Jan. 1, 2019, and the present who is not listed above, please forward his or her name and affiliation to Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu by Wednesday, March 10.

From Jan. 28–29, 19 students from 11 teams from across the county participated in a two-day virtual event, hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), designed to replicate the experiences they would have during an on-site competition.

Trisha Gupta G’21

Each team had 10 minutes to present their project to a team of judges—drawn from the building science community—who evaluated the presentations based on their technical, innovation and diversity merits, as well as to a virtual audience comprised of professors, classmates and families of the competitors.

Trisha Gupta ’21 (M.S.) and Vedyun Mishra ’21 (M.S.), both master’s degree students in the School of Architecture, were judged one of the four winning teams for their project, “Enabling the Proliferation of Energy Auditing.”

“We are very proud of Trisha and Vedyun for their outstanding achievement,” says Michael Speaks, dean of the School of Architecture. “This deserved recognition is not only the result of their hard work but also of the collaboration between SUNY-ESF and the ‘Design Energy Futures’ M.S. in Architecture program at the School of Architecture.”

Vedyun Mishra G’21

This year’s competition, jointly managed by NREL and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), asked students to research, collaborate and develop possible solutions for three key issues facing the building science industry: advanced building construction methods, building energy audits for residential or commercial buildings, and grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB).

Completed as an independent project for the graduate-level Sustainable Energy Systems for Buildings course (CME 505) at SUNY-ESF, Gupta and Mishra responded to the prompt “to develop technical solutions to expedite energy audits or develop a simplified, yet effective, energy audit methodology, by finding ways to reduce time and cost compared to current audit practices.”

Guided by faculty advisor Paul Crovella, assistant professor of forest and natural resources management at SUNY-ESF, the team’s project addressed the need for accurate and cost-effective residential building energy audits by looking at how the use of drones, infrared camera technology and machine learning could help evolve and automate the process.

“We are proposing an innovative solution to combine the power of using different but interconnected technologies to harness the true potential of energy auditing for the future,” says Mishra.

As winners of the final round of the competition, Gupta and Mishra received paid 10-week summer internship offers at ORNL and NREL, respectively, to work on projects related to net zero buildings and renewable energy.

“I’m looking forward to my journey post-graduation with the hope that I can contribute to a better and sustainable world,” says Gupta.

Since 2018, the “JUMP into STEM” (which stands for Join the discussion, Unveil innovation, Make connections, Promote tech-to-market) competition has inspired students from diverse backgrounds and an interdisciplinary mix of majors to address real-world building science issues using creative problem-solving skills.

The 2020–21 program year had the largest field of student projects to date. A total of 49 ideas were submitted from 144 students representing 29 different colleges and universities.

JUMP’s long-term goal is to increase the diversity of building science professionals so that many perspectives contribute to the clean energy transition.

For a complete list of winners and to learn more about “JUMP into STEM,” visit .

The center—the first of its kind in the United States—will be devoted to practices in waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.

It will focus on six specific areas: community engagement, outreach, policy development, public education, research and technical assistance with the intention of:

• promoting waste prevention and reduction—particularly packaging reduction and product stewardship;
• encouraging closed-loop, responsible purchasing;
• developing economic markets for recyclables, fostering entrepreneurship and helping convert manufacturing to use recycling feedstock;
• launching a comprehensive community outreach and public education campaign, and facilitating additional stakeholder engagement;
• identifying new methods to manage non-recyclable fibrous materials through the development of composting options; and
• identifying new methods to manage non-recyclable fibrous materials through the development of unique conversion options.

���ϲ�����’s Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (SU-CSCS) is receiving a $1 million sub-award from SUNY-ESF to conduct statewide outreach and education, including expanding and developing a new version of the Recycle Right NY outreach campaign. This campaign will prioritize reduction of wasted materials, promote reuse and repair, improve the quality of recyclables collected, increase the rate of recyclables captured, and grow the demand for recycled products.

As part of this initiative, SU-CSCS will create informational and compelling resources such as graphics, videos, digital tools and a new website for the Recycle Right NY campaign, along with other educational and outreach activities. The website will serve as a hub of information and resources for waste reduction and recycling across the state.

“This interdisciplinary initiative brings together three great partners. By bringing our different areas of expertise together, we can reduce waste and help make this a model for other states to follow,” says College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith.

