In this interview, UMBC Sustainability’s Laura Bartock (‘2013) asks GES Professor Christopher Swan about sustainability and his research.

Dr. Swan is a leading researcher in the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and specializes in Community Ecology, Biodiversity, Urban Ecology, Ecology of Rivers & Streams.

Highlights:

“We know that very diverse ecological communities provide important ecosystem services, such as pollinators, [...] These services are important not only to human well-being, but plants and animals as well.”

“Ask questions that are both intellectually intriguing to you, but at the same time strive to ensure the questions are relevant to society in general.“

“I also believe that most people care more than they know about sustainable practices.”

More from the interview:

Laura Bartock: Why is sustainability important to you (personally/professionally)?

Dr. Swan: The process of accepting the limitations of the environment is an inevitable part of our lives since humans have so successfully been able to extract natural resources for their perceived own well-being.  To me, proceeding without any foresight as to how to best manage the environment is irresponsible. Now, I am not of the mind set at all that the environment can return to its pristine state.  However, I do think that resources can be managed better and more responsibly.  Furthermore, I also believe that most people care more than they know about sustainable practices.

Laura Bartock: How would you explain your research goals to the average person on the street?

CS: My interests in lie in explaining how biodiversity – or the number of different kinds of co-occurring plants and animals – is maintained in space and time.  This is important because we know that very diverse ecological communities provide important ecosystem services, such as pollinators, nutrient recycling, freshwater, improved soil conditions, and how well ecosystems can recover from disturbances, like hurricanes and fire.  These services are important not only to human well-being, but plants and animals as well.

LB: How did you become interested in this project?

CS: A very good question.  Scientists approach their research in an effort to seek generality.  What processes explain the same patterns in different systems?  For example, if we know that nitrogen loading to the Chesapeake Bay can lead to dead zones in the summer, is this process unique to this estuary only, or to all estuaries?  We know, of course, this can occur in all kinds of waterbodies.

I became interested in the field of community ecology, which seeks to understand the mechanisms that shape species coexistence across multiple scales, largely because it was theoretically intriguing.  The notion of generalizing empirical results to apply in many types of ecosystems is powerful, and I wanted to be apart of that.

Another reason is that species are going extinct at an alarming rate.

What are the consequences of this for other ecosystem processes, like nutrient cycling and soil development? Many people in the world rely on the natural environment to provide for them daily.

The link between biodiversity and those needs makes the theory I test relevant.

LB: What advice would you give to someone embarking on their own research journey?

CS: Ask questions that are both intellectually intriguing to you, but at the same time strive to ensure the questions are relevant to society in general. 

Seek to make the work personally rewarding.  Research is hard and iterative, which means perseverance is a must.  Therefore, really having a passion for the science is critical to getting through the tough times.

Read broadly in your field, and often.  Reading good material is essential to being a good writer, and writing will comprise the vast majority of your time.  Some suggest reading two peer-reviewed articles a day, as well as writing 1-2 hours a day.  This is great advice, but often a hard pace to maintain.

Engage with good collaborators.  Personally, I value smaller research teams.  Collaboration is an organic process where intellectual engagement feeds enthusiasm and vice versa.

Take risks and accept failures. One doesn’t grow intellectually without failing, working through the problem, and moving forward. Successes don’t necessarily make you a better scientist, coping with failures does.

Do you know a sustainability champion on campus? Refer them to us to be featured, at sustainability@umbc.edu.

Read the interview in its entirety at Sustainability Matters at UMBC

NSF REU 2014

Research Experiences for Undergraduates
in Green Building Environments at UMBC

May 28 – August 15, 2014

New emerging “smart plugs” embed a micro-controller and low-power communication device that allows you to monitor the power consumption of individual devices (e.g., microwave, coffee machine, laptop) plugged into power sockets, and communicate such power consumption information over a wireless network to a central monitoring station. Such devices could lead to substantial savings of energy & money by enabling Internet-based monitoring & real-time control of the behavior of individual appliances. This project will use real-life microcontroller kits (ACME Plugs from Moteware) & real-life building measurement data to explore whether such measurement-based monitoring can be used to

