DePaul’s Academic Environmental Initiatives
DePaul’s Environmental Science program is a field and laboratory science-based curriculum leading to a bachelor’s of science degree. Its mission is to prepare students upon graduation to work in the environmental field, attend a professional school or attend a graduate school in a related area. Faculty members are active researchers in soil and wetland science, restoration ecology and conservation biology.
Liam Heneghan, an associate professor of environmental science, studies botanical invaders, such as earthworms, that have been linked to the disappearance of rare plant species and which wreak havoc on forests and urban areas, where the problem of invasive species is more prevalent. He and environmental science students have been researching the impact of invaders on native tree diversity in the Chicago Botanical Garden preserves for the past five years.
In 2007, James Montgomery, director of the Environmental Science program, and the students in his “Greening the DePaul Campus” class developed a residence hall environmental stewardship campaign to raise awareness among students living on campus about their ecological footprints. Students conducted a garbage audit of Clifton-Fullerton Hall, analyzed water and utility bills for Clifton-Fullerton and Munroe halls, and drafted an environmental policy statement. They proposed improvements, such as recycling bags for individual residence hall rooms and biodegradable plates and utensils for cafeterias, which are currently under consideration.
Building on DePaul’s widely respected programs in Environmental Science, Urban Ecology and Public Policy, the university’s Institute for Nature and Culture fosters collaboration among the disciplines and among researchers, conservation practitioners and the general public. A center for advanced study, experimentation and practice relevant to the relationship between humans and their environment, the institute is undertaking an ambitious program of research, education and public participation.
Ashley Morris of DePaul’s School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems is at the forefront of efforts to develop new geographic information systems that will help countries and communities prepare for and defend against environmental disasters by reducing “fuzziness” in computer modeling of areas with moving boundaries, such as watersheds, marshlands and shorelines. His efforts may improve scientists’ ability to predict and protect against the impact of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and eco-terrorism.
VIEW LINKS FOR:
