Announcements/Upcoming Events
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences research team discovers Zika-transmitting mosquito species in Alabama
6/8/2018
Auburn University researchers have discovered the presence of Aedes aegypti—the primary mosquito that transmits Zika virus, yellow fever and other flaviviruses—in Alabama.
After a 26-year absence of the mosquito, Auburn School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Assistant Professor of Disease Ecology Sarah Zohdy and wildlife sciences undergraduate student Victoria Ashby have discovered the species in Mobile. Ae. aegypti was thought to have been eliminated from the state.
“Our CDC-funded research has not only allowed for the detection and molecular confirmation of the mosquito in the state, but over the last year we have documented the spread of the mosquito from central Mobile to all of Mobile County,” Zohdy said.
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2018/06/school-of-forestry-and-wildlife-sciences-research-team-discovers-zika-transmitting-mosquito-species-in-alabama.htmAssociate Directors awarded Mississippi- Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
1/1/2018
CESURI Associate Directors Christopher Anderson and Latif Kalin were recently awarded a grant from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium to evaluate stormwater runoff and tidal creek habitats. Their project, entitled "Understanding and managing stormwater runoff for improved tidal creek habitat for resident fish ", will examine the role of urban runoff on the salinity and other environmental conditions of tidal creeks and marshes along the Gulf of Mexico. The investigators will further examine how these hydrologic changes may affect biota living in these environments. In addition to Anderson (PI) and Kalin (co-PI), Dennis DeVries (Auburn Univ. School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences) will also serve as a co-PI for this project.
Auburn scientists identify factors contributing to West Nile virus outbreaks
10/11/2017
Graeme Lockaby, professor and associate dean of research in Auburn’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, and fellow researchers have identified climatic, ecological and socioeconomic factors contributing to the incidence of West Nile virus
Texas health officials have reported 89 cases of West Nile virus in the state and three deaths as of late September, with 49 deaths reported nationwide so far in 2017. It is expected by the Center for Disease Control that this number will likely increase as the floodwaters continue to recede from Hurricane Harvey, leaving standing pockets of organically rich water pooling among storm debris that acts as a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
In a study published in the Journal of Vector Ecology, Auburn researchers have identified climatic, ecological and socioeconomic factors contributing to the incidence of West Nile virus, with further studies underway to refine risk predictions that could help public officials save lives during West Nile virus outbreaks within flood-prone or hurricane impacted areas.
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2017/10/auburn-scientists-identify-factors-contributing-to-west-nile-virus-outbreaks.htmThe 1st CHESS Workshop on Coupled Human-Earth System Solutions for Global Sustainability
7/31/2017
The 1st CHESS Workshop on Coupled Human-Earth System Solutions for Global Sustainability will be held August 14 (Monday) at the 1101 Conference Hall in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. To facilitate and promote collaboration among faculty on campus and scientists internationally, we plan to have the first CHESS workshop together with an international group from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Normal University.
We will start with a keynote speaking by Dr. Bojie Fu, a member of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Distinguished Professor, then following with oral and poster sessions. We suggest all new CHESS Cluster hires will be able to give a mini-talk and all other CHESS faculty are invited to brief your work (no longer than 10 minutes). Graduate students/faculty are also invited to give poster presentation during lunch and evening. Please let me know if you would like to give a talk. A detailed agenda will be developed.
The scope of workshop is very broad, covering almost all topic areas of our CHESS Cluster. Below is a brief description for the workshop:
To provide effective solutions to the most pressing global and regional environmental challenges such as climate change, air and water pollution will require adopting a coupled Climate-Human-Earth System perspective and engaging policy makers and the public. The purpose of this workshop is to examine how global environmental change has affected and will affect the ability of Earth’s ecosystems to provide people with essential goods and services including food, energy, and water. We intend to bring together scientists from different background to identify gaps and limitations in existing information and knowledge that need to be investigated in the future to improve our understanding, predicting, and reacting to changes in coupled human-earth systems across multi-scales from landscape to global. We also expect that collaborative research program and partnership among scientists as well as institutions would be established to promote Coupled Human-Earth System Solutions for Global Sustainability.