• Develop Smart Circuit Breaker — i.e., to lessen the burden of the user of plugging each and every appliance/device in the building with a smart plug; we will investigate connecting multiple devices together with an individual smart plug/smart circuit breaker and design a smart circuit breaker using energy metering chip (ADE7753), AC/DC power supply, Microcontroller with radio (TI MSP430F16 and Cypress Powerline Communications (PLC) modem) and solid state AC relay (Sharp S216SE1) etc.
• Profile individual devices — i.e., use NILM (non-intrusive load monitoring) data analytics algorithm on the time-series of power consumption traces to infer the type of plugged-in device (e.g., distinguish between a laptop & a coffeemaker), thereby building a dynamic catalog of the types & number of devices connected by a consumer.
• Predict the power consumption of individual rooms — i.e., using the past history of the power consumption of individual devices to create predictive inferences of the usage patterns for individual devices (e.g., learn that the individual switches on a dehumidifier for ~3 hrs every Thu).
• Receive $4,500 stipend, free on-campus housing
• Access to university resources, Travel support to UMBC, Unique research experience

Please send your CV (include any relevant experience) and unofficial transcript to Dr. Nirmalya Roy at nroy@umbc.edu .

Use your power to make change a reality.

Israel is home to three of the world’s most diverse marine systems – the Mediterranean, Red and Dead Seas. Although found in rare and remarkable proximity, each is distinguished by unique oceanography, biology, flora and fauna, making Israel a particularly extraordinary destination for students of marine and environmental sciences.

This summer, from June 22 to July 6, Yonathan Zohar, chair of UMBC’s Department of Marine Biotechnology, will lead students on an intensive study of the three Israeli seas at the Ruppin Academic Center, in Netanya, Israel, on the Mediterranean coast. Students will be exposed not only to the diverse biology of the three seas, but also to leading marine and environmental scientists from around the world. “Exploring Three Seas: Med, Red and Dead” – which will explore such topics as marine and environmental biology, oceanography, marine and estuarine ecology, microbial ecology, marine flora and fauna, coastal geology and limnology through hands-on field trips and laboratories – is the latest offering from an emerging model of focused, shorter-term study abroad programs at UMBC.

“Exploring Three Seas: Med, Red and Dead” is a part of a long-term research and educational partnership between UMBC and the Ruppin Academic Center’s School of Marine Sciences. Expanding on UMBC’s commitment to marine and biotechnology, faculty from UMBC and the Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology (a joint University System of Maryland research institute) have taught intensive, one-week courses at the Ruppin Academic Center for the past five years. Many of these same faculty members helped to develop the graduate program at the School for Marine Sciences. “This summer program is what we hope to be the beginning of broadening the partnership between Ruppin Academic Center’s School of Marine Sciences and UMBC,” says Zohar.

International study and research are part of the culture at UMBC, allowing students to build their global outlook and cross-cultural skills. Shorter, intensive, professor-led trips, such as Zohar’s are a unique and increasingly popular prototype for study. Rather than the traditional mold of study abroad, which typically focuses on classroom-style learning and touring the regions of a country, these focus more intensely on experiential learning and fieldwork.

"These programs enable students to learn a great deal in a condensed time period – not only about themselves and their academic interests, but also about the world around them," says Katherine Heird, assistant director of Study Abroad at UMBC. "Because students are accompanied by their UMBC peers, faculty and staff, faculty-led programs are often an easier and less intimidating introduction to living and studying in a foreign country than other, more independent program models."

UMBC’s International Field Research Program is considered a pioneer of such innovative experiential study programs. Each spring, a small group of students from the Health Administration and Public Policy (HAPP) program spends the semester preparing for a seven-day summer trip to Switzerland, where they conduct individual field research to better understand how culture, policy and practice interact to achieve a sustainable and healthy society.

Shorter programs often allow students whose schedules would otherwise not allow full semester travel to experience international and cross-cultural study – and professors are being encouraged to consider this model. Maggie Holland, professor of Geography and Environmental Systems, is traveling with students from across four majors to Costa Rica for an international study in sustainable development and conservation. This innovative study abroad experience will involve a mix of field research and service learning. Over the course of 15 days, students will meet with community groups, engage in service learning, gain experience in field research techniques, participate in focus group discussions and contribute to mapping.

