Curiosity, or the strong desire to know or learn something, is a defining characteristic of the environmental community I manage and oversee, but it’s probably a defining characteristic of most all of us who have a love of nature and the outdoors.  This time of year, I learn so much as I meet individually with each SENR faculty as part of our annual review process. For instance, I’ve learned about the uptake of lead in Cleveland brownfields, including into pollen, and efforts to neutralize the lead. I’ve learned about factors that might be contributing to the decline of whip-poor-will populations. There are also so many interesting presentations I get to see, for instance SENR faculty Stan Gehrt gave an outstanding presentation at our February Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) event related to urban coyotes. You can see a video of his presentation here, starting at about the 27-minute mark. I also get to read interesting articles about faculty research, including SENR faculty Chris Tonra’s work on the migration patterns of prothonotary warblers in Audubon.

Now, I’m a social scientist by training, so all the above examples are really outside my professional domain of expertise…but I find these natural and physical science topics fascinating. But beyond my own personal curiosity, helping students, stakeholders and the broader community understand the multidisciplinary breadth of environmental problems is core to SENR’s instructional mission. Fundamental to the School’s creation was a commitment to the notion that to manage today’s environmental problems requires a breadth of understanding. So, an environmental scientist with an understanding of the water chemistry or hydrology is important, but so too is understanding the social and political context of why water quality might not be optimal despite our scientific and technical know-how.  I’m excited that for our March Environmental Professionals Network event (which you can all attend virtually if you are some distance from Columbus) will include the release of a documentary film titled And Water for All, which examines the opportunities and challenges that governmental and non-governmental entities are facing today to secure clean and affordable water and what to expect in the coming decades.  We are hosting this World Water Day event in collaboration with the Water Management Association of Ohio and other water agencies. If you’d like to attend in person or virtually for this March 22nd event, please register here (or you can check out the program after the fact via the EPN YouTube page).

And while I’m promoting future opportunities to learn (and celebrate the environment), SENR is looking forward to once again hosting Ohio State’s signature Earth Day event, which will focus on the importance of taking action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.  We are delighted that the event will include remarks from the president of The Ohio State University, Kristina M. Johnson as well as Cathann A. Kress, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. There will also be a student networking event involving students presenting on their environmental capstone class projects from all across campus. The event is scheduled for April 20 in the Ohio Union with the poster presentations and networking at 5 p.m. and the formal program at 6 p.m. I’ll share more details next month and you can expect to find registration details regarding the event on our EPN website later this month.

I wish you all well in your own curious pursuits either professionally or personally. This time of year is so alive with possibilities as Spring begins to burst forth. 

Jeff Sharp
Director, School of Environment and Natural Resources