Dr. Latif Kalin is a 2017 (EWRI) Fellow
6/30/2017
Congratulations to the class of 2017 Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Fellows which includes Dr. Latif Kalin. Dr. Kalin is a Professor of Hydrology and the Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface (CESURI). The Class of 2017 EWRI Fellows are: Pascale Champagne, Xuefeng Chu, Prabhakar Clement, David Curtis, Michael Dukes, Val Frenkel, Jinsheng Huo, C. Dale Jacobson, Latif Kalin, Jiang Li, Barbara Minsker, Yusuf Mohamoud, Sharika Senarath, Daniel Thomas, Thomas Walski, and Jianpeng Zhou (not all pictured).Congratulations to Dr. Latif Kalin.
Auburn among four universities receiving $5 million grant to address Southeastern water issues
6/30/2017
Auburn is joining with three other Southeastern universities in a $5 million research effort to help ensure water for agricultural production while maintaining healthy rivers and springs.
The project team includes 14 faculty from the four participating universities. In addition to Srivastava, Auburn is also represented by Latif Kalin. Dr. Kalin is a Professor of Hydrology and the Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface (CESURI).
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2017/06/auburn-among-four-universities-receiving-5-million-grant-to-address-southeastern-water-issues.htmDr. Christopher Anderson pens an article: Urban Land use Affects Resident Fish Communities and Associated Salt Marsh Habitat in Alabama and West Florida, USA
4/24/2017
This newly published paper indicates that residential development along the gulf coast may contribute to declining habitat for resident fish using salt marshes. The study found more freshwater species but less fish overall used urbanized marshes compared to reference marshes. These results suggest continued urban land use in the area may reduce fish productivity in local tidal creeks.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-017-0902-8Auburn Professor Graeme Lockaby to present prestigious William H. Patrick Lectureship at international meeting of soil scientists
4/10/2017
Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Professor and Associate Dean of Research. He also serves as director of the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface. Graeme Lockaby, will present the William H. Patrick Memorial Lectureship at the 2017 international annual meetings of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America in October in Tampa, Florida.
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2017/04/auburn-professor-graeme-lockaby-to-present-prestigious-william-h.-patrick-lectureship-at-international-meeting-of-soil-scientists.htmDr. Latif Kalin became EWRI Fellow
4/10/2017
Dr. Latif Kalin has been selected as an Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Fellow. The 2017 EWRI Fellows will be recognized at 2017 World Environmental & Water Resources Congress in Sacramento, CA on May 22, 2017.
Auburn Professor Anderson and Kalin present at 125th IUFRO Anniversary Congress in Freiburg, Germany
4/10/2017
Dr. Kalin and Anderson will have oral presentations at 125th IUFRO Anniversary Congress in Freiburg, Germany (Sep 18-22, 2017). Dr. Kalin is the chair of the technical session “Water Related Ecosystems Services under Risk”. The titles of their presentations are:“Climate Change induced Risk to Freshwater Forested Wetlands along the Apalachicola Bay, USA” by Dr. Kalin.
