| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.59 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Oct. 30, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
AC-9: Academic Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
12.00 / 12.00 |
Steve
Kahl Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Number of the institution’s faculty and/or staff engaged in sustainability research:
26
Total number of the institution’s faculty and/or staff engaged in research:
26
Number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that include at least one faculty or staff member that conducts sustainability research:
5
The total number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that conduct research:
5
A copy of the sustainability research inventory that includes the names and department affiliations of faculty and staff engaged in sustainability research:
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Names and department affiliations of faculty and staff engaged in sustainability research:
1) Mary Bulan, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
2) Doug Fox, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
3) James Killarney, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
4) Kevin Spigel, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
5) Crista Straub, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
6) Mick Womersley, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
7) Amy Arnett, Center for Biodiversity
8) Ellen Batchelder, Center for Biodiversity
9) Carrie Eaton, Center for Biodiversity
10) Erika Latty, Center for Biodiversity
11) Pamela MacRae, Center for Biodiversity
12) Aimee Phillippi, Center for Biodiversity
13) Brent Bibles, Center for Natural Resource Management & Protection
14) Dylan Dillaway, Center for Natural Resource Management & Protection
15) Kathleen Dunckel, Center for Natural Resource Management & Protection
16) George Matula, Center for Natural Resource Management & Protection
17) Tom Mullin, Center for Natural Resource Management & Protection
18) Sarah Cunningham, Center for Experiential and Environmental Education
19) Cheryl Frederick, Center for Experiential and Environmental Education
20) Ben Potter, Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities
21) Bill Kovarik, Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities
22) Michelle Leavitt, Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities
23) Chris Marshall, Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities
24) Diane Murphy, Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities
25) James Spartz, Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities
26) Steve Kahl, Sustainability Department
A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the research inventory:
Recent and ongoing projects by faculty were inventoried and collated for the listing here. As America's Environmental College, faculty are by definition involved in environmental research which is focused on sustainability science, the core of the curriculum and research.
A brief description of notable accomplishments during the previous three years by faculty and/or staff engaged in sustainability research:
Hemlock Ecosystem Management Study
The Hemlock Ecosystem Management Study (HEMS) investigates the relationships among biotic and abiotic variables on plant and animal biodiversity. It focuses on the effects of the invasive insect, hemlock woolly adelgid, and of recommended forestry practices within the north woods. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR program, data is collected annually from research plots on five sites in central Maine. Project participants identify and record plants, decomposition rates, light availability, and other factors and compare the data across years. The information they gain will help Maine manage the effects of the hemlock woolly adelgid and inform recommended forestry practices that will sustain the north woods.
Faculty:
Involved Faculty
Amy Arnett, Center for Biodiversity
Erika Latty, Center for Biodiversity
Alysa Remsburg, Center for Biodiversity
Kathleen Dunckel, Center for Natural Resource Management & Protection
Wind Power Assessment
With both interest and controversy surrounding wind farms growing, it’s imperative that researchers provide information for sound decision-making. For that reason, Mick Womersley is evaluating the potential for wind-power generation at different sites across Maine. Mick’s Wind Power Assessment project was recently awarded $110,000 of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and has the potential to inform how wind power sites are selected in Maine. The study involves anemometers, small digital devices that measure and record wind strength. Mick and his crew of Unity students erect metal towers and attach anemometers, from which they later retrieve data that can help increase the accuracy of wind-power predictions in Maine.
Faculty:
Mick Womersley, Center for Sustainability & Global Change
Sediment history of Unity Pond.
This study is analyzing sediment age from multiple sites via lead (210Pb) dating to indicate possible historic rates and potential causes of nutrient release. Water and sediment concentrations of P, Al and Fe will be monitored weekly over the course of one year to evaluate the behavior of these elements at the sediment/water interface as environmental conditions change. Additionally, temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) at three different water depths will be measured to understand the environmental conditions that contribute to P release.
Faculty
Kevin Spigel and James Killarney
The website URL where information about sustainability research is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
As America's Environmental College, Unity College has a number of faculty that are by definition involved in environmental research which is focused on sustainability science, the core of the curriculum and research.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.