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Fall 2022

A Man of Energy
10 Questions: Associate Professor Bilal Butt
A Champion for Justice
A Lifelong Passion for Trees
Carlson’s Fishery: Leaving its Mark on the Local Economy and Michigan’s Waters
Class Notes
Dean’s Letter
Developing Water Policy Solutions that Ensure a Just and Resilient Future
Environmentally Safe Pest Control
Faculty Accolades
FishPass Project Draws Inspiration From Single-Stream Recycling
Fostering Human-Tiger Coexistence in Nepal
Freshwater is ‘the Root’ That Connects This Area
Leading Sustainability-Focused Education
Mobility and Transportation Design
Nurturing Environmental Justice Activists
Pairing Solar Development With Innovative Land Management
Program in the Environment Celebrates 20 Years
Protecting the Diversity of Fish in the Great Lakes
Research Highlights
Righting Wrongs in Society
SEAS Releases First National Framework Designed to Measure and Advance Energy Equity
SEAS Travel Photo Contest
Studying Trees for Clues About Climate Change
Summer Discussion Series
Supporting Actionable Energy Solutions
The Forever Business: Conservation Leader Glen Chown
Yearbook

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Send us updates and photos about your new job or personal achievements. Visit seas.umich.edu/alumni and fill out an online update form or write to us. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your news.

Are you connected?

SEAS Connect is a monthly e-newsletter that brings alumni, students, faculty, and friends even closer together. In every issue, you’ll read about what your classmates are up to, hear from your favorite professors, find out what’s going on in the Dana Building, and learn how to get involved.

 
back to Stewards

Environmentally Safe Pest Control

By Nayiri Mullinix

Esther Salata (MS ’15) has always had an issue with mosquitoes. They’ve not only shown up throughout her various educational and career pursuits but, when the pandemic hit, she realized that the issue had become a buzzing nuisance. Like others navigating the pandemic, Salata found herself spending more time outdoors, which meant facing the mosquitoes head-on. To keep them at bay, she tried candles, sprays and other gadgets, and, for a moment, considered chemically treating her yard. Ultimately, she decided against it due to the potential risks not just for her dog, Benny, but also to wildlife and the environment.Esther Salata

These concerns started Salata on a quest to find a safe option with low toxicity. When she didn’t find anything suitable at her local hardware and garden stores, she decided that she, along with her chemist-husband, should create a safe, effective solution to their problem. In November 2020, they started developing a plant-based yard and garden spray called Benesafe Solutions. By May 2021, the small business had launched a product comprised of a few ingredients that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has listed as posing a low risk to people, pets and the surrounding environment.

As the founder, owner and sole employee of Benesafe Solutions, Salata juggles it all and attributes the drive to keep growing the company to her SEAS experience. “As a small business owner, I wear a lot of hats,” says Salata. “It’s been a learning experience, and I always think back to my time at SEAS and the people I was surrounded by, all like-minded and environmentally conscious. I knew I belonged there the minute I arrived. That experience truly empowered me to want to go out and change the world. I’m so proud of creating Benesafe Solutions, an eco-friendly and minority-woman-owned pesticide business in an otherwise male-dominated industry.”

Benesafe is sold in 21 stores and vet clinics in Pennsylvania and Ohio and is being used by local landscaping companies. Salata is in the process of seeking efficacy data that will further support her marketing efforts as she grows the business to include solutions that will address other pest problems. “My hope is that as we develop more products and reach more people, they will become more conscious about the chemicals they use around their homes and embrace the importance of sustainability in everyday life.”

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