|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sustainability Smörgåsbord
Quick updates on select sustainability initiatives here on campus!
|
|
Here are a few, very brief updates on various projects on campus. We'll get more into the weeds in future news briefs, but for now here's a little teaser:
- Kettler Rain Garden: since the installation last summer, facilities has taken the 'reins' on getting the rain garden established and the plants are flourishing!
- Certified Wildlife Habitat Designation: the 8,000 sq/ft area in front of Kettler Hall has been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation as property "committed to sustainably provide essential elements of wildlife habitat." Keep an eye out for the sign!
- Solar Powered Picnic Table: IT has a pilot project by The Mastodon featuring a roofed picnic table with solar panels. They'll charge both the conveniently placed ceiling fan and your electronics while you cool off.
- EV charging stations: charging your electric vehicle on campus could very well be a possibility in the near future. Now time to get a Tesla!
- Tree campus USA certification: It's official! We have the plaque and everything - and have made it onto the Arbor Day Foundations's List!
- Solar panels on Kettler: the solar panels on the roof are at a production all-time-high with the summer we’ve been having. The dashboard to see the stats for yourself can be found at this link
- WQIS comes in 1st place: the Water Quality Information Service collaboration wins the blue ribbon in the 2019-2020 CS Capstone Project Competition
- Partnership with Purdue WL Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department: the ERC partnered with this year's capstone class to get an in-depth landscaping vision for around our building and beyond!
- ERC Events 2020: Conservation Conversation and Wild and Scenic Film Festival plans are in the works!
- Mastodon Market: farmers market still (tentatively) on for late August!
|
|
Recycled Kitchen Remodel
Renovations, reorganization, and preparations for new tenants
|
|
|
From kitchen remodeling to preparation for new tenants, we've made a lot of changes since we last had visitors in the ERC. We now have nearly every work station activated with functioning computers! Plus, our kitchen remodel was done using almost entirely reclaimed materials from other areas on campus. Check out these before and during shots from the work done over the past couple of months. We are very excited to share the finished product with all of you, stay tuned for updates!
|
|
|
New Paint in the Offices:
|
|
Myanmar Video Project
Spotlight on Gillespie's contribution to a virtual educational series to come!
|
|
|
|
Members of the ERC, NISTEM, and University Research and Innovation capturing farm video footage
|
|
|
The first day of video capture was full as we recorded segments from the ERC, Camp Scott in Fort Wayne, and the farm of Mike Werling in Adams County. Camp Scott, is a constructed wetland facility that treats storm water runoff before emptying into the Maumee River. Camp Scott serves a very necessary function, while providing a very interesting wetland ecosystem that promotes biodiversity. At the farm of Mike Werling we learned how the use of no till planting, cover crops, and managed drainage systems can dramatically improve soil integrity and lessen the amount of soil and agrichemicals that run off his farm into the St. Marys River. It was evident that Mike is very passionate about these best management practices!
|
|
Happy Belated World Snake Day
Officially on July 16, but we like to celebrate these incredible creatures all year long!
|
|
|
How did you spend World Snake Day this year? Lucy the ball python (left) and Sheila the woma python (right) celebrated with a meal of rodents and basking under the heat lamp. The humans celebrated by welcoming our newest outreach snake-in-training, Clive the spotted python (bottom)! While Clive hasn't finished her paperwork yet, we are eager for when she can move in and meet everyone.
|
|
P.S. - Bruce's Blurb
Not an afterthought....
|
|
Greetings everyone.
I have been relegated to the bottom of the News Brief. Good!
I am doing well on my sabbatical. My golf game is getting really good. Kidding. Don't know how to golf. I have a contract with Indiana University Press to produce a field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Indiana. I am chipping away at it and the process is fun. My co-author is Evin Carter, a former student of mine and now a research biologist at Oak Ridge National Laboratories. He probably knows more than I do about these wonderful animals anyway, and is an excellent photographer.
Otherwise, I will admit to drinking more coffee and making progress on fixing up my house. I also aspire to do more art and get back on the road with my bicycle, but those are only aspirations so far. And, even though I am actively avoiding most activities relating to administration (read meetings) and teaching (grading), I have stayed in the loop on things ERC, and have some involvement with the transition team working on a College of Science at the university.
Best wishes,
Bruce
|
|
Connect with the ERC elsewhere:
Add the ERC to your daily internet scroll and stay up to date with our day-to-day. Be the first to see our most recent shenanigans and then you don't have to wait a whole month for updates. Win-win!
|
|
|
Did you love what you read?! Share your excitement!
Help us continue our conservation and education efforts by forwarding likeminded people either our QR code (left) or the direct subscribe link through the JOIN page on the ERC website.
You can also share this month's news brief with any of the easy one-click buttons below. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
PROMOTE CONSERVATION
To invest in the ERC is to invest in local environmental conservation. Donate now to support research, education, and outreach activities in your own community!
|
|
How Are We Doing?
We value your opinion and we want to hear from you! What did you love? What can we improve on? What do you want to see in the next issue? Drop us an email to let us know!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