Dr. Latif Kalin Awarded Funding. Projects start Summer 2017
4/10/2017
Two proposals on which Dr. Kalin serves as co-PI was selected for funding. Both projects will start in summer: “Enhancing Seasonal Hydrological Forecasts in the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basin using the North American Multi-Model Ensemble”, Alabama Water Resources Research Institute. “Agricultural Water Security through Sustainable Use of the Floridian Aquifer: An Integrated Assessment of Economic and Environmental Impacts”, USDA-NIFA CAP program
2017 Alabama Stormwater Forum
4/10/2017
2017 Alabama Stormwater Forum to be held May 11, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and May 12, 2017 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM AU School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
The Alabama Stormwater Forum is a statewide meeting for practical, informative and active discussions on:
≈ Economics of Stormwater including Low Impact Development (LID) & Green Infrastructure (GI)
≈ Stormwater control measure technologies
≈ Innovative education strategies
≈ Case studies of stormwater practices
≈ Erosion and sediment control
http://agriculture.auburn.edu/stormwater/Raiska Ramesh recieves Ducks Unlimited Fellowship
4/7/2017
PhD student Rasika Ramesh (partially supported by CESURI) received the Ducks Unlimited Fellowship for her studies in wetlands
Auburn University Researchers Continue with West Nile Virus Risk Study
3/29/2017
Drs. Chris Lepczyk and Graeme Lockaby along with graduate research assistant, Nicole Castaneda, are further researching relationships between West Nile virus risk and forest characteristics in Atlanta. The work is supported by the US Forest Service and will focus upon the influence of tree species and forest fragment size on the West Nile virus vector index. Their previous research suggested that larger forest fragments and stands with greater composition of pine were associated with lower risk. Hopefully, the new research will identify some causal factors driving these relationships.
Dr. Latif Kalin invited to Seminars
3/16/2017
Dr. Kalin was invited to a seminar at the US EPA Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, in Ada, Oklahoma on Feb 1st, 2017 on land use/cover and water quality/quantity nexus. He also gave a similar seminar at U.S EPA’s National and Risk Management Laboratory in Cincinnati, OH on March 16, 2017.
Eric Kuehler to Speak at the Spring Seminar Series
2/21/2017
On Wednesday March 22,2017, The Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Spring Seminar series will feature Eric Kuehler, with the Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, Ga. His topic will be,“ How Trees and Urban Forest Systems Affect Stormwater Runoff”.
http://wp.auburn.edu/sfws/school-of-forestry-and-wildlife-sciences-hosting-2017-spring-seminar-series/How Do Changing Landscapes Affect Human Risk to West Nile Virus?
1/19/2017
In this issue of Leaves of Change, a publication produced by Urban Forestry South, highlights a study being led by Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Professor Graeme Lockaby, that is looking at the connections between a wide ranging but integrated group of factors in the transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV)—the loss of forest cover, increases in impervious surface, reduced water quality, socioeconomics, and other factors—that may play a role in supporting the bird and mosquito populations that are key in the spread of the virus. Also, associated with the with the research Wayne Zipperer, research Forester with the Forest Service. Wayde Morse, a social scientist, and Latif Kalin, a hydrologic modeler, both with the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn; and Navideh Noori, a hydrologic modeler at the University of Georgia.
https://interfacesouth.org/products/leaves/how-do-changing-landscapes-affect-human-risk-to-west-nile-virus-1/index_html
Auburn Professor Hanqin Tian named fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science
1/13/2017
Auburn University Professor Hanqin Tian has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS. The designation recognizes members for their distinguished contributions to innovation, education and scientific leadership.
Tian serves as the Solon and Martha Dixon Professor and University Alumni Professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and director of Auburn University's International Center for Climate and Global Change Research. The AAAS fellowship recognizes Tian for his distinguished contributions to the field of global biogeochemical cycles, "particularly for pioneering work in quantifying human impact on biosphere-atmosphere exchanges of major greenhouse gases."
Tian's research focuses on understanding how global environmental changes affect the structure and function of Earth's ecosystem including global biogeochemical and hydrological cycles to provide a scientific basis for solutions to major environmental challenges facing humanity and society.
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2017/01/auburn-professor-hanqin-tian-named-fellow-of-american-association-for-the-advancement-of-science.htmSchool of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences hosting blacklegged tick and Lyme disease guest seminar Jan. 17
1/13/2017
The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will host a guest seminar on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 10:30 a.m. by Timothy Sellati, senior research fellow and chair of the Infectious Diseases Department in Southern Research’s Drug Discovery Division. Sellati will present, “Phylogeography of the Lyme disease vector Ixodes scapularis across an apparent zone of northward expansion in New York.” Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is not required. The seminar will be held in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences conference room 1101 located at 602 Duncan Drive.
http://wp.auburn.edu/sfws/event/blacklegged-tick-and-lyme-disease-seminar/?instance_id=722Megan Bartholomew Wins an Award
11/17/2016
Congratulations to SFWS natural resources management Master's student, Megan Bartholomew (Maj. Prof, Christopher Anderson), who is also funded by the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban- Rural Interface on her recent award as 1st place Student Presenter at the 2016 Alabama Water Resources Conference held in Gulf Shores, Ala, Sept 8-9.
