Stories about "Maine and New England"
Clay play: Learn about the stubborn and slick earth beneath Bates

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 4:45 pm

Bates and Maine have a historic love-hate relationship with marine clay, aka the Presumpscot Formation.

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.
Bates students dig into the science of dirt in a historic Maine landscape

Monday, December 7, 2020 5:46 pm

Bates environmental studies professor Holly Ewing guides her students to historic coastal Maine farmland for course that digs into the science of dirt.

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.

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.

This Month in Bates Outing Club History: Video from the 1936 Winter Carnival

Thursday, February 27, 2020 4:19 pm

If a sporting event could be done on bare ground, Bates students were probably trying it on skis, skates, and snowshoes during Winter Carnival.

7:30pm | Bates Outing Club and Ben Ayers ’99: A climber, writer, documentary film maker and humanitarian based in Nepal, Ayers returns to campus to help kick off the 100th anniversary of the Bates Outing Club and to talk about his experience in the field, beginning with Bates. A recipient of the Bates Alumni Community Service Award, Ayers directs programs for the dZi Foundation, which partners with communities in Nepal’s remote eastern hills to improve their quality of life. FMI 207-786-8372.Mays Center
You need to fail, says Ben Ayers ’99 at Bates Outing Club kickoff

Friday, January 24, 2020 11:09 am

By letting go of the need for instant perfection, Ayers discovered that “adventure begets adventure" in a recent talk kicking off the Bates Outing Club's 100th anniversary year.

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.

Video: Maddie Hallowell ’20 and the lows and highs of data collection

Friday, December 13, 2019 9:13 am

Inspired by her childhood in a Maine island community, Hallowell is developing sensors to track climate change. For fun, she sends balloons into the stratosphere to see what's there.

Video: A first-gen student from Maine, Ryan Lizanecz ’20 found a home at Bates

Thursday, October 10, 2019 1:39 pm

A first-generation-to-college student from Portland, Maine, Lizanecz at first felt “anxious, curious, scared” on campus. The Bobcat First! program gave him a foothold.

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