"We feel strongly that our department’s offering of a field course should be designed to offer students a rich experience at relatively low-cost, and with a shorter time commitment than a full semester," says Dr. Holland, who believes that academic, financial and family reasons often prevent students from taking a full semester abroad. "Offering this class as an early summer session course opens the program more broadly to UMBC students, as their perspectives and skills could lend substantially to the overall experience.”

Rising junior and senior undergraduates (BIOL 499) and graduate students (BIOL 601) interested in “Exploring Three Seas: Med, Red and Dead” are encouraged to apply by the deadline of March 10.

Learn More

Download Application

(3/4/2014)

We are excited to announce a new paid opportunity for a student dedicated to helping protect the environment by reducing waste and raising awareness on Reycling!

Help to engage the campus and raise awarness on issues such as how to sort waste, how to reduce waste, ways to reuse, why recycling is important, gaining commitments through pledges, and what happens to our waste at UMBC.

The primary role of this position is to facilitate UMBC's participation in Recyclemania in 2014. Recyclemania is fully funding this position.

Sustainability Outreach and Communications Intern:

Intern will report to the Recycling Manager in Facilities Management. The position will be 4 hours per week. Hours may vary to accommodate meetings, and events. Additional tasks may be assigned. Intern must demonstrate evidence of interest and background in sustainability and must feel comfortable reaching out to professionals, peers, and faculty. Intern must be a current UMBC student. The internship will last from February 1^st to March 30^th during Recyclemania. Upon completion, the student will recieve a $250 stipend for the 8 week period, working at least 4 hours per week.

The will assist in promoting recycling on campus through design, online marketing, and events. During the period of Recyclemania the student will:

-Plan and promote events such as a parade, luncheon, and other outreach activities

-Set up and manage a weekly table on mainstreet

-Recruit, develop, and coordinate volunteers and partners

-Collect pledges, and take and post photographs

-Utilize the Recyclemania materials such as ‘event in box’

-Update press releases and blog posts

-Small amount of data entry to report weekly numbers to the Recyclemania website

-Post and manage engaging content on social media

Desired skills and qualifications:

- Experience or interest in learning about planning and coordinating events

- Strong writing and communication skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work independently and in a team
- Creativity and design skills
- Related coursework in related area such as Environmental Studies, Communications and Design desired but not required
- Awareness of environmental issues
- Involvement in campus sustainability

-Enthusiastic, outgoing, and positive

Examples of Tasks and Responsibilities:

Events:

- Event planning and logistics

- Tabling, coordinating sign-up sheets, pledges, and photo booths

Writing:

- Assist with writing press releases, articles and event summaries

- Assist with conducting interviews and creating articles

Design:

- Assist with posters, designs and fliers

Social Media:

- Assist with updates to myUMBC and Facebook Events Calendar

- Assist with creating and posting of spotlights

- Posting photos and updates following events

- Expand followers on myUMBC and social media

Photography:

- Assist with taking photographs, editing, organizing and uploading content

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and a cover letter to recycle@umbc.edu

In your cover letter please include the following: 

1) why this position interests you

2) what related skills and experiences you possess

3) any other groups, activities, jobs or time commitments you are currently juggling and how you plan to manage your time

Deadline: January 30^th

The Dept. of Geography & Environmental Systems is leading an international field course to Costa Rica from June 1-15, 2014. 

Dr. Maggie Holland of the Dept. of Geography & Environmental Systems is leading an international field course to Costa Rica from June 1-15, 2014.

There will be two info sessions on February 10 from 4-5 p.m. in Admin 218 and February 18 from 3-4pm in Sondheim 001. The deadline to apply is March 10, but early application is strongly recommended.

The 3 credit course is called 'Sustainable Development & Conservation in Costa Rica' and is offered as an upper-level GES special topics course (GES 400/600, 3 credits). It is a mix of field research & service learning.

This course is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across any department at UMBC. Complete applications must be submitted to Admin 222/223 by March 10, 2014 for consideration for the program. There is a limit of 16 participants. Early application is strongly recommended. You can download the application form here: GES Field Course Costa Rica Application Summer 2014

Any questions? Contact the instructors, Dr. Maggie Holland (GES) or Katie Heird (IES)

The course, a mix of field research & service learning, includes: