Current Graduate Research Projects
Jennifer Amstutz
The reason for population decline in Field Sparrows
and Yellow Warbers.
What are the population trends (survivorship, productivity, and population)
of field sparrows and yellow warblers at Merry Lea compared to populations
at regional banding stations with similar ecosystems?
This project will include an in-depth look at the data collected from the
MAPS banding of field sparrows (Spizella pusilla ) and yellow warblers
(Dendroica petechia), two common species at Merry Lea, that appear to be
in decline on the eastern coast. Data will then be collected from other
regional MAPS banding sites with similar ecosystems and compared to see
if there has been a change within the past seven years in the area.
A twofold curriculum will be developed
to educate middle school-aged students and the general public about birds,
their need for adequate habitat, and mathematical bird implications and
lessons for the classroom.
LaToyia Gilbert
Are religious leaders knowledgeable about environmental
justice issues that affect the community in which they pastor? A case study
in Gary, Indiana.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency "Environmental justice
is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless
of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies” (EPA). My goals include:.
• To identify the environmental justice literacy of area church
pastors and congregations and how (or if) these issues are addressed in
their particular churches.
• To identify how community environmental justice issues fit into
the congregations.
• Determine what role area pastors play in promoting environmental
justice awareness.
I hope to contribute to my community by raising awareness towards environmetal issues and thereby creating a spark towards action. I plan to achieve this by surveying local pastors who are representative of the church denominations of the community and then developing church curriculum for multiple ages.
Hannah Miller
What schools/programs have successfully integrated green
building materials into their curricula, and what factors have led to their
success?
My project will examine pedagogical materials and methods that have successfully
integrated green building and campus programs into American K-12 schools,
and the factors that have contributed to the success of these programs.
Components of “green building” programs I am most interested
in are those where students take leadership roles monitoring water and
energy use, waste production, and grounds maintenance in their school community.
I will use findings from the research to design 9-12 curricula for teachers
and administrators. The program and curriculum will not focus on constructing
new buildings or training young engineers, but will focus on using existing
grounds and buildings to develop sustainable practices within an educational
community. The curricula will also feature a career options component where
students will explore possible careers related to green construction. The
project will reach two distinct audiences by inviting school groups to
participate in a Reith Village program, and then sending them home with
materials they can use in their entire school community.
Maddie King
Creation Care in the Episcopal Church
What are our motivations for caring for the environment that
come from our faith? How does our faith motivate us to care for the environment?
Does our faith motivate us to care for the environment in all denominations?
How can we integrate creation care into youth group curricula to create
a lasting and effective bond between Christian faith and environmental
stewardship?
Goals:
1. I want to investigate the connection between the Episcopal Church and
the environment
-How does the Episcopal Church approach creation care?
-Does the Episcopal Church have youth curriculum that focuses on
environmental stewardship?
2. Find or develop a curriculum for high school students on creation care.
Laell Schulte
Interpretation of Tallgrass Prairies
The use of tall grass prairie systems for agricultural grazing is largely
an untapped resource in the United States. These prairies hold great potential
for grazing purposes. If done correctly, both the tall grass prairie and
the economy could benefit. Part of the problem lies with the fact that
there are very few acres of tall grass prairies left, and those that have
survived are largely protected from human use.
My goals are to develop and educational program for K-12 to understand
and appreciate tall grass prairies. I will investigate the range of Prairie
curriculum in the Midwest at nature centers, schools and state agencies.
I would like to adapt curriculum for two different audiences using the
unique conditions at Merry Lea.
Kathy Shantz
Monitoring Wetlands through Citizen Science
The goal of this project is to determine criteria for measuring
the health of northern Indiana wetlands using citizen science. “Citizen
science” is
the practice of accessing field assistants through volunteers. The volunteers
are amateurs who assist in ecological research by monitoring plants,
animals and other environmental markers. Citizen scientists help gather
information over a wider geographical scale and over a longer period
of time. How can volunteers at Merry Lea successfully measure the health
of wetlands? This project will focus on developing monitoring criteria
that can effectively use volunteers to monitor the health of wetlands.
Bethany Testa-Avila
What components are effective in an interactive
exhibit to increase children’s knowledge retention of spring forest
ecosystems?
The goal of the project is to create an easy to use/understand exhibit
on spring forest ecosystems.
I would like the exhibit to act as a bridge that fits into Merry Lea’s
Spring Program and will study spring forest ecosystems in more depth. I
will create an attractive, interactive and engaging exhibit on spring forest
ecosystem and investigate the possibility that an artistic, interactive
exhibit will increase knowledge in children. Finally, I would like to test
how effective the exhibit is for children.
Graduate Projects from 2008/2009
-
Nayla Jiménez
San Ramón de Tres Ríos, Costa Rica - Research Project: Why have some college presidents chosen to sign the American College and University President's Climate Commitment and what does their mean for their institutions?
- Nayla plans to survey the 110 schools affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities regarding their position on the American College and University President's Climate Commitment. She will also develop a curriculum that could be used to educate college administrators or student groups on "greening" their campuses.
- Mallory Kuhn
- Spencerville, Ohio
- Research Project: What attracts shoppers to a Farmer's Market?
- Mallory is conducting a consumer-based study of the Goshen Farmer's Market. She will survey the Market's mailing list and interview market customers. She is hoping to learn how people learned about the market and what motivates them to continue shopping at a Farmer's Market. Her findings will be presented to the Farmer's Market board to help them with their marketing strategies. She will also develop a curriculum to educate the public about buying locally and Farmer's Markets.
Todd Weston
Columbia, Missouri
Research Project: Does earning a scout merit badge increase environmental literacy?
Todd plans to survey scout troops in Missouri and Indiana and compare their scores with the National Environmental Education Standards designed by the North American Association for Environmental Education. He is hoping to determine if scouts who have completed merit badges score higher than those who have not. he will also work on using this information to design a more effective merit badge curriculum.