Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology

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Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology

• By Karen Chase

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Three Main Objectives

• Recruit talented students from underrepresented
  groups into Environmental Biology at NAU
• Retain these students in our programs
• Promote them for careers and graduate
  opportunities

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Program Structure

• Recruitment
• Dine Community College
• Northland Pioneer College
• Rural Systematic Initiative (RSI)
• Global Learning Observatories to Benefit the
  Environment (GLOBE)
• Will recruit applications and facilitate
  selection of UMEB scholars.

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Program Structure (cont.)

• Retention
• UMEB Mentors
• UMEB Coordinator
• UMEB Program Director
• Environmental Biologists
• NAUs Native American Student Services
• NAUs Learning Assistance Center
• Will train fellows and increase retention in
  Environmental Biology.

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Program Structure (cont.)

• Promotion
• Departmental seminars at NAU
• NAU research day and Career Day
• Regional and National meetings
• Student presentations at national level
• GLOBE presentations at high schools
• UMEB web page
• Will help advise scholars about career
  opportunities
• Will promote scholars to potential employers and
  graduate advisors.

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Mentors Collaborating in the UMEB Program

• Diana Anderson - NAU, CESE, Quaternary Studies
• Scott Anderson - NAU, CESE, Quaternary Studies
• Neil Cobb - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Tim Crews - Prescott College
• Lee Drickamer - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Catherine Gehring - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Stephen Hart - NAU, Forestry
• Bruce Hungate - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Nancy Johnson - NAU, Biological Sciences, CESE
• George Koch - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Jane Marks - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Joy Mast - NAU, Geography and Public Planning
• Mansel Nelson - EPA, ITEP, GLOBE
• Tom Sisk - NAU, CESE, LUHNA
• Tad Theimer - NAU, Biological Sciences
• Thomas Whitham - NAU, Biological Sciences

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Projects

• Climate Change and Carbon Balance of Colorado
  Plateau ForestsBruce Hungate, George Koch,
  Stephen Hart, Scott AndersonClimate change along
  elevation gradients warming effects on soil
  processes net primary productivity, and plant
  water relations.Human Impacts on Small Mammal
  Ecology of the Colorado PlateauLee Drickamer,
  Sylvester Allred, Tad TheimerSmall mammal
  biology and behaviorHuman Impacts on Aquatic
  Systems of the Colorado PlateauJane Marks,
  Diana AndersonBiological survey of seeps and
  springs. Stream and wetland restorationGlobal
  Learning and Observatories to Benefit the
  Environment (GLOBE)Mansel Nelson, Diana
  Anderson, Tom SiskLinkages between GLOBE
  scientists, teacher trainers and students

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Projects (cont.)

• Community Structure and Ecosystem Function of
  Pinyon WoodlandsThomas Whitham, Neil Cobb, Joy
  Mast