Lebanon Valley College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

For 2017-2018

Grounds - Wood Thrush Research Preserve:

- An independent research study on how common chickweed suppresses invasive garlic mustard
- An independent research study investigating how acorn production and acorn herbivory changes overtime
- An independent research study that looked at the effects of invasive vs. native shrubs on salamander populations.
- Ecology class conducted a stratified-random vegetation sampling of the Wood Thrush Research Preserve
- In summer 2017, Kristen Wickert from West Virginia University set up plots across Pennsylvania to test Verticillium wilt fungi as a biocontrol agent on Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven). Two LVC students helped her set up five sites along the Wood Thrush Research Preserve.
- Students in several classes (Ecology, Naturalist Studies of Pennsylvania, Forest Ecology and Management, Wildlife Ecology and Management) use the Wood Thrush Research Preserve and the Wetland near Arnold to learn plant and animal identification and life history
- Ecology students travel to the Wood Thrush Research Preserve to learn how to use camera traps to monitor animal populations
- Some Ecology students travel to the Wood Thrush Research Preserve to conduct independent field studies on natural acidification
Naturalist Studies of Pennsylvania students conduct a field student determining how herbivory rates and insect abundance varies on invasive vs. native plants

Water:

- Kreiderheim Pond was used in a collaborative research project to investigate how urbanization impacts turtle populations across the United States
- LVC students served as paid interns for the Quittapahilla Watershed Association Summer 2018 Internship Program, undertaking geomorphic assessments of a local waterway (Beck Creek) as the first step in a long-range plan for stream restoration (see http://www.quittiecreek.org/documents.html)

Fall 2018

Grounds - Wood Thrush Research Preserve:

- An independent research study investigating how acorn production and acorn herbivory changes overtime
- An independent research study that looked at the effects of invasive vs. native shrubs on salamander populations.
- Ecology class conducted a stratified-random vegetation sampling of the Wood Thrush Research Preserve
- Students in several classes (Ecology, Naturalist Studies of Pennsylvania, Forest Ecology and Management, Wildlife Ecology and Management) use the Wood Thrush Research Preserve and the Wetland near Arnold to learn plant and animal identification and life history
- Students in several classes (Ecology, Naturalist Studies of Pennsylvania) use the Wood Thrush Research Preserve and the Wetland near Arnold to learn plant and animal identification and life history
- Ecology students travel to the Wood Thrush Research Preserve to learn how to use camera traps to monitor animal populations
- Some Ecology students travel to the Wood Thrush Research Preserve to conduct independent field studies on natural acidification
- Naturalist Studies of Pennsylvania students conduct a field student determining how herbivory rates and insect abundance varies on invasive vs. native plants

Water:

- Ecology students collected macroinvertebrates from the stream that flows at the border of the Wood Thrush Research Preserve to Quittapahilla Creek. They compared species biodiversity and water quality parameters
- Kreiderheim Pond was used in a collaborative research project to investigate how urbanization impacts turtle populations across the United States

Spring 2019:

- The Biology Department will conduct a BioBlitz at the Wood Thrush Research Preserve to document as many organisms as we can in a 24-hour period.

Dining Services
Eating well and living well go hand-in-hand. That's why Metz pledges to do our part to be good stewards of the earth's natural resources. Our sustainable efforts meet our customers' needs today, while protecting our environment for future generations. We are committed to working closely with our partners at LVC and our vendors in executing environmentally responsible initiatives and programs.

