Colorado State University - Ecosystem Science and Sustainability

Help us in congratulating Megan Podolinsky for receiving the prestigious VPR fellowship!

Megan is a doctoral candidate in the graduate program in ecology and studies Surface Water Dynamics in Depressional Wetlands of the US High Plains and Beyond.

In addition to receiving up to $4,000 in research and travel funding, each VPR cohort is given the opportunity to undergo a series of training sessions as well as network with fellow graduate students and leaders from across the university.

Here’s Megan on the significance of this incredible work:

“My research on depressional wetlands is important to me because these sites are understudied despite the multitude of ecosystem services they provide in an otherwise arid landscape dominated by agriculture. The playa wetlands of the US High Plains that I study are extremely varied, making for exciting and unpredictable sampling. I have been fortunate to witness completely dry wetland basins transform overnight into biodiversity hotspots teeming with wetland species. I have also enjoyed building relationships with landowners and exploring the High Plains region over the past three summers, two things that have only deepened my passion for researching surface water and other ecological functions of these unique wetlands.”

Congratulations Megan!

The DayCent Model is an important tool for ecosystem analysis, helping us understand the impact of changes in climate and management.

Dr. Ram Gurung is offering a group study to:

- Learn Century Model biological and ecological theory and background
- Gain hands-on experience running DayCent on various ecosystems
- Quantify and Assess GHG emissions

August 12 - 16 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. MST

And two additional synchronous meeting times prior to Oct. 13, details TBD

Register soon, spots are limited!

Today we’re celebrating Lauryn Howlett – an incredible student in the Professional Science Master’s program in ESS!

Lauryn just started a summer internship with the Agricultural Water Quality Program at CSU as an Agricultural Technology Research Assistant.

She’s traveling around the state to help assess the water quality and field health, using ground samples, monitoring equipment, and even drones!

Back at the lab, Lauryn codes, analyzes data, and conducts the Total Suspended Solid analysis, an important indicator of ecosystem health that detects the dry-weight of suspended particles in water that are not dissolved.

Here’s Lauryn on her experience:

“This multifaceted internship with the Agricultural Water Quality Program is enhancing my knowledge of food systems, water quality, data analysis, coding, and technology used in agricultural and environmental settings, as well as developing practical skills. This experience is equipping me with the skills and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful impact in the field of sustainable food systems.”

Nikki, our incredible Academic Advisor, just spent a week in beautiful Kenya with School for Field Studies (SFS)!

SFS creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research all over the world.

She saw some beautiful sights (Zebras! Giraffes! Rhinos!) and learned about wildlife and environmental conservation.

Next time you see Nikki, ask her about her time in Kenya and if you're a student who would love to learn more about this program, let us know!

Congratulations to all of our ESS CURC winners and honorees this year!! We are so proud of you!!

🌟Excellence in Energy and Climate Solutions🌟

Madzie Boyles
“Measuring Climate Vulnerability in Houston, Texas”
Mentor: Elizabeth Tulanowski

🌟Excellence in Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice🌟

Ian Edwards-Clancy and Link Warren
“Growing Food Security at Colorado State University”
Mentor: Sylvia Lee

🌟College Honors🌟

Kate McGill
“A Comparison of Observed and Modeled Soil Moisture”
Mentor: Avery Driscoll

Shelby Mead
“Microclimates under solar panels in agrivoltaic systems drives soil microbe community composition”
Mentor: J. Alexander Siggers

Amelia Anderson
“Wild horses in the west: Generating maps and learning modules for four K-12 curriculum levels”
Mentors: Sarah King and Stacy Lynn

Featured are photos of Amelia Anderson and Madzie Boyles.