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SEAS Students Make the Most of Summer
Across the globe—or right here in the Dana building—SEAS students are solving real-world problems this summer through internships, fieldwork and research. They are also gaining the kind of experience that leads to successful master’s projects, or down the road, advances future careers.
We reached out to a number of students to learn how they are spending the four months between semesters. We discovered that some are out of wifi range in remote regions, and several too focused on the work at hand to share their stories at the moment. But all promised to discuss their experiences when they return to the Dana building, and we’ll be eager to follow up with them. Here are a few that we were lucky enough to catch up with—and like all SEAS students, are making the most of their summer.
Julia Entwistle (MS '18)
Master’s project: Ethiopia
As a William Davidson Institute (WDI) intern this summer, Julia is working with ADHENO, an Ethiopian non-profit organization implementing environmental restoration and economic empowerment programs in the North Showa region. Along with three other SEAS students on her master’s project team, she is evaluating the impacts on farmer’s livelihoods, as well as the ecological outcomes of ADHENO’s work. Julia is spending 12 weeks in the African nation this summer.
“Our work involves living in fairly rustic conditions, no electricity or running water, and hiking long distances to reach the farmers. But I find these elements of fieldwork to be enjoyable. ‘
Jim Gawron (BSE '10, MS '11, MBA/MS '19)
Conference: Denmark
In early August, Jim will be heading to Denmark for 10 days to attend a Sustainable Development Goal Co-creation event called Unleash Lab 2017. He was selected to join 1000 sustainability professionals from around the world to focus their solutions and their efforts on solving problems that are aligned with the United Nations sustainable development goals.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity. It will be a great international experience working with sustainability professionals again from all walks of life, and from so many countries, to try to come up with sustainability solutions to problems that really are common across the whole world.”
Krutarth Jhaveri (MS/MSE '18)
Research: Dana Building, Ann Arbor
Working with Greg Keoleian, professor of Sustainable Systems, Krutarth is engaged in a project with Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) to develop lightweight technologies that enhance performance primarily for mobility. The lower weight reduces fuel, energy, and ultimately, greenhouse gas emissions.
“We're building a life cycle model that is mostly theoretical, so our research is mainly focused here at the Center for Sustainable Systems, but every now and then we do go out in the field to see how conventional parts are actually made—in order to better understand how they may be improved and manufactured.”
Jessica Robinson (MS '18)
Practicum: Stewardship Network, Ann Arbor area
Internship: Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, Detroit
Research Assistant: Dana building
For her practicum, Jessica worked for the Stewardship Network, conducting research to understand the barriers and obstacles that prevent farmers from being able to adopt conservation practices. That work was followed by her internship at the Food Security Network at D-Town Farm in Detroit. She then served as a research assistant for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SEAS, and helped to coordinate the visiting undergraduate scholars in the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program.
“D-Town Farm was an amazing experience. It’s about the hands-on practice of farming. But it’s also about community, empowerment, and education. I did everything that the farm staff did— weeding, planting, and preparing the beds. But we also engaged in challenging discussions about politics, race, about nature and our connection to it. I definitely grew in that space in a way that was really nurturing.”
Walker Stinette (MS '18)
Internship: Legacy Land Conservancy, Ann Arbor
Master’s project: Bijagual Ecological Reserve, Costa Rica
Beginning his summer with an internship at the Legacy Land Conservancy, Walker helped out with GIS work to improve the annual monitoring of properties.
The day after his internship ended—and with funding support from a LACS Field Research Grant—he headed to Bijagual Ecological Reserve in Costa Rica to work on his master’s project involving the development of a citizen-science based stream water monitoring protocol.
“One of the great things about U-M is that you have a four-month summer vacation. You get to do quite a few different things if you really plan your time out well. It's been a little stressful, but I really wanted to get the most out of my summer break, and I've been able to do that.”
Shannon Sylte (MLA '19)
Research Assistant: Dana Building, Ann Arbor
Research: Yestermorrow Design/Build, Vermont
As part of her research in using salvaged deconstruction materials in landscaping applications, Shannon looks forward to working with Yestermorrow Design/Build in Vermont. She appreciates that the hands-on experience will prepare her well for an upcoming Materials and Methods course in the fall semester.
“I'm specifically focusing on Detroit as a place that has an incredible number of vacant properties and abandoned buildings that also has so many materials that can be used in improving landscape. So repurposing those materials is something I'm really interested in, and will get to explore further through this research over the summer.”
Charlotte Weinstein (MS '18)
Internship: Dana Building, Ann Arbor
Master’s project: Isle Royale, MI
During her internship with the Environmental Spatial Analysis Lab in the Dana Building, Charlotte’s projects included working with data from a multi-year time-series study of three SEAS local forest properties: Saginaw Forest, Stinchfield Woods, and the Newcomb Tract. Later in July, she joined her master’s project team for 10 -14 days of fieldwork on Isle de Royale to design a monitoring protocol for moose herbivory.
“My internship seemed like a good chance to build two different skill sets at the same time. The first was to get a better understanding of how GIS data works in the real world. The other half is see how data management works, and be involved in a real research project with my supervisor, Associate Research Scientist Kathleen Bergen.”