Announcements

Celebrations

A Garden Party to celebrate graduates was held on the Kottman Hall patio on May 5. Staff from the Academic Team (shown above) hosted the celebration. Photo by Jessica Caton Diefenbach. A couple of individuals on the team, including Katy Scott and Amanda Laser are not shown. A few more photos from the celebration have been added to our website gallery.

Congratulations to our faculty who were granted promotion and/or tenure at the May 17, 2023 meeting of the Ohio State University Board of Trustees and to the assistant professors and professional practice and research faculty who were reappointed at their current ranks after undergoing review during the 2022-2023 promotion and tenure cycle. Learn more.

Contributed Recap on Soils Outreach Day Event

Students from the ENR 8890.04 (co-instructors Dr. Demyan and Dr. Hattey) Soil Science Seminar, Danielle Bush, Thomas Doohan, Lillian Labus, Alec Ogg, and ENR 4998, Xucheng Hu, visited Olentangy Orange School 6th grade science classes on March 10, 2023 to conduct an outreach event on soils. Our students developed lesson plans, designed experiments, and taught 25-minute lectures and hands-on activities in three classrooms to groups of approximately 25 students over 4 periods with a total engagement of 150 students.

This visit was very timely as the 6th graders had just completed a soils unit.  Activities included exploring what soils are formed from using examples of different soil parent material examples (glacial till, residuum, lava, volcanic ash and others). The charged nature of soil (cation ion exchange capacity) was demonstrated using different charged dyes. Students gained hands-on experience with soil texturing and connecting texture with important soil properties. Influence of soil management on dynamic properties was shown with a quick slake test demonstration of aggregate stability. OSU students gained valuable experience in communicating soils knowledge to different audiences and hopefully recruited a few future soil scientists!  

A recent Knowledge Exchange (KX) story with Dr. Leo Deiss discusses the significance of the Triplett-Van Doren no-tillage experimental plots. Read the feature here.

Resources

The Summer edition of The Ohio Woodlands, Water, and Wildlife Newsletter is now available. Inside you'll find articles that discuss bats (Did you know there are 10 species of bats in Ohio?) and an opportunity to become involved in research about the roosting habits of bats, an online course that provides introductory training to managing small woodlands for service providers, invasive species to be on the lookout for (with pictures) and more! Check out the latest newsletter here.

The recording of faculty member Stan Gehrt's Ohio Woodland Stewards program webinar on The Status of River Otters in Ohio is now available here.

Two new Factsheets are available via Ohioline (both are authored by Marne Titchenell and Denise Ellsworth)

• Native Shrubs: Creating Living Landscapes for Birds, Butterflies, Bees, and Other Beneficials | Access here
• Native Trees: Creating Living Landscapes for Birds, Butterflies, Bees, and Other Beneficials | Access here

Leadership

Faculty member Shoshanah Inwood is the in-coming president of the Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS). The AFHVS promotes interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the broad areas of agriculture and rural studies. Dr. Inwood will assume the role at the upcoming 2023 Association for the Study of Food and Society and AFHVS annual conference, Knowing Food hosted by Boston University’s Metropolitan College. 

Recognition

Jessica Caton Diefenbach was recognized with a Scarlet Hashtag by the Social Media Community of Practice at Ohio State for the Trending Content category | School of Environment and Natural Resources (Stone Lab) [Instagram Reel] [Facebook Post]. There were approximately 66 social media peers on the Zoom. Congratulations Jessica!

We currently have two education abroad programs running. One in New Zealand (ENR 5797.03: Sustainable Tourism and Human Impacts on the Natural Environment and one in Australia (Human Impacts on the Natural Environment). Photo above is from the New Zealand experience. In the next edition of Announcements, we'll share a photo from Australia.

May 23 - Freshwater Science: Finding Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in Lake Erie Tributaries with Heidelberg University's Dr. Laura Johnson | Learn more and register

Throughout the summer - Stone Lab offers one-to three-day workshops for working professionals and job seekers. Share these with your networks. Non-credit workshops include: 

• Lake Erie Sport Fishing
• Scientist Roles in Water Resource Governance
• Workshop in Environmental Education: Water and Wildlife Training for Educators
• Introduction to Sampling and Identification of Freshwater Fish Eggs and Larvae Workshop
• Algae Identification Workshop
• Lake Erie Island Wetland Plant Field Identification and VIBI Workshops
• Fish Sampling Techniques Workshop (autumn offering)

Roster with links for greater detail on each of the opportunities available here.

June 2 - Join the Ohio Woodland Stewards program for a webinar with Natural Areas Biologist Rebecah Troutman from Holden Forests and Gardens to a learn about a potentially newly discovered enemy of the invasive garlic mustard | Learn more and register

June 5 - EPN Breakfast and Summer Field Tour event - Honoring Ohio's Environment and Celebrating its Champions. This EPN Breakfast and Summer Field Tour event, in partnership with the Environment and Natural Resources Alumni Society (ENRAS), will recognize and celebrate the contributions of Jon Gerken, John O’Meara, Ric Queen, and Dorothy Teater as the four newest members of the Honorary 100. | Full details on the morning program and field tour available here

June 15 - Join the Ohio Woodland Stewards program at The Holden Arboretum Working Woods for Woodland Owners and Maple Production: Is it an Income Opportunity for You? | Details and registration

June 25 - Join the Ohio Woodland Stewards program for a webinar with Cornell University Cooperative Extension Foresters Peter Smallidge and Brett Chedzoy to learn how slash walls (www.slashwall.info) are tilting the battle to protect regenerating woodlands from detrimental deer browsing | Details and registration

July 11 - EPN Breakfast - Breakfast with the Birds: Advocacy and Conservation in Urban Green Spaces. This EPN Breakfast and Summer Field Trip event will feature hands-on learning activities, networking, food, beverage, and birding at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. | Details and registration

If you are planning an event in 2023 and would like it featured in Announcements or on SENR's calendar, please send details to the SENR Communications Team via email at: faes-senrcomm@osu.edu

We all play a part in keeping the Ohio State community safe. It’s important to be prepared, should a violent situation arise, by taking time now to review the Workplace Violence Policy and frequently asked questions. Each Buckeye is empowered to lead and take action to create a safe and secure environment that is free from threats and violence. Everyone is encouraged to report allegations of workplace violence, and anyone who supervises others is required to report. Review the policy to better understand what is considered workplace violence and how to report incidences. Read more »

SENR Announcements is a way to share highlights, happenings, and opportunities. We look forward to helping shine a light on your research, outreach, and teaching. If you'd like to submit content for Announcements, please send to the following Communications Team email: FAES-SENRComm@osu.edu

Announcements Schedule
June 15
July 19
August 17
 

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