“This is a fantastic partnership of SUNY-ESF, ���ϲ����� and New York State that will leverage our strengths to advance sustainable materials management by increasing recycling participation, enhancing the quality of materials collected, developing new sustainable materials and, most importantly, reducing the amount of waste generated,” says SU-CSCS Assistant Director Melissa Young. “Our team will engage key stakeholders to work with us on rethinking and reimagining ways to strengthen our economy and environment through waste reduction and recycling.”

���ϲ�����’s Center for Sustainable Community Solutions has been working for more than a decade on programs related to educating, engaging and empowering communities to deliver sustainable materials management solutions to limit reliance on landfilling or incineration. The center has been working primarily with communities throughout New York and Puerto Rico, but has also been part of national and global programs to help with the sustainable management of materials.

Artwork by SUNY ESF and ���ϲ����� students highlights loss of biodiversity.

Random Access Gallery will present “The Extinction Gallery,” an exhibition featuring work by ���ϲ����� and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students, with an opening reception on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5-8 p.m. in 117 Smith Hall. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

In recognition of Remembrance Day for Lost Species, the exhibition explores the ways we honor and remember the landscapes, cultures, and species lost in the present era being called the “Sixth Mass Extinction.” The exhibition was curated by Katlyn Brumfield, an M.F.A. candidate in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Art. Through differing methods of expression, participating artists and scientists call attention to the existential shift our planet is undergoing and advocate for the survival and protection of what still remains.

In “The Extinction Gallery,” Brumfield collaborates with ESF students to showcase the overall loss of biodiversity in the past several decades. In combining projects related to ecology and species loss, this event recognizes Remembrance Day for Lost Species. Observed on Nov. 30, the day highlights extinct and critically endangered species, cultures, lifeways and ecological communities. Brumfield focuses her practice in ways that challenge predominant attitudes about non-human nature and humans’ role within it. She is inspired by global and systemic problems like climate change, fossil fuel extraction and biodiversity loss. Brumfield visualizes projected futures outlined in climate and ecological assessments and conveys the cognitive and emotional weight of humans’ increasingly devastating impact on natural environments. By shifting the temporal vantage point of the viewer, Brumfield hopes to activate the present moment as a crossroads in which projected futures can either be avoided or realized.

Random Access Gallery’s exhibitions, performances, artist talks and panel discussions offer a space for broadening the scope of interdisciplinary collaboration and experimentation in contemporary creative practices. Through dynamic curatorial initiatives and inclusivity, the gallery brings together local, national and international artists for critical conversations. Random Access is funded through the generous contributions of the School of Art and Contemporary Art Space Programming.

For accommodation requests, contact Brumfield at randomaccessgallery@gmail.com.

Two images in “The Extinction Gallery” exhibition at Random Access Gallery

The day will consist of lightning round research talks by faculty members from ���ϲ�����, SUNY Upstate and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and will highlight the resources and focus of research centers at the institutions.

Participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm ideas for specific funding proposals during break out sessions centered around major themes: child and maternal health; environmental health; addiction and mental health; veterans, trauma and violence; disability; and health-related policy.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The Population Health Symposium is a CUSE Grant project convened by The Lerner Center, Aging Studies Institute, the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, SUNY Upstate and SUNY ESF.

For more information and registration, please visit . R.S.V.P. by Oct. 24. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact Jordana Gilman at jogilman@syr.edu by Oct. 15.

���ϲ����� earth sciences professor C.A. Scholz’s research group conducts sediment coring operations on Walker Lake, Nevada.

The plan builds on a number of longstanding existing partnerships between faculty, students and staff of the two institutions in areas relating to research, student organizations and administrative operations. The new effort calls for an initial investment in collaborative projects focusing on water—an area of mutual strategic interest for both institutions.

“The challenges of the world today increasingly demand solutions informed by multiple perspectives, disciplines and areas of expertise,” says ���ϲ����� Chancellor and President Kent Syverud. “Some of the most urgent of these challenges relate to water, energy and the environment, and ���ϲ����� and ESF both have outstanding faculty with a passion for research in these areas. This partnership will generate even greater opportunities for us to pool our expertise and resources in ways that magnify the real-world implications of faculty scholarship and advance our shared academic goals.”

���ϲ����� supports a number of research and teaching initiatives relating to water, the environment and energy, including a graduate-level training initiative—the Education Model Program on Water-Energy Research (EMPOWER)—launched in 2016 with $3 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The interdisciplinary program focuses on research relating to water and energy cycles—combined with mentoring, field experiences, training in science communication, and interdisciplinary coursework—to better prepare students for careers in energy, environmental consulting, government, nonprofits and academia.

