by Alexis Heinz, former EEB woody plants GSI, conservation ecology and landscape architecture graduate The coronavirus challenge has certainly altered the typical daily routine of many Americans. Because the issue is one of public health, enhancing immunity seems like the most pertinent topic to cover. Exercise. Regular exercise is paramount to survival in…
Category: conservation
Hope in the time of COVID-19
Seeing this little friend bloom as my first flower of spring did a lot of good. by Kaitie Janecke Soltesz, Environmental Educator at Blandford Nature Center, University of Michigan and EEB alumna (BS 2015) When the shelter-in-place order came out, I decided to avoid the endless scroll of news, to pass on searching for every…
What’s in a word: Preservation, restoration, conservation
by Alexis Heinz, former EEB woody plants GSI, conservation ecology and landscape architecture graduate As a landscape architecture student at the University of Michigan, I was enthused that the department was in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment (now the School for Environment and Sustainability). In response to political events and environmental…
Change infrastructure to encourage pro-environmental behavior
by Alexis Heinz, former EEB woody plants GSI, conservation ecology and landscape architecture graduate Stewarding of natural areas is a common practice within ecological circles as evidenced with the amount of volunteer group activities. The concept is seemingly less common throughout the American public. Individuals attending a conservation activity Encouraging conservation values is complex. According…
Constellating at conservation conferences
by Alexis Heinz, former EEB GSI, conservation ecology and landscape architecture graduate Part of my graduate school education included the exploration of ecological conferences. Constellating with other conservation-minded people frequently provides new insights into existing projects in addition to potential future collaborations. Attending conferences, I have observed differences in topics, style, and organization. I think…
From Roosevelt to the UMMZ: the role of the UM collections in modern conservation
by Clark Schmutz, University of Michigan student of ecology, evolution and biodiversity and Cody Thompson, collection manager of mammals, UMMZ Clark Schmutz, left, and Cody Thompson. Image credit: Scott Soderberg/Michigan Photography. The American conservation movement started in the late 19th century as a result of the efforts of individuals like John Muir and George Marsh. However,…
UMich SEEDS partners with D-Town Farm for 2018 BioBlitz
BioBlitz attendees circle up to share lessons from the event. Photo Credit: Naim Edwards by Naim Edwards (UM EEB M.S. 2014) Director, Michigan State University Detroit Partnership in Food, Learning and Innovation and Tiffany Carey, previously science outreach coordinator, U-M EEB Nyeema Harris AWE Lab and currently, Habitat and Education Coordinator, National Wildlife Foundation, Great…
A hot topic, part one
by Alexis Heinz, former EEB GSI studying conservation ecology and landscape architecture How do you find a compromise that satisfies humans, the environment, and wildlife? A branch of the Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest is trying to do this. A Douglas-fir stand crown. Image: Alexis Heinz. Valleyville is a small town, population barely greater…
Frogs, conservation and the agricultural matrix
From the James Lab Brazil Blog by Anat M. Belasen, a University of Michigan graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology The “teenage” Aparasphenodon brunoi. Image: Anat Belasen. Conservation can sometimes seem like an amorphous, nebulous, unattainable goal. One school of thought believes the goal of conservationists is to restore abused land to primary forest.…
Let’s Save the Frogs.. again!
by Anat Belasen, a University of Michigan graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology Save the Frogs Day at University of Michigan is here again! This year the UM Herpetology Club is really excited to be including some fun games and activities for all ages, including a song quiz (“Is it a frog?” by visiting…