Bartholomew presented findings from her research project, "Long term vegetation response to hydrologic recovery in isolated wetlands."
http://wp.auburn.edu/sfws/sfws-graduate-student-megan-bartholomew-receives-top-presentation-award-at-the-alabama-water-resources-conference/Urban Forest Connections Monthly Webinar Series
7/1/2016
Come Join us on July 13, 2016 for the Forest Service's Urban Forest Connections monthly webinar series on July 13, Wednesdays | 1:00 - 2:15 pm ET. Graeme Lockaby, CESURI Director along with Lance Davisson, National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council & Wayne Zipperer, USDA Forest Service,,Andy Whitman, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences will be featured.
The Forest Service's Urban Forest Connections webinar series brings experts together to discuss the latest science, practice, and policy on urban forestry and the environment. These webinars are open to all.
https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/p3g4913oe5j/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normalAg & Biosystems Engineering (ABEN) Seminar
6/1/2016
Dr. Latif Kalin Associate Director, Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface (CESURI) was invited to present a seminar titled “Land Use/Cover & Water Quality/Quantity & Role of Green Infrastructure” at North Dakota State University in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. The seminar was held April 1 AT 3:00 p.m.
CESURI Outreach Day
5/4/2016
The Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface will host over 140 children from an area school for an Outreach Day on May 13th 2016. The children will participate in hands-on learning activities that focus on the intersection of society and nature, led by faculty from Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and various other departments on campus. Some of the activities will include rotating Natural resource sessions that include highlighting research that is sponsored in part by CESURI such as the West Nile Disease, Ticks, Water, How to build your own Wetland, Enviroscape ,Watershed, Wildlife, Mosquito’s , Roach Race, a clean water exercise and a collaborative urban forestry exercise.
Tree Campus USA Event in Auburn
3/16/2016
Auburn University is having a Tree Campus USA event.There will be a Joint Effort of planting trees across the campus to celebrate the 7th year of Tree Campus USA. We have invited other Tree Campus USA’s in Alabama to join in the activities in Auburn. We would love for you and your team to join us on April 5, 2016 @9 in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences building Conference room 1101. Our plan is to plant 100 trees . We will have a short ceremony and then split and plant trees at 4 designated sites across Auburn’s Campus.
Additionally, friends of Urban Forestry from all across the State of Alabama will be given an opportunity to network, exchange valuable ideas and techniques to protect and promote urban forestry in the state while publicizing the importance of the urban forest and its economic and environmental benefits . Listed below is The Tree Campus USA in Alabama that have been invited so far.
Alabama A& M University
Auburn University Montgomery
Huntingdon College
Jacksonville State University
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of West Alabama
Troy University
University of Alabama, Huntsville
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Alabama Storm Water Symposium
3/9/2016
Polluted storm water runoff is a major contributor to water pollution in our state and across the country. Several groups here in Alabama have joined forces to minimize the impacts through education.
The first ever Alabama Storm Water Symposium kicked off Tuesday May 10 - 12, 2016 in Auburn at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Building. Dr. Chris Anderson, Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban - Rural Interface was on the steering committee.
The three-day meeting, hosted by several groups, is designed to place valuable information in the hands of participants. Storm water remediation technologies, low impact development practices and erosion and sediment control methods were just some of the topics covered.
"The idea behind green infrastructure or these green water storm technologies is how do we connect the water into the soil. We can do that through retention, permeable pavement, green roofs, or big cisterns to capture and reuse storm water," said Dr. Eve Brantley, Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
As part of the symposium, a new storm water management iBook has been released by the state extension system.
