{"id":52,"date":"2015-09-28T09:56:01","date_gmt":"2015-09-28T13:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/?page_id=52"},"modified":"2016-05-25T15:48:14","modified_gmt":"2016-05-25T19:48:14","slug":"projects-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Other Projects, and Getting Involved"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h2>Get involved<\/h2>\n<p>The ERI funds and conducts a wide range of short term and long term projects for faculty and students. You can get involved<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>by taking on a project faculty want to see done, <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1BDjVyCVoqwHDNM1WVOZKdPCMrAPGoGmvpc1Ef8YROZ4\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\">for example, from this list<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li>by seeking URSI summer projects<\/li>\n<li>by finding independent research opportunities on campus or off campus, with support from ERI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Below are examples of recent and ongoing projects supported by the ERI<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Visualizing the Corn Belt in a changing climate<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Mary Ann Cunningham (Geography)<br \/>\nA temperature increase\u00a0of 2-4\u00b0C could impact growing conditions in future decades. Dramatic changes in agricultural production are likely to be disruptive. This project uses models of drought, food demand, and economic drivers to examine how climate change will affect U.S. corn production. Results indicate that <strong><b>the distribution of suitable climate conditions for corn decreased in area and moved north.\u00a0<\/b>Much of the current Corn Belt will be outside the tolerance range of this crop.<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/?page_id=136\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/July_comparison.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-54 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/July_comparison-300x116.png\" alt=\"July_comparison\" width=\"300\" height=\"116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/July_comparison-300x116.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/July_comparison-1024x397.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Blanding&#8217;s Turtles of Dutchess County<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Marshall Pregnall (Biology)<br \/>\nThe Blanding&#8217;s turtle is down to one population in the region. This population of turtles is being monitored and radiotagged, and their nesting behavior studied.\u00a0Due to the vulnerability of the population, it is important to monitor Blanding&#8217;s turtle reproduction, particularly their nests which are frequently preyed upon. Results indicate that <strong><b>Blanding&#8217;s turtles prefer nesting in tilled sites, but such sites are also more vulnerable to predators.<\/b><br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/?page_id=160\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/blanding3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-163 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/blanding3-300x164.jpg\" alt=\"blanding3\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/blanding3-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/blanding3-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/blanding3.jpg 1056w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Edith Roberts Ecological Laboratory<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Meg Ronshiem (Biology and Environmetal Studies)<br \/>\nMeg Ronshiem has\u00a0led an ongoing project to restore the Edith Roberts Ecological Laboratory, an outdoor lab designed and built by Professor Roberts and her students in the 1930s. This is one of the earliest ecological restoration projects in the United States, as it transformed an old field into a sequence of characteristic plant associations of Dutchess county. This project has employed summer students and taught many classes about local flora and fauna.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>Located along the Fonteynkill between Skinner and Olmsted halls, the Ecological Lab also contains the boardwalk that gives access to the wetland, an ideal spot for relaxing or bird watching year round.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/a\/vassar.edu\/eri\/products-services\/Sanne%20and%20Josh%20in%20Edith%20Roberts%20Ecol%20Lab%20Vassar-Homepage-20140709.jpg.jpg?attredirects=0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/a\/vassar.edu\/eri\/products-services\/Sanne%20and%20Josh%20in%20Edith%20Roberts%20Ecol%20Lab%20Vassar-Homepage-20140709.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Sanne Jarvinnen-Cosse '16 and Josh Bruce '16 work with Meg Ronsheim in the EREL\" width=\"320\" height=\"178\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<div>\n<h2>Mercury and Lead Deposition in Ombrotrophic Catskill Bogs<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Alison Keimowitz (Chemistry)<br \/>\nOmbrotrophic bogs are sensitive ecosystems dependent on atmospheric deposition of precipitation for their survival. Given their isolation, these\u00a0sites are vulnerable to airborne pollutants such as mercury and lead, and also act as good archives of atmospheric changes. Bogs accumulate material through time, with recent deposition in the upper layers. Bog cores can be used to examine changes in chemistry through time.\u00a0<strong>Anthropogenic pollutants are more concentrated in upper levels of bog cores<\/strong><strong>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/mercury-and-lead-deposition-in-ombrotrophic-catskill-bogs\/\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/actualhg.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-183\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/actualhg-300x143.png\" alt=\"actualhg\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/actualhg-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/actualhg-1024x488.png 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/actualhg.png 1441w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Animals and Nutrient Cycling<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Lynn Christenson (Biology)<br \/>\nAnimals can have both direct and indirect effects on nutrient cycling: selective browsing on preferred species of vegetation influences plant community composition, and urine and feces also act\u00a0in nutrient cycling. A study in Hubbard Brook looked for <strong>sightings of large animals (deer, moose, bear) to see where these animals frequent and how\u00a0that might affect forest ecosystems, trophic structures, and nutrient cycling.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/animals-and-nutrient-cycling\/\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/hubbard.jpg.