Stories about "Sustainability"
Bates bio students join greenhouse-gas project to help squelch the bovine belch

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 2:14 pm

In partnership with a Maine research lab, an innovative Bates biology course gives students up-close experience with cows and dung — all in service to a project to reduce greenhouse gas.

Zoe Knauss '23 of Buffalo, N.Y., who will declare as an ES major, and ES major Sam Gilman '22 of Mendham, N.J., , dig for soil in a field.Prof of Environmental Studies and Christian A. Johnson Prof of Interdisc Studies Holly Ewing and Lecturer in Environmental Studies & Learning Associate in Environmental Studies Camille Parrish take students in the Soils/Lab course for a field trip to Pettengill Farm in Freeport, Maine. A nineteenth century salt-water farm on the estuary of the Harraseeket River, the farm is owned by Freeport Historical Society(FHS). It includes a saltbox house (ca. 1800) on 140 acres of fields, woods, antique apple orchards and salt marsh. Most interesting are the etchings (sgraffitti) found on the plaster walls in the upper chambers of ships, sea monsters, longboats and animals. The farmhouse remains without plumbing, central heat and electricity and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Mildred Pettengill was its last resident and lived in the house until 1970.The students are digging up soil and making observations (soil profiles) before putting it back where it came from.ENVR 310 - Soils/LabDepending on one's point of view, soils are geological units, ecosystems, the foundation of plant life, a place for microbes to live, building material, or just dirt. This course takes a scientific perspective and explores the genesis of soils, their distribution and characteristics, and their interaction with plants. Field studies emphasize description of soils, inferences about soil formation, and placement within a landscape context. Labs investigate the chemistry of soils and their role in forestry and agriculture.
Picture story: “Thankful to get off campus and my hands dirty”

Thursday, October 8, 2020 4:01 pm

Follow along as Bates environmental studies students go off campus and dig into the science of dirt at a stunning coastal Maine site.

Slideshow: See how students’ internships become life-guiding forces

Tuesday, August 18, 2020 12:30 pm

From studying the diets of sea urchins to working with Lewiston's immigrant communities, Bates students forged their way into the world this summer with Bates-funded internships.

Pete and Gerry’s Jesse Laflamme ’00 and the scrambled supply chain of eggs during COVID

Friday, June 26, 2020 9:46 am

Last winter, Jesse Laflamme '00 saw nothing to indicate that his organic egg business was on the verge of a radical jump in demand.

My Last Year of Teaching: Jane Costlow’s departure prompts reflections on past, present, and future

Thursday, June 11, 2020 9:17 am

It was the Tuesday after Commencement, and Jane Costlow paced around her Hedge Hall office, up to her elbows in books, boxes, papers, and assorted memorabilia.

Truman Scholar Essie Martin ’21 looks to create sustainable fishing and communities

Thursday, June 4, 2020 1:01 pm

Good policy, Martin says, stems from good science — and giving everyone a seat at the table.

Current affairs: Student programmers simplify electricity management

Thursday, June 4, 2020 8:11 am

In a special Digital and Computational Studies project, three seniors join EcoReps to improve how Bates measures campus electrical use.

Purposeful Work: Spotlight on Environmental Careers6-7 p.m. Environmental Career Panel Discussion in Commons 2217:10 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Session I There was a second breakout session and networking reception that I didn't photograph.Philip Dube '16, second-year graduate student at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.Emma Conover '16, Ceres's water program, where she works to mobilize food and beverage companies to address water risks in their agricultural supply chain.Mike Lydon ;04, a Principal of Street Plans, an international award-winning planning, design, and research-advocacy firm based in Miami, New York City, and San Francisco.Lucy (Brennan) Perkins '14, joined the City of South Portland's sustainability office to assist in the developments of campaigns and outreach materials that educate the community about sustainability initiatives and garner new support for policies and programs.Hannah Broadley '10, biologist, ecologist, and entomologist, with a Ph.D., whose area of focus is the management of invasive forest insects. She is currently a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Massachusetts and works with a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.Jeffrey Porter '85, considered one of the top environmental lawyers in the country.
To succeed in an environmental career, pick a problem and become an expert, say Bates alumni

Thursday, March 12, 2020 5:35 pm

Dive deep into your chosen field by getting involved both locally and internationally, and by keeping tabs on a rapidly changing world.

I am a philosophy major and I got the idea from a younger sibling who has a large interest in entomology told me about the Zophobas morio. I keep the larvae in storage and I use a large plastic storage bin as their enclosure. Theoretically, with the number of worms (2,000) that I have, it should take them a year to consume 92 grams of styrofoam. I will just use the adult beetles for breeding and the only reason why adult beetles would stop breeding is that they have died. Thursday would be best for the photo. Best, Henri Emmet
Worms ate my coffee cup! and other Green Innovation Grants for 2019–20

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 4:36 pm

From plastic-eating worms to stapleless staplers, Bates' Green Innovation Grants support surprising — and surprisingly effective — sustainability projects.

This Month in Bates Outing Club History: January

Thursday, January 9, 2020 2:57 pm

Throughout 2020, as the Bates Outing Club celebrates its centennial, we'll share monthly highlights about what's made the club distinctive and beloved.

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