For more information, click here.
Hamed Madjidzadeh represents Auburn at the CSGS 3MT competition in Charlotte, North Carolina
2/16/2016
Hamed Madjidzadeh, a doctoral student in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, will represent Auburn University in a prestigious research competition during the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) annual meeting this week.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges doctoral students to present their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, using only one slide to convey highly technical research. Dissertation research can take years to complete and be in a highly specialized field, so this competition puts students to the ultimate test in communicating it to the public.
As the winner of Auburn University’s 3MT competition in November 2015, Madjidzadeh will present his research on carbon absorption and how it relates to climate change during the CSGS 3MT competition in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he will compete against dozens of graduate students from other institutions. The CSGS annual meeting, to be held Feb. 18-21, draws senior-level administrators from across the South to discuss issues of importance in graduate education.
Madjidzadeh’s research ultimately seeks to address some inconsistencies in climate change research. One way to quell the public’s uncertainty about climate change, he said, is by providing more accurate data which leads to more accurate predictions and models.
“To understand climate change, we need to understand carbon emission and also carbon absorption,” Majidzadeh said. “My research is about carbon absorption and the big gap in carbon absorption data in urban areas.”
He continued: “Our experiment design took more than one year. We had a controlled study with a very beautiful design – an advanced design. It’s easy to present a good product. My lab manager, technician and my major adviser, Dr. Graeme Lockaby, had a big role in producing that product.”
Since winning the university’s competition, Majidzadeh has devoted many hours to preparing a new slide that he feels is easier for audiences to understand. Preparing the slide is only part of the work; he said the most challenging part is summarizing the research in a way that it connects with the audience.
“3MT is like choosing a couple of snapshots from your research, but you have hundreds of those snapshots, so you need to choose the correct one,” he said. “Then you need to connect those snapshots in a way that is meaningful. Connecting those snapshots is the most difficult part.”
Beyond slide preparation, he spends around 30 minutes per day tackling other areas of the presentation like word choice, movement on stage and overall delivery.
When working on overall delivery, Madjidzadeh said he learned best from the pros on Ted Talks and by watching speeches from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
As an international student from Iran, he worked to make sure he was understandable by recording himself and having friends listen to the recording to be sure his word pronunciation was correct. He also received presentation help from James Truman, director of the Miller Writing Center, and Dale Watson, the Graduate School’s director of professional development.
To learn more about Madjidzadeh’s research and to watch his winning presentation, click here, and to learn more about the opportunities and competitions offered at the Graduate School, visit www.grad.auburn.edu.
Evaluating a campus nitrogen budget for Auburn University
2/6/2016
A recent study conducted by Auburn University graduate students examined nitrogen, its important sources and sinks, and how much of it moves through the Auburn campus. The study was conducted as part of an Auburn University Urban Ecology class offered through the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences (Instructor: Christopher Anderson) and was recently published by the journal Urban Ecosystems. Although nitrogen is an essential element for life, excessive production and distribution of the element has made it a common pollutant in waterways and the atmosphere. Using a budgetary approach, the students used an array of existing information while collecting their own to evaluate the various ways nitrogen is transported into and throughout campus. They considered a variety of nitrogen sources including automobiles, energy production, food and waste, landscaping and various agricultural activities. Results of the study included a comparison with two other large campuses around the country: the University of Minnesota and the University of Virginia. It was found that atmospheric exchange of nitrogen associated with local utility plants and transportation represented a major source of nitrogen input to the campus. The results from their study will be used by the Office of Sustainability to reduce nitrogen pollution and better meet sustainability goals at Auburn University.