ESF President Quentin Wheeler says, “The collaboration draws on the impressive strengths of two great institutions to confront some of the most pressing issues facing society. This relationship will accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enrich the learning environment for students and amplify the positive impact we are having on the immediate and long-term prospects for water quality and sustainable solutions.”

ESF, which is designated as one of two lead institutions in a SUNY-wide water research initiative, participates in the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science. Within the last decade, its 25-plus water-affiliated faculty have collaborated to secure a large NSF facilities grant to improve aquatic laboratory facilities, offered an annual interdisciplinary graduate seminar in hydrology and biogeochemistry, and developed an undergraduate minor.

As part of the new agreement, ���ϲ����� will expand its participation in the New York Great Lakes Consortium, a multi-institution collaboration currently administered by ESF. Active engagement with the consortium is expected to open up additional grant opportunities for research by ���ϲ����� faculty and provide competitive funding support for student scholarship.

“The faculty, staff and students of ���ϲ����� and ESF together form a rich brain trust that offers great potential for the future of each institution,” says Cathryn Newton, who as special advisor to the Chancellor and provost for faculty engagement has been working to identify potential areas of collaboration in support of the University’s Academic Strategic Plan.

Both institutions will work with their water groups to further develop collaborative projects in research as well as field and lab education in water. This may include support for proposal development or resubmittal, consideration of infrastructure and instrumentation collaborations, and other opportunities. Submissions are invited especially for projects that already have initial results and are ready to move to the proposal phase and for proposals in need of revision or additional data.

In addition to spurring water-related research collaborations, the two institutions will strengthen partnerships in the area of sustainability and will pursue a visiting speakers initiative designed to bring scholars together across both campuses. More information on those initiatives will come at a later date.

While initial collaborations will focus on water, sustainability and a visiting speaker series, it is anticipated that new themes for collaboration will emerge on an annual basis. Toward that end, Newton, in coordination with ���ϲ����� Provost Michele Wheatly and Chancellor Syverud, will appoint a ���ϲ����� Advisory Committee on Collaborations with ESF to serve in an advisory capacity and propose themes for future consideration. A similar group will be formed at ESF for faculty there.

These advisory groups are expected to be appointed by mid-February and to convene shortly after that. Faculty members interested in serving on the ���ϲ����� committee, proposing a theme for collaboration or otherwise getting involved in this effort should send an email to facultyaffairs@syr.edu.

About ���ϲ�����

Founded in 1870, ���ϲ����� is a private international research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching excellence, rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11 academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence in the liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines that prepares students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main campus and extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three continents. ���ϲ�����’s student body is among the most diverse for an institution of its kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries. ���ϲ����� also has a long legacy of supporting veterans and is home to the nationally recognized Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their families. To learn more about ���ϲ�����, visit .

About ESF

The College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), founded in 1911, is at the forefront of confronting the challenges of the 21st century. ESF educates tomorrow’s leaders, explores new possibilities and inspires the public to engage in creating a better future. ESF is unique among institutions of higher learning in its singular focus on environmental discovery, learning and sustainability. The college has developed innovative programs in a broad range of academic areas, all of which focus on the environment. They include biology, chemistry, engineering, management, design and planning. ESF offers degrees ranging from the associate’s degree to the doctor of philosophy. ESF students leave the college equipped to pursue careers aimed at improving the quality of life in an ever-changing world. To learn more about ESF, visit .

, professor of forest and natural resources management at the (SUNY ESF), and , professor of supply chain practice at the , will conduct the research, which will focus on the use of sustainable structural wood in multifamily housing and commercial structures. Specifically, the researchers will examine the regulatory, political and economic barriers that contribute to the lack of adoption of CLT in construction projects. CLT is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, quality product.

“Using CLT in commercial buildings, rather than concrete, masonry or steel provides significant supply chain, environmental and cost benefits for companies and organizations in the U.S.,” says Penfield. “Our research will be useful to the U.S. Green Building Council to share with its members who may not be aware of all the benefits of CLT.”

