Sun Journal publishes op-ed by Wenzel and Costlow on Androscoggin-focused projects

In an op-ed in the Sun Journal, Bates professors Tom Wenzel and Jane Costlow explain their students’ partnership with the community on various projects involving the Androscoggin River.

The students were part of the professors’ environmental studies course on community-engaged research, a class required of ES majors.

Gwynneth Johnson ’12 makes a point about the Lisbon trail signage plan, one of several student-community projects involving the Androscoggin River, as professor Tom Wenzel (left) and Bradley Gee ’12 look on.

Students undertook eight projects in Lewiston-Auburn, Lisbon and Livermore Falls. They partnered with the Androscoggin Land Trust, Museum L-A, L/A Arts, the town of Lisbon, Maine’s Paper & Heritage Museum in Livermore Falls and the development company Otis Ventures in Jay.

“The river is something that makes Lewiston-Auburn an ideal place for studying the environment,” say Costlow, professor of environmental studies, and Wenzel, Dana Professor of Chemistry.

“This community and its river make a perfect setting for learning about how humans interact with and depend on their environment in myriad ways — and how human affection for a place is constantly evolving.”