AU MANRRS Attend State JR.MANRRS Conference in Kentucky
12/21/2015
For over 30 years, MANRRS has had the privilege of providing a competitive advantage to our nation’s future leaders in agriculture, natural resources, and
related sciences. On Dec 11- 13, 2015 4 Jr Manrrs and 4 collegiate MANRRS members and myself traveled to the State Jr. Leadership Manrrs Conference in Kentucky. Our students were a big part of our presentation called Fight the bite: West Nile Virus: Forests Help Reduce the Risk". The Students have been a big part of our outreach efforts over the past summer getting the word out about the West Nile Virus and at this conference they had to teach the presentation 4 times along with teaching the West Nile dance.
Some of their education experiences was the Jr. MANRRS Impromptu Speaking Contest, the MANRRS Quiz bowl, Teambuilding Exercises, learning how to navigate the opportunity and career fair, workshops/ Tours of Kentucky campus and various departments, Public Speaking Contest and the Written Essay contest were our very own Kevin Hughes took 1st place.
The collegiate MANRRS members served as mentors to Junior MANRRS members and encourage them to participate in service learning, science fairs and educational programs to help them understand how they can apply their skills in agriculture, natural resources or related science discipline. This was the 4th year that the conference was held in Kentucky and we were excited that Sinclair and Dreamer, John. Kevin, were able to join us at this year’s JR. MANRRS conference.
Hamed Majidzadeh wins Fall 2015 Three Minute Thesis Competition
12/2/2015
Congrats to Hamed Majidzadeh for winning the Fall 2015 Three Minute Thesis Competition. He presented on Soil Carbon Dynamic Beneath Impervious Surfaces. He will be sent to North Carolina to compete next.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMYZsRmqo6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMYZsRmqo6UAuburn University is again leading the way on what could be some ground breaking research.
11/5/2015
Auburn University is again leading the way on what could be some ground breaking research. This particular study focuses on the prevalence of tick-borne illnesses in Alabama. A team will be collecting data on ticks, tick-borne illness incidences, vegetation and climate from across the state. After gathering that information they will develop a predictive model to show where the tick populations and tick-borne illnesses are more likely to occur and if they are spreading. This risk prediction tool will potentially help better educate residents, medical professionals, state and federal agencies and others on the areas of greatest risk.
http://www.wsfa.com/story/30450220/auburn-university-launches-research-studying-prevalence-of-tick-borne-illnesses-in-alabamaAuburn University researchers studying prevalence of tick-borne illnesses in Alabama
10/16/2015
"Ticks are all over the state, but we want to know why certain spots are more likely to have tick-borne illnesses," said Graeme Lockaby, associate dean of research. "We are gathering data on ticks, tick-borne illness incidences, vegetation and climate from a network of plots across Alabama. We will use the data to develop a predictive model to show where the tick populations and tick-borne illnesses are more likely to occur and if they are spreading."
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2015/10/auburn-university-researchers-studying-prevalence-of-tick-borne-illnesses-in-alabama.htmAlabama Department of Pubic Health Announces: 7 Alabama counties endemic for Lyme disease
10/13/2015
Lyme disease is on the rise in Alabama. Symptoms include chills, fever, headache, joint and muscle pain and stiff neck. Contact your health department for more information or a physician if you suspect you have been exposed.
http://www.wsfa.com/story/30243493/adph-7-al-counties-endemic-for-lyme-diseaseResearch: Linkages between Forest Cover, Community Vitality, and Human Health in Atlanta
8/15/2015
The study is looking at drivers of WNV transmission by examining the links between clusters of WNV infections in metropolitan Atlanta on the one hand, and land cover and environmental characteristics such as water quality indicators of mosquito larvae habitat and forest structure and composition characteristics of birds.
http://www.interfacesouth.org/products/leaves/linkages-between-forest-cover-community-vitality-and-human-health-in-atlanta/index_htmlProject Learning Tree West Nile Activity Done and Distributed in Summer Branch Newsletter
7/27/2015
West Nile Virus
In response to the alarming increase of West Nile virus in some communities, researchers at Auburn University have been studying factors that influence outbreaks of the disease. One factor they studied was the effect of urbanization on mosquito populations. To help educate others about West Nile virus, Project Learning Tree has teamed up with Auburn University to develop an activity for middle and high school students. The activity can be used in general science, biology, ecology, environmental science, and health classes. Download the activity "West Nile Virus: Forests Help Reduce the Risk".
