February 22, 2023

Top Stories

Onondaga Lake: A comeback, in part, thanks to President Jimmy Carter

ESF President Joanie Mahoney spoke to Spectrum News about Onondaga Lake's turnaround.

Finding water on top of the world: Water issues of New Mexico

ESF student Eva Kotobuki Sideris shares a photo essay on New Mexico's water issues.

Planet Forward

The importance of native flowers

ESF student Kevin Darcy authored an essay about how important pollinators are losing their habitats at an alarming rate and planting native flowers can help provide essential habitats for rebuilding healthy ecosystems.

Planet Forward

This is my food justice

ESF student Shirley Chen's video explores the intersection and tension between the values of identity and culture, and the goals of sustainability and conservation. 

Planet Forward

Sue Benoit, Office of Research Programs

“The entire Office of Research Programs staff is sending a big shout-out to Sue Benoit. Sue retired from ESF in July 2021 after a long and distinguished career assisting and mentoring ESF faculty and ORP staff in developing proposals and managing awards. Having left some huge shoes to fill when she first retired, Sue has helped us for over a year and a half since by filling those shoes herself part time. Always quick with a smile and long on patience, Sue has been selflessly training our new Sponsored Programs staff, documenting research administrative processes, and taking on tricky proposals and awards. We all greatly appreciate her skill, wisdom, and generosity of spirit, and could not have accomplished the recent rebuilding of ORP without her. From all of us, thank you Sue!.”

-John Stella, Vice President for Research

Give a Shout-Out!

Know someone making an impact on campus? Tell us and we'll feature them in an upcoming issue! This could be an ESF student, faculty member, or staff member (or a department, office, or group) who:

• Goes above and beyond
• Demonstrates ESF’s mission to “Improve Your World”
• Contributes to our community in a positive way

What's Happening on Campus

Celebrate Black History Month

ESF wraps up our month-long celebration of Black History Month with a final event for the campus community.

Celebrating Blackness

Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Gateway Center

Soul food will be served | Entertainment and dancing by Kalabash

Keynote speaker Amara Ifeji is a youth advocate encouraging and supporting underrepresented students in their journey to become environmental stewards and climate justice activists.

You're Invited to a Free Film Screening

Join us for a free screening of "Shades Inside the Blueline," a documentary focusing on race, poverty, and diversity issues in the Adirondacks, and which features Benita Law-Diao, who is part of the film and serves on the Adirondack Park Agency Board. 

The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Benita Law-Diao; Associate Director of ESF’s Adirondack Ecological Center Paul Hai; Assistant Professor in the

Department of Environmental Studies Dr. Tina Limpert; and Environmental Studies undergraduate student Eva Sideris. The filmmaker, Michael Hansen, will Zoom in for the discussion as well.

Friday, Feb. 27 | 5-8 p.m.) | Gateway Center

5 pm: Dinner from Dosa Grill

6 pm: Film Screening

7 pm: Panel Discussion

This event is brought to the College by the Adirondack Ecological Center; SEEC; Digital Storytelling Club; Photography Club; Unearthed; and the Department of Environmental Studies.

Call for Abstracts: CNY Conference on Environmental Science and Studies

ESF’s Graduate Student Association will be providing research students the opportunity to present and fine-tune their research ideas at the inaugural CNY Conference on Environmental Science and Studies at ESF’s Gateway Center on April 7-8.

Research presentations should ideally be relevant to environmental science and studies (ESS) and students are invited to submit abstracts for oral presentations related to the following thematic areas:

• Emerging topics in environmental and natural resources research
• Complexity and uncertainty within socio-ecological systems
• Environmental determinants and health equity
• Thinking of the future: Echoes of the past in the present environment
• Ecological and social implications of a changing climate change
• Issues of Justice: Equity in ESS research
• Local impacts of global challenges: Environmental stories of Syracuse

Fill out the registration form and choose Presenter (15- or 30-minute presentation) to submit your abstract.

ESF Women in STEM Careers: Virtual Panel Discussion

In recognition and celebration of Women's History Month, join us for a virtual panel on ESF Women in STEM Careers to hear some of our female alumni discuss their experiences while pursuing their careers.

Thursday, March 2 | 7 p.m. | Zoom

Panelists:

• Dr. Danielle Barry ’15, Chemistry | Senior Research Specialist, Dow Performance Silicones
• Jocelyn Gan '13, Environmental Science | Energy & Sustainability Specialist, NYU Langone Health
• Meghan Hazer ’06, Landscape Architecture | City Planner, Baltimore City Department of Public Works
• Dr. Kerry Ryan '06, Environmental & Forest Biology | Attending Veterinarian, ViaGen Pets

This event is sponsored by the ESF Alumni Association and organized by the offices of Alumni Relations, Career Services, and Admissions, as well as the ESF Women's Caucus.

For more information, email alumni@esf.edu.

Contribute to Turkey/Syria Relief Events

The Office of International Education has organized several opportunities for the ESF community to support those in Turkey and Syria following the Feb. 6 earthquake.

Trailhead Offerings I Feb. 20-24 I Gateway Center

Visit Trailhead as they offer a unique Turkish/Syrian entrée daily in celebration of these countries and cultures. A portion of the sales of these items will be donated to earthquake relief efforts. Check the Trailhead Instagram for specials.

Donation Bins I Feb. 20-March 3 I Gateway Center/Bray Hall

In addition to monetary donations, we are looking to collect specific items being requested by the Turkish embassy for relief efforts. Donation bins will be in Gateway Center and Bray Hall with a list of requested items. Contact Amina Mughal with any questions.

Silent Auction I Friday, March 3 I 11 a.m.-2 p.m. I Bray Rotunda

Donations are being accepted for a silent auction to be held in the Bray Rotunda. If you have any new or lightly used items worth donating, please email Hui Chen.

The crazier the items, the better! Donated items must be able to fit on a table.

Please submit items by March 1.

General Donations I Anytime

If you are unable to join the events above but want to contribute, you can make a direct donation to earthquake relief efforts at the following vetted organizations

Turkish Philanthropy Funds

Türkiye Earthquake Relief Fund

We hope you will get involved in the efforts to help make a difference. Please contact Tom Carter with any questions.

Oakie's Bookshelf Book Collection

Help us launch our FREE book exchange to give your books a second life and find your new favorite! Donate any unwanted books and help us fill up Oakie's Bookshelf, which will be launching soon in Moon Library. Bring your books to the Office of Sustainability at 123 Bray Hall.

For questions, contact lchipule@esf.edu.

Get the Last Two Spots for an Unforgettable Trip

Join the ESF Alumni Association for an unforgettable journey to the Galapagos & Machu Picchu! Two spots (a double cabin) on our May trip to the Galapagos & Machu Picchu have just become available, and we wanted to extend the offer to our campus community, first come, first served.

Trip dates are: May 15-28, 2023.

If you're interested in booking these spots, call Collette Travel ASAP at 1-800-581-8942 and refer to Trip # 1111944.

Save the Date: We have a second Galapagos trip scheduled for October 2-15. Get the information here.

Events

Find out what’s happening on campus this week on the ESF Calendar and ESF Engage!

Download the CORQ app and stay up-to-date on all the events in Engage no matter where you are!

ESF News is the College's source for all ESF news, information, and events issued every Wednesday.