Environmental Science Senior Capstone
This project-based course is required of all Environmental Science majors. Students work in teams with community partners to solve pressing regional environmental problems. Students typically participate in Imagine RIT, our annual Innovation and Creativity Festival. In 2020, the Festival was canceled, but students prepared outreach materials for a virtual Imagine RIT.
Since 2011, students and faculty from our Environmental Science program have worked in partnership with Waste Management and community volunteers to improve conservation efforts at High Acres Nature Area (HANA).
The RIT 2019-2020 Environmental Science Capstone group has continued this ecological research to understand the wildlife, plants and hydrology at HANA and develop data-drive recommendations to aid in the conservation of this community resource. They share their findings in this informative story map about this diverse ecosystem. |
Our Environmental Science students are working to solve the problems caused by invasive species, which include environmental damage and economic loss. One of the best ways to combat invasive species is early detection, so for their senior Capstone, the students conducted multiple research projects to develop best practices for engaging community members in invasive species monitoring.
They also developed a story map that shows the current spread of invasive species, areas in need of volunteer assistance, and contributes essential information on where removal treatments should take place. |
When it rains, it pours, but where does all the water go? Our Environmental Science students provide the answers as part of their end-of-year Capstone project. Since 2016, RIT students have partnered with the Rochester Museum and Science Center to monitor the performance of installations at the Regional Green Infrastructure Showcase.
|
The Butterfly Beltway Environmental Science Capstone team spent this year focusing on the pollinator gardens on campus planted with the Seneca Park Zoo Society seed mix. The seed mix contains 27 plant species that have the potential to support over 600 pollinating species in Western NY, some of which are endangered or declining. As part of an ongoing project since 2017, this year's group focused on assessing and measuring ecosystem services provided by the newly planted pollinator gardens. In addition to this, they collected data to get current information on the gardens and future potential sites. As well as conducted a survey to understand public perception of the pollinator garden, to be used for planning future sites around campus.
|
Environmental Science Field Skills -- ENVS-301 Spring semester
A large focus of this course is the Allen Creek Watershed Study, that we've been carrying out for several years. Check out the Allen Creek Study website for more information. Note - this is a bit outdated, but still provides basic information on the project, which is ongoing!