We're changing our name!
7/20/2015
The Center for Forest Sustainability will now be known as The Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface (CESURI) we will continue to seek to enhance and facilitate linkages among research and education activities that focus on comparability between natural resources and urban expansion at regional, national, or international scales.
The Center fosters interdisciplinary efforts that integrate biological and socioeconomic issues. The CESURI functions as a primary interface between society and natural resources issues which directly influence our quality of life.
Our goal is to help provide answers to one of the most critical issues facing humanity, the impact of expanding human populations on natural resources. We use interdisciplinary research and outreach and education tools to accomplish our mission. Please contact us if you have any questions.
The Auburn University Stream Team: Preparing the Next Generation of Water Scientist
6/17/2015
It is with great pleasure that we inform you that our Dothan team consisting of Camilla, Bryce and Perry won our new student outreach program, The Auburn University Stream Team: Preparing the Next Generation of Water Scientists. On March 23, 2015 Camilla, Bryce and Perry presented Houston County water testing results to Auburn University faculty and water experts as well as local officials at the Houston County Extension Office in Dothan.
4-H’ers Present Water Testing Results and Win Auburn Scholarships
https://cws.auburn.edu/cfs/pm/Outreach/StreamTeam“Incorporating Climate Information in Water Resources Decision-making”
1/27/2015
Dr. Puneet Srivastava, Biosystems Engineering Auburn University will give a seminar called “Incorporating Climate Information in Water Resources Decision-making” Wednesday January 21 at 11am in room 1221 in the SFWS Building 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL 36849
Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface is featured in the Leaves of Change “Centers for Urban and Interface Forestry”
1/4/2013
http://www.interfacesouth.org/products/leaves/ecological-sociocultural-and-economic-effects-of-urbanization/index_htmlThe Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface receives Outstanding Collaborative Units Award
1/3/2013
The Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface and its partners has won the 2011 President's Outstanding Collaborative Units Award. This Award is presented to those Auburn University units whose collaborative efforts result in unique exemplary service or academic excellence within the University and the community.
https://cws.auburn.edu/cfs/award.aspxSouthern Forest Futures Project
1/2/2013
The US Forest Service has released a summary of the results from their Southern Forest Futures Project http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/futures/reports/draft/Frame.htm. Note Chapter 13 (Water and Forests) for a discussion of the implications of urbanization on water resources.
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/futures/reports/draft/Frame.htmCenter for Environemtal Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface related news coverage on West Nile Virus and Urbanization
12/16/2012
http://www.wtvm.com/story/19409771/au-to-study-links-between-urbanization-and-west-nileThe Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface Researchers to study links between West Nile Virus and Urbanization
12/14/2012
Two professors in Auburn University's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences have been awarded a $240,000 research grant from the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program to study the links between urbanization and West Nile Virus. Clinton-McClure Professor Graeme Lockaby, and Associate Professor Latif Kalin will conduct the project, "Impact of Forest to Urban Conversion on Human Health," in collaboration with the USFS Southern Research Station and the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and the Georgia Department of Community Health. Other members of the Auburn research team are assistant professor Wayde Morse and postdoctoral fellow Krisztian Magori, a quantitative disease ecologist.
http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/4485Urban-Rural Interfaces Linking People and Nature Book
12/11/2012
Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface director Graeme Lockaby, David Laband of Georgia Tech and Wayne Zipperer with the US Forest Service are co-editors of a new book, Urban-Rural Interfaces: Linking People and Nature. In this book, the editors present a broad spectrum of work representing the most current scholarship on ecosystems, human dimensions, and the integration of human and natural systems. Both Zipperer and Laband work closely with the CESURI to enhance and facilitate linkages between research and education activities at local to global scales in order to address pertinent issues at the urban- rural interface