https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/Campus ConnectionPosts tagged with 'Sustainability':2023-12-11T10:27:43.213Zhttps://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/sustainable-snow-solution/Sustainable snow solution2023-12-11T10:27:43.213Z2023-11-28T16:15:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">4:15 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>28</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>From left, Scott Brown, Andrew Ericson and Casey Christ with the new brine equipment.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Student’s brine research ushers in a greener winter on campus</h3>
<p>A UW-La Crosse student’s research on brine has led to a more budget-friendly and earth-friendly snow removal solution for campus this winter.</p><p>Casey Christ, ’23, learned of the impact of salt contamination on aquatic life during a fall 2022 class project. In this Communication and Civic Engagement class, she also learned about using brine as an alternative to rock salt, one of UWL’s primary method for removing snow and ice in winter months. Switching to brine reduces the amount of salt that is needed on sidewalks, parking lots and roads, saving money and reducing water contamination from salt runoff. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“All my life I’ve grown up thinking salt was a normal and necessary part of midwestern winters. But the more I learned about the long list of issues its use creates, the more I knew something needed to change in La Crosse, and that I had to take this a step further than a class research project,” says Christ.</p><p>Although salt is a natural part of the environment, too much salt comes with an environmental cost. Salt applied to roads and sidewalks hangs around after the snow melts, leaching into lakes, rivers and groundwater. Over the years, these freshwater systems have become saltier, and that’s a problem for wildlife. It takes only one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water to a level this is toxic to native aquatic organisms.</p><p>“The Mississippi River and the marsh are home to hundreds of unique species that are harmed every winter we continue to overuse road salt, not to mention the havoc it wreaks on infrastructure and human health,” says Christ. “La Crosse County and the UWL campus use a lot of it. Through my extensive research I discovered the steps that other universities in Wisconsin had implemented to mitigate salt use, and I knew La Crosse needed to follow suit.”</p><p>Christ's research is just one example of research that emerges from the Communication Studies course, <a data-mce-href="https://catalog.uwlax.edu/undergraduate/coursedescriptions/cst/" href="https://catalog.uwlax.edu/undergraduate/coursedescriptions/cst/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">CST 211</a>, where students complete a civic engagement project. They are tasked with identifying a community problem, conducting extensive community research on the problem and developing a plan to address it. At the culmination of the semester, students present their plan to community stakeholders.</p>
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<h3>Campus embraces brine</h3>
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<figcaption>From left, Andrew Ericson, Casey Christ and Scott Brown. UWL Facilities Management purchased two Hilltip Spray Strikers, which have GPS tracking that controls the rate that brine comes out. </figcaption>
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<p>Christ shared her findings about rock salt contamination with stakeholders on campus including UWL’s Sustainability Manager Andrew Ericson and Director of Facilities Management Scott Brown. The group looked into brine as a less-salty alternative. And, in the spring of 2023, UWL Facilities Management invested in new brine equipment.</p><p>“We have very driven students on this campus who are looking for ways to make a difference for their community and for the environment,” says Ericson. “It was so impressive to see how Casey championed this initiative that she cared about.”</p><p>Facilities management purchased two Hilltip Spray Strikers, which have GPS tracking that controls the rate that brine comes out, along with a 1,200-gallon storage tank where brine will be stored in bulk. Brine will be purchased from La Crosse County, an early adopter of brine.</p><p>“Facilities Management is always trying to improve the sustainability of our operations. Brine was a win both financially and environmentally,” says Brown. “We are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of this new method of winter maintenance.” &nbsp;</p><p>Ericson says the initiative to bring brine to campus is an example of how sustainability, an important and long-term initiative at UWL, intersects with UWL’s strategic plan to provide transformational education and community engagement. &nbsp;</p><p>“We are always looking to improve sustainability efforts across the campus as UWL aims to be a leader in sustainability in our region,” says Ericson. “When it comes to sustainability, we can think of campus as a living lab to apply what’s taught in our classrooms. But sometimes we need a champion for those efforts, and we are very grateful that Casey stepped up.”</p>
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<h3>What is brine?</h3>
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<figcaption>UWL Facilities Management purchased a 1,200-gallon storage tank where brine will be stored in bulk.</figcaption>
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<p>Brine is salty water that is used for snow removal. If you have ever seen faint white stripes on driving lanes, then you’ve seen brine in action. A 23.3% NaCl solution, brine works in the same way that rock salt does, but it has many added benefits.</p><h3>Why brine?</h3><ul><li>Reduces the amount of salt applied, which saves money and prevents water contamination. </li><li>Sticks to where it is placed and is not subject to being moved around like rock salt </li><li>Prevents snow/ice from adhering to the pavement surface if applied before a winter storm. This makes removal easier. </li><li>Works quicker than rock salt. Rock salt needs to become brine on the pavement surface, and then it will start working. Using brine from the start accelerates the process. &nbsp;</li></ul>
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<span class="title">Sustainable snow solution</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">4:15 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Nov.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>28</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Student’s brine research ushers in a greener winter on campus
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/celebrate-car-free-week/Celebrate Car-Free Week2023-09-07T09:26:05.363Z2023-09-06T16:16:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">4:16 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Sept.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>6</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></p>
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<figcaption>Car Free Week: the sustainable way to get around</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Join the UWL community in living car-free to the extent that you can Sept. 18-22 </h3>
<p>Plan some trips without four wheels and join an international movement to go car free. <a data-mce-href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/world-car-free-day-22-september-great-opportunity-reduce-air-pollution" href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/world-car-free-day-22-september-great-opportunity-reduce-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Car Free Day</a> is celebrated Sept. 22. UWL faculty, staff and students are invited to go car free for the week of Sept. 18-22. &nbsp;</p><p>Going car free doesn’t have to mean giving up your car completely. Many experience barriers beyond their control when planning a car-free commute. Instead, consider your options every time you need to travel. Sometimes a walk, bike ride or bus trip would be just as efficient while also improving your health and the environment. Occasionally they are even faster!&nbsp;</p><p>“Since the creation of the personal automobile, the built environment has taken a beeline for car-centric design,” says Andrew Ericson, UWL <a data-mce-href="/sustainability/" href="/sustainability/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainability program</a> manager. “In the U.S., in particular, we have long invested and built an infrastructure system that pushes citizens to use personal vehicles. But internationally this model is not typical. It’s something we should stop to think about, and make sure we are choosing a method of transportation that makes the most sense for ourselves and the environment.”&nbsp;</p><p>While this is a week-long celebration, Ericson hopes that the UWL campus community continues to think about car free transportation beyond the end of the week. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“The personal automobile is not going anywhere, anytime soon,” he says. “It has clear benefits. But should a personal automobile be a necessity for our daily lives?”&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>Car transportation and walking stats</h3>
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<figcaption>Find spots on the UW-La Crosse campus to lock up your bike.</figcaption>
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<ul><li>In 2021, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Inventory%20of,U.S.%20GHG%20emissions%20in%202021" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Inventory%20of,U.S.%20GHG%20emissions%20in%202021" rel="noopener">29% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions</a> came from the transportation sector, with most of that coming from the use of personal automobiles, according to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2021.</li><li>More than half of all trips in the U.S. are less than three miles in length and nearly 30% were less than a mile (<a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1230-march-21-2022-more-half-all-daily-trips-were-less-three-miles-2021" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1230-march-21-2022-more-half-all-daily-trips-were-less-three-miles-2021" rel="noopener">U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2021</a>)&nbsp;</li><li>Walking enhances mood, reduces stress, improves self-esteem, and combats cognitive decline (American Behavioral Clinics, 2022)</li><li>Regular brisk walking improves cardiovascular health, strengthens bones and muscles, improves muscle endurance, increases energy levels, improves balance and coordination, and strengthens immune system (Mayo Clinic, 2021)</li><li>Regular brisk walking improves mood, cognition, memory, and sleep (Mayo Clinic, 2021)&nbsp;</li></ul>
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<h3>Join the Car-Free movement in a variety of ways </h3>
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<figcaption>Students rollerblading on campus.</figcaption>
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<ul><li>If you live far away from campus, consider connecting with colleagues who live nearby to carpool.&nbsp;</li><li>Can’t change the car commute to work? Consider changing a couple of short trips you make regularly – between stores in town, to a neighbor’s house or other trips that could just as well be made using a more sustainable transportation option.&nbsp;</li><li>Have you always thought about biking to campus but have never done it? This is your push.&nbsp;</li><li>Going to lunch downtown? Skip the car and hop on bus #4 that picks up on campus or take a Drift Cycle. &nbsp;</li><li>Are you already a savvy commuter? Push yourself to go without a car for all your trips for the week.&nbsp;</li><li>Not able to celebrate Car Free Week? Think about the barriers. Do you feel unsafe crossing a particular intersection? Does your route to work lack dedicated bike lanes to get you where you need to go? Do you have no reasonable alternative? These are all things that you could share with your local elected officials and they would also be a terrific way to celebrate Car Free Week.&nbsp;</li></ul>
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<h3>What is Car-Free Day? </h3>
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<figcaption>Students walk on the UW-La Crosse campus.</figcaption>
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<p>Car-Free day (or week in in the case of UWL), is an opportunity to think about how we get from place to place and try out alternatives. It is a day to live car free to the extent that you can.&nbsp;</p><p>An international event, cities, and even entire countries have celebrated, promoted and even mandated the use of alternative transportation methods. The day’s origins lie within various oil crises that occurred during the second half of the 20th century. Implementing car free days was a way to cut oil demand. The Car-Free movement picked up speed in the 90s, with various cities in Europe and North America trying out versions of a Car Free Day. In 2,000, Bogota, Colombia began Car-Free Days. In October of that year, they took a referendum vote on Car-Free Day, and now they celebrate yearly by banning vehicle use for one day a year, with few exceptions.&nbsp;</p>
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<span class="title">Celebrate Car-Free Week</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">4:16 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Sept.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>6</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2023</span></span>
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Join the UWL community in living car-free to the extent that you can Sept. 18-22 
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/tips-for-a-more-sustainable-holiday/Tips for a more sustainable holiday2022-12-15T08:27:43.25Z2022-12-16T08:00:00ZKjerstin Langhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/klang/klang@uwlax.edu
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<span class="title">Tips for a more sustainable holiday</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Dec.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>16</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></span>
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UWL's sustainability coordinator shares how to travel, eat and give gifts with the Earth in mind
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/demystifying-the-mississippi/Demystifying the Mississippi2022-04-21T13:06:25.063Z2022-04-22T08:00:00ZNhouchee Yanghttps://uwlax.edu/profile/nyang2/nyang2@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>22</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></p>
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<figcaption>Ross Vander Vorste (center), professor of biology at UWL, received a 2022 Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for his and his students' research into the biology of the Mississippi River.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Ross Vander Vorste wins Prairie Springs Award for river research</h3>
<p>The Mississippi River is many things to the La Crosse community.</p><p>An object of beauty. An aquatic playground. A driver of commerce. A defining landmark of the place we call home.</p><p>But the Mississippi continues to hold secrets for scientists who wonder about human impacts on the aquatic organisms in local river ecosystems.</p><p>A new project by UW-La Crosse’s Ross Vander Vorste and his students is filling those gaps.</p><p>“Large rivers are one of the most biodiverse and imperiled ecosystems on the planet. However, research into how climate change and other human-induced stressors are impacting these ecosystems is lacking due to their size and dynamic environmental conditions,” says <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/profile/rvandervorste/" data-mce-href="/profile/rvandervorste/">Vander Vorste, an assistant professor of biology</a>. “For the last three years, my students and I have used lab- and field-based research to determine key factors influencing biodiversity and productivity of invertebrates, and begun quantifying long-term trends in biological communities in the Upper Mississippi River.”</p><p>Since detecting the underlying factors that influence the biology of the Mississippi is so difficult, Vander Vorste and his students created 36 artificial aquatic mesocosm habitats in the Prairie Springs Science Center.&nbsp;</p><p>These mesocosms — small-scale reproductions of the natural environment — allow the team to manipulate environmental factors such as temperature and water quality, yielding <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">useful</span> insights into how changing conditions may affect various organisms.</p><p>The team is also compiling a long-term ecological dataset based on field research on the Mississippi, which will hopefully be used by agencies, such as Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Geological Survey, when making river monitoring and management decisions aimed at protecting the biodiversity and productivity of river ecosystems.</p>
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<p>“Long-term ecological datasets are critical for understanding trends and making predictions about the impacts of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors,” Vander Vorste explains. “Recent collaborations with state and federal agencies … are making practical contributions to environmental studies and conservation.”</p><p>The totality of this work, which Vander Vorste notes is ongoing, earned him a 2022 <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/community/archive/prairie-springs-excellence-award/" data-mce-href="/community/archive/prairie-springs-excellence-award/">Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award</a> — given annually to a faculty member and student who are taking environmental action in the community, while inspiring others to do the same.</p><p>“It’s an honor to receive this award,” Vander Vorste says. “I’ve worked hard over the last three years to build a research program involving students that informs river monitoring and management decisions.”</p><p>While the project is paying immediate dividends, Vander Vorste says the greatest impact is yet to be seen. That will come in the form of students, for years to come, gaining invaluable experience conducting high-level, actionable environmental research.</p><p>“Building the laboratory mesocosm system in Prairie Springs will result in hundreds of students getting hands-on research experience related to environmental studies and conservation in the coming years,” he says. “Experiments are on-going, and a planned expansion of the mesocosm system will ensure students receive training that advances their skills and involvement in research that has practical applications for freshwater biodiversity conservation.”</p><p><br data-mce-bogus="1"></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2019-uwl-fall-biology-marsh-research0250.jpg/Medium" alt="Ross Vander Vorste (center), professor of biology at UWL, received a 2022 Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for his and his students' research into the biology of the Mississippi River." />
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<span class="title">Demystifying the Mississippi</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>22</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></span>
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Ross Vander Vorste wins Prairie Springs Award for river research
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/sustainability-efforts-truly-matter/‘Sustainability efforts truly matter’2022-04-26T08:17:03.627Z2022-04-21T15:00:00ZNhouchee Yanghttps://uwlax.edu/profile/nyang2/nyang2@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">3 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>21</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></p>
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<figcaption>UWL senior biology major Bella Anderson received a 2022 Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for her research into how La Crosse's bluffs have changed through the decades.</figcaption>
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<h3>Bella Anderson wins Prairie Springs Award for bluff research</h3>
<p>La Crosse’s bluffs are a timeless feature — one that, to the untrained eye, seems to change very little from one year to the next.</p><p>In reality, the bluffs are constantly evolving, in part due to human factors. A new project from UW-La Crosse senior Bella Anderson examines how the bluffs have been altered over the decades, and provides guidance on how they can be restored to their more natural state.</p><p>This research earned Anderson a 2022 <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/community/archive/prairie-springs-excellence-award/" data-mce-href="/community/archive/prairie-springs-excellence-award/">Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award</a> — given annually to a student and faculty member who are taking environmental action in the community, while inspiring others to do the same.</p><p>“Receiving this award means so much to me,” says Anderson, a <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/biology/" data-mce-href="/biology/">biology</a> major with a concentration in environmental science. “It proves that sustainability efforts truly matter.”</p><p>Anderson began her project by studying historical images of the bluffs provided by Jim Rogala, chair of the Prairie Enthusiasts Coulee Region Chapter.</p><p>Using geographic information software made available by UWL, she noted how native prairie areas in the bluffs had diminished over the decades, and how they had been recently restored in places.</p><p>Anderson compiled these maps into a brochure explaining the importance of prairie habitats to not only the species that live there, but to humans as well.</p><p>The conservation of prairies “also promotes conservation of animal and plant species, which provides additional benefits for humans, such as pollution filtration,” she explains.</p><p><a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/profile/aremsburg/" data-mce-href="/profile/aremsburg/">Alysa Remsburg</a>, professor of <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/environmental-studies/" data-mce-href="/environmental-studies/">environmental studies</a> and Anderson’s mentor for the project, says she was impressed by Anderson’s ability to apply principles she had learned in the classroom.</p><p>“She applied the environmental studies interdisciplinary minor by integrating history, communication, mapping skills, public education and habitat restoration,” Remsburg explains. “She seems driven by a genuine commitment to community and a love for learning about people improving the environment.”</p><p>Anderson says the success of her project is particularly rewarding given her identity as a first-generation college student and a woman in science.</p><p>She hopes her research will continue to have an impact for years to come, inspiring others to consider how their actions might affect the environment.</p><p>“Creating these maps creates archivable information that can be used again in the future to compare prairie areas changing over time — hopefully growing due to restoration efforts — which can provide an even deeper analysis of our impact on our natural world,” she says. “We can analyze if our restoration tools are making a change, positive or negative, and alter the course of how we restore our environment.”</p>
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<span class="title">‘Sustainability efforts truly matter’</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">3 p.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>April</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>21</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2022</span></span>
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Bella Anderson wins Prairie Springs Award for bluff research
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/environmental-educator/Environmental educator2021-05-04T11:54:43.717Z2021-04-28T08:00:00ZBritney Heinemanhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/bheineman/bheineman@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:54 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>May</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>4</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>Kelly Sultzbach, an associate professor of English at UWL, has received the inaugural Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for faculty. The award recognizes a UWL faculty member who is taking environmental action in the community and inspiring others to do the same.</figcaption>