E.A.T. Initiative
E.A.T. (Engage, Analyze, Transform) is a student-centered research group sponsored by the President’s Innovation Fund. The interdisciplinary research undertaken by E.A.T. has two goals: to improve the dining experience for students, and to dissolve the boundaries between the dining and academic spaces on campus. Specifically, E.A.T. will use data-driven research to assess and promote the goals of ethical reasoning, understanding of diversity, and environmental stewardship.
Thus, sustainability is one of our core objectives and is central to two of our current projects:
Experience More / Waste Less is the project directed by Ashley Smith '15. The ultimate goals of this research project include: encouraging students to be more mindful about wasting food; informing students of the short-term & long-term consequences of unsustainable eating habits; and getting students to develop more sustainable eating habits in the long run (altering students' intrinsic motivations). For more information about the project and to view the data from Fall '13, visit: http://www2.lvc.edu/eat/current-projects/experience-more-eat-less/
"Environmental Ethics" is a course taught by Dr. Robert Valgenti during spring semester 2014. The eight students in the class will develop a sustainability project connected to the E.A.T. initiative and designed to impact sustainability practices in the dining hall.
To learn about all of the E.A.T. initiatives and to follow the E.A.T. blog, please visit: http://www2.lvc.edu/eat
Food Waste Partnership
The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) partners with Metz to collect data on food waste in the college dining hall. From this data, the committee creates meaningful and accessible statistics to inform students of how much food and money is wasted each semester. The goal of these studies is not only to inform students of how much is being food is being wasted, but also to encourage more sustainable eating habits.

The College conducts an annual tree inventory of the College's Arboretum.

Dr. Doug Becker has led student-faculty research to determine the amount of carbon sequestration accomplished by the College's Arboretum and tree and plant inventory.

The E.A.T. Program includes several student-led research projects on food waste on campus, e.g.:
- "Post-Consumer Waste Observation" by Kevin Beaver ’18 Kevin’s project utilizes video capture technology to track and estimate the weight of food wasted by LVC students during a normal dining hall period. In conjunction with the Weigh the Waste program, Kevin hopes to improve Metz’s ability to meet student tastes while reducing waste.
- "Playing with Portions" by Conner Irvin ’19 Conner’s project examines the effect that portion size has on the amount of food students take, and the amount of food that students waste. through observation and data-pooling with Metz’s staff, Conner hopes to find a way to reduce student food waste through proper portioning of foods.

The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) includes several student interns charged with collecting data on the college's carbon footprint and compilation of our campus carbon footprint Annual Report. These reports are made available on ESAC's web pages, at https://www.lvc.edu/life-at-lvc/sustainability-initiatives/annual-reports/ and https://www.lvc.edu/life-at-lvc/sustainability-initiatives/carbon-footprint/

The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) employs communication and data interns who research, investigate and recommend student-led sustainability initiatives. In addition, the student interns are members of the ESAC and participate in institutional sustainability planning and decision-making.

1. Earth Days. Each year the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC, which includes both students and faculty) in partnership with Student Government sponsor a series of activities for "Earth Days" during the month of April. The archives for past Earth Days events and activities are housed on the ESAC web pages, at https://www.lvc.edu/life-at-lvc/sustainability-initiatives/earth-days-archive/

2. Student Service Volunteer Activities. Several times each academic year, the Quittie Creek Nature Park Committee in Annville sponsors workdays in the Nature Park to remove invasive species, pick up trash, and otherwise work to maintain the park; LVC students routinely participate in these volunteer sustainability-related activities. In addition, Quittapahilla Creek Garbage Museum in Annville (winner of the 2017 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence) sponsors cleanups along Quittie Creek and in the City of Lebanon, including the International Coastal Cleanup event in September, in affiliation with the Ocean Conservancy, as a way to raise public awareness about local trash entering our waterways and connect local issues to global concerns.

- See the above activities relating to the Wood Thrush Nature Reserve and related field activities of the Biology Dept and Environmental Sciences courses, which contribute to advancing sustainability on campus in relation to work.
- The Physical Therapy (PT) and related Health Sciences departments offer a range of programs and activities relating to health & wellness & wellbeing (e.g., the "Biggest Loser Challenge" on weight loss). Several PT professors engage in faculty-student collaborative research relating to health and wellbeing-related issues.

- The Art & Visual Culture Department engages in student-faculty research and student projects relating to environmental sustainability and raising environmental awareness among the larger campus community.
- The Digital Communications Department also engages in student-faculty research projects and student projects relating to advancing sustainability efforts on campus.

http://www2.lvc.edu/eat