To promote research in sustainable enterprise, the SEP annually awards a grant of up to $20,000, which may be used for stipends, research assistants, materials, travel and other expenses. All faculty, Ph.D. students and other researchers from ���ϲ�����, SUNY ESF and the (���ϲ�����CoE) with interest in sustainable buildings and infrastructure are invited to apply. In keeping with the SEP’s emphasis on transdisciplinary collaboration and integration, investigators from at least two disciplines are required for each proposal. Projects that are highly likely to have a meaningful impact—publication in a reputably scholarly or practitioner journal, attracting external support, and/or practical implementation—are given priority.

The Sustainable Enterprise Partnership links the extraordinary resources of four Central New York institutions—the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Whitman School of Management,  and the —to offer world-class education and research on sustainable enterprise and provide transdisciplinary understanding of sustainability.

The new agreement, which will provide both institutions better opportunities for long-term academic, space and fiscal planning, will take effect in fall 2013.

“SU and SUNY-ESF have a long-standing history that dates back to our earliest days,” says SU Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina. “Both institutions have been interested in finding a way to maintain and preserve this relationship, for the benefit of our students and the continued collaboration of our faculty, even as the environment for higher education continues to evolve and change. This new agreement ensures SU and ESF students will continue to have access to courses that help them fulfill their academic requirements and interests for many years to come. We are particularly pleased that SU students will still enjoy access to courses at SUNY-ESF, one of the premiere schools in the nation in its field.”

Under the new agreement, SU students will have unlimited access to SUNY-ESF courses. SUNY-ESF students will be provided an allocation of SU credit hours they can utilize during their academic career, which will be covered by their ESF tuition and fees. The course allocation formula is based on the average number of SU credit hours taken by SUNY-ESF students in recent years. SUNY-ESF students often take SU classes to complete elective courses or general education requirements in the liberal arts.

Beginning in the 2013-14 academic year, first-year students at SUNY-ESF will receive an allocation of 16 SU credit hours. Transfer students and continuing upperclassmen will receive a prorated allocation based on class year, and graduate students will receive a 15-credit-hour allocation. All current ESF students will receive a minimum of four SU credit hours and will have a one-time opportunity to petition for additional hours that may be required to complete their degree. Beyond that, SUNY-ESF students who use their SU credit allocation and wish to complete additional SU elective courses will have an option to pay tuition for additional credit hours.

“This new agreement puts students in full control of their course selections while allowing both institutions to better anticipate the financial effects of the partnership,” says SUNY-ESF Provost Bruce Bongarten. “It’s great news for our students who will continue to have access to courses at a leading national university, particularly in the fields of physics, foreign language and other enrichment areas, that are not offered on our campus. SU students, meanwhile, will have access to the only institution in the nation focused on the study of natural resources and the environment.”

More than 1,300 students from the two campuses take advantage of this distinctive cross-campus learning opportunity each year, with course registrations for the spring 2013 semester showing approximately 440 SUNY-ESF students enrolled in SU classes and 210 SU students completing classes at SUNY-ESF.

More specific information about the new agreement will be provided to SUNY-ESF students and faculty in the coming weeks.

Three alumni will be honored during convocation.

Douglas G. Dellmore ’68 will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by the ESF Alumni Association. Richard J. Ahearn ’74 and Robert W. Hargrove ’78 will receive the Graduate of Distinction—Notable Achievement awards.

Dellmore, a wood products engineering major, created numerous companies focused on producing environmentally friendly products and services. He established a company based on the technology and business of making and supporting seawater desalination plants for use on offshore drilling and production platforms.

He holds a patent for the combination of coconut pith and sphagnum peat moss for use as a plant-growing medium. Developed in collaboration with the Scotts Co., the process is used by the Sungro Companies in professional potting soils. Scotts uses the material in products such as Scotts Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil.

As president of Ahearn-Holtzman Inc., a construction company located in Port Chester, N.Y., Ahearn used his wood products engineering degree to open the family-owned business and has spent the last four decades serving an impressive range of clients. He is a long-time supporter of the Department of Sustainable Construction Management and Engineering.

Hargrove is a driving force in protecting the environment. He received a bachelor of science degree in resources management and began his career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 2 Office as an environmental reviewer and project manager for the Wastewater Treatment Construction Grants Program in the Environmental Impacts Branch. He was promoted numerous times and, in 2004, Hargrove accepted the position of director of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Compliance Division in EPA headquarters. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the EPA’s NEPA Compliance Program and the review of other agencies’ environmental impact statements in relation to the NEPA and the Clean Air Act.