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<h3>Sultzbach receives inaugural Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for faculty</h3>
<p>One of Kelly Sultzbach’s clearest childhood memories is of a “gorgeous, glorious” pine tree in her neighbor’s yard.</p><p>After a storm one winter, the tree was so thoroughly coated with ice that its branches began to crack from the weight. To the young Sultzbach, it was as if this gorgeous giant were crying out for help.</p><p>Ever since, <a data-mce-href="/profile/ksultzbach/" href="/profile/ksultzbach/">Sultzbach, an associate professor of English at UW-La Crosse</a>, has felt a deep connection to and a personal responsibility for the environment.</p><p>Her efforts — from infusing her courses with environmental themes to volunteering with local organizations — has earned her the inaugural <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/community/prairie-springs-excellence-award/" data-mce-href="/community/prairie-springs-excellence-award/">Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award</a> for faculty.</p><p>“To be honored for this award was a surprise because I feel there’s such a strong community of people who are doing this work at UWL,” Sultzbach explains. “The strength of our university is that we have a lot of people working together, sharing resources, and it’s difficult to single out any one person.”</p><p>Sultzbach, who has a doctorate in British literature and environmental literature, says her background in English hasn’t been a deterrent to her exploring environmental science with her students.</p><p>To the contrary — her perspective as an English professor has been an asset. It allows her to approach issues such as climate change or environmental justice in a unique and informative way.</p><p>“This is where the sciences and humanities can work together,” she notes. “Science informs our expectations in literature, and speculative fiction helps the sciences by imagining the future and what kind of social responses we’ll see over time. Bringing together different disciplines can be really valuable.”</p><p>Rather than exploring the environment in the abstract, Sultzbach has developed assignments and learning opportunities with tangible, meaningful outcomes.</p><p>She started a “Coffee &amp; Conservation” program in which students read works of climate fiction and lead discussion groups with local environmentalists.</p><p>She organized student-led hikes in collaboration with the La Crosse Parks &amp; Recreation Department and the Aldo Leopold Society.</p><p>And she has volunteered with local grassroots and nonprofit organizations, including serving on the communications board for the Mississippi Valley Conservancy and writing articles for Conservancy publications.</p><p>Sultzbach’s ability to inspire others can also be seen in <a href="https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/communicatinggreencrbfinal2?fr=sOGI0OTU0MzQxNg." data-mce-href="https://issuu.com/uw-lacrosse/docs/communicatinggreencrbfinal2?fr=sOGI0OTU0MzQxNg.">“Communicating Green,”</a> a photographic research essay by former UWL student Carly Rundle-Borchert. Sultzbach and Associate Professor of Art Kathleen Hawkes mentored Rundle-Borchert throughout the project.</p><p>“Dr. Sultzbach’s work has contributed to environmental education and awareness in the area,” says <a data-mce-href="/profile/scocks/" href="/profile/scocks/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Sam Cocks, chair of the Environmental Studies Program</a>, “and has provided students, community members and local organizations with the opportunity to learn about and discuss environmental issues.”</p><p>But raising awareness is only half the battle. The sheer scale of the climate crisis has been known to inspire apathy — what Sultzbach refers to has “stuplimity.”</p><p>“It’s an emotional reaction to feeling powerless in the face of hyper objects that feel beyond our control,” she says. “It’s the boredom we feel when we’re overwhelmed by something that seems impossible or inevitable.”</p><p>The challenge for Sultzbach and other environmental educators is to cut through that apathy and convince others that hope is not lost. Even small victories and piecemeal progress, she says, are worth fighting for.</p><p>“We’re all part of a community working toward incremental change, a little at a time, and that’s where the hope comes from,” she says. “The hope has to come through our work.”</p><p><strong>About the award</strong></p><p>The Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Awards, started this year, recognize a student and faculty member who are taking environmental action in the community, and inspiring others to do the same.</p><p>Recipients are selected by the Prairie Springs Endowment Fund Advisory Subcommittee, which considers the impact, scope and sustainability of each candidate’s accomplishments. Each winner receives $1,000.&nbsp;</p><p>The awards are funded through the endowment fund created by Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust. The fund also supports undergraduate student research, CSH Dean’s Distinguished Fellowships and internship opportunities that focus on environmental education, conservation and wildlife habitat protection.</p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2021-uwl-environmental-studies-kelly-sultzbach-0007.jpg/Medium" alt="Kelly Sultzbach, an associate professor of English at UWL, has received the inaugural Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for faculty. The award recognizes a UWL faculty member who is taking environmental action in the community and inspiring others to do the same." />
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<span class="title">Environmental educator</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:54 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Tuesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>May</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>4</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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Sultzbach receives inaugural Prairie Springs Environmental Leadership Award for faculty