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-188 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/hubbard.jpg-300x231.png\" alt=\"hubbard.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/hubbard.jpg-300x231.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/hubbard.jpg-1024x790.png 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/hubbard.jpg.png 1481w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Last Glacial Maximum Climate in the Estancia Basin<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Kirsten Menking (Earth Science)<br \/>\nDuring the Last Glacial Maximum, Estancia Basin (New Mexico) was home to a large lake, which arose due to different precipitation and climate patterns from today. By looking at sediment records from the ancient Lake Estancia, it is possible to interpret changes in climate that occurred around 20,000 years ago. These <strong>sediments reveal that the lake experienced several abrupt oscillations between high and low levels.<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/last-glacial-maximum-climate-in-the-estancia-basin\/\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/estancia1-e1463497839544.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-200\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/estancia1-e1463497839544-300x198.png\" alt=\"estancia1\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/estancia1-e1463497839544-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/estancia1-e1463497839544.png 765w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Can Chinese government green China&#8217;s buildings?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Yu Zhou (Geography)<br \/>\nA\u00a0<em>green building<\/em> is one designed to be environmentally sustainable in its construction and operation. China&#8217;s rapid development and urbanization make it a good candidate for a green building program. However, for a green building program to succeed,<strong> it is necessary to engage stakeholders and encourage public awareness and participation.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/can-chinese-government-green-chinas-buildings\/\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/green.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-213\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/green-300x185.png\" alt=\"green\" width=\"300\" height=\"185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/green-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2015\/09\/green.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Annual Variations in Salt Export in the Casperkill<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Cassandre Stirpe (ERI Collins Fellow)<br \/>\nRoad-salt is applied each winter to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians, but the environmental consequence is that the road-salt accumulates in the watershed and pollutes local streams. This study examined salt concentrations and export in the Casperkill, and found that <strong>89% of salt export occurs during baseflow, with only 11% occurring during winter salting seasons<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/annual-and-inter-annual-variations-in-salt-export-in-the-casperkill\/\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/CK2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-223\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/CK2-300x171.png\" alt=\"CK2\" width=\"300\" height=\"171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/CK2-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/CK2-1024x583.png 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/CK2.png 1442w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Salting Impact on Vassar Campus Soils<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Cassandre Stirpe (ERI Collins Fellow)<br \/>\nSoil cores were collected and tested for evidence of chemical degradation due to road salt. Water filtered through soils was examined for high concentrations of sodium and chloride, the most common\u00a0components of road salt (NaCl). A total of ten sites were selected for sampling, with five occurring next to pavement, and five further downslope near streams. Results indicate that all ten sites are negatively affected by salt, but the type of impact varies by location:\u00a0<strong>sodium accumulates near roadways, while chloride accumulates near streams.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/salting-impact-on-vassar-campus-soils\/\">Read more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Chloride-accumulation-and-flushing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-244\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Chloride-accumulation-and-flushing.png\" alt=\"Chloride accumulation and flushing\" width=\"479\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Chloride-accumulation-and-flushing.png 939w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Chloride-accumulation-and-flushing-300x94.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Assessing Winter Season Severity<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Cassandre Stirpe (ERI Collins Fellow)<br \/>\nUsing the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI), scores were calculated to determine the severity of each winter season from 1966-67\u00a0to 2015-16, a total of 50 years. The winter severity score was derived from both temperature and snowfall conditions during each winter season. Total AWSSI scores showed variability from year to year, but\u00a0<strong>long-term trends indicate a linear decline in 10-year\u00a0AWSSI averages.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/assessing-winter-season-severity\/\">Read more<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Temp-snow-components.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-254\" src=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Temp-snow-components-1024x303.png\" alt=\"Temp &amp; snow components\" width=\"500\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Temp-snow-components-1024x303.png 1024w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Temp-snow-components-300x89.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/files\/2016\/05\/Temp-snow-components.png 1838w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get involved The ERI funds and conducts a wide range of short term and long term projects for faculty and students. You can get involved by taking on a project faculty want to see done, for example, from this list, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/projects\/projects-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1311,"featured_media":0,"parent":18,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-52","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1311"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":267,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52\/revisions\/267"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/eri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}