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/science-in-a-snap/Science in a snap2021-03-31T10:13:54.393Z2021-03-30T10:38:08.487ZBritney Heinemanhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/bheineman/bheineman@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10:13 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>March</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>31</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>Shayla Michel, a master's biology student at UW-La Crosse, took first place in this year’s 3 Minute Grad Project event. Her research explores how an insecticide commonly used in agriculture is affecting zebrafish and fathead minnows.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">Shayla Michel’s pithy presentation earns top honor</h3>
<p>Shayla Michel conquered the clock.</p><p>Michel, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in biology at UW-La Crosse, took first place in this year’s <a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/graduate-studies/3-minute-grad-project/" data-mce-href="/graduate-studies/3-minute-grad-project/">3 Minute Grad Project event</a>. The competition challenges students to squeeze months of research into a 180-second presentation for a general audience.</p><p>“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” says Michel, who presented on the effects of an insecticide on two fish species. “I listened to everyone else’s presentation, and they were so good and so interesting. As they were dwindling down, announcing third place and second place, I was thinking that I either did really badly or really well.”</p><p>This year’s event drew a record number of applications and featured presenters from a record number of graduate programs — including applied statistics, physical therapy, biology and software engineering.</p><p>But it was Michel whose presentation stood out to the panel.</p><p>She has spent two-plus years on this research, building on a grant project that her advisor, <a data-mce-href="/profile/tking-heiden/" href="/profile/tking-heiden/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Biology Professor Tisha King-Heiden</a>, has been working on.</p><p>Michel’s research explores how two fish species — zebrafish and fathead minnows — are being affected by Thiamethoxam, an insecticide often used in agriculture. While Thiamethoxam is highly effective against a broad range of insects, less is known about how it affects non-target organisms such as fish, birds and mice.</p><p>Working to answer that question came naturally to Michel, who’s passionate about biology and plans to pursue a doctorate in environmental toxicology after graduation. Whittling that research down to three minutes, however, was a new, eye-opening exercise.</p><p>“I love talking about my research and telling people what I do, and trying to fit all of that in three minutes is very challenging,” she says. “I had to really focus on the major parts and the most important parts. It really gave me a new and different perspective on my research.”</p><p>Michel says she felt “excited nervousness” before presenting, because she wanted to make a good impression with the panel, and she knew many more people were watching online. Thankfully, she navigated her presentation smoothly, and even had about 20 seconds to spare.</p><p>Of course, the foundation for Michel’s successful presentation was laid well before her three minutes began.</p><div class="list-item-1">
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<figcaption>For Michel, who has spent two-plus years on her research, the hardest part was narrowing the focus of her presentation. “I love talking about my research and telling people what I do," she says. "Trying to fit all of that in three minutes is very challenging.”</figcaption>
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<p>In recent months, the grad student closely monitored the health of fish that had been exposed to Thiamethoxam, watching for any changes to their survival or hatching rate, or to their ability to catch food or evade predators. The latter symptoms would be an indication of nervous system damage, which is often found in bees and other non-target organisms harmed by insecticides.</p><p>Michel found that the fish were affected by Thiamethoxam, but results varied between the different species and age groups.</p><p>While more research is needed to gain a clearer picture, King-Heiden says Michel has been thorough and dedicated in her approach.</p><p>“Shayla has all the skills required of a scientist — she can synthesize primary literature and identify areas that need to be further explored, she pays great attention to detail, and she understands her work well enough to explain her findings to both novice and experienced audiences,” King-Heiden notes. “Most of all, she exudes passion and dedication to exploration and has a creative mind, which are essential characteristics for having a successful career in science.”</p><p>As for their work with insecticides, Michel and King-Heiden hope others will continue their research. That body of evidence could help influence future regulations related to agriculture and wildlife.</p><p>“Anyone who cares about fishing, walking along the Mississippi River or swimming in local lakes will be affected by this in some way,” Michel says. “If an organism in that area is not healthy, it’s going to disrupt the ecosystem, and everyone enjoying those habitats will be affected as well.”</p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2020-uwl-shayla-michel-3-minute-thesis-0060.jpg/Medium" alt="Shayla Michel, a master's biology student at UW-La Crosse, took first place in this year’s 3 Minute Grad Project event. Her research explores how an insecticide commonly used in agriculture is affecting zebrafish and fathead minnows." />
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<span class="title">Science in a snap</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">10:13 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Wednesday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>March</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>31</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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Shayla Michel’s pithy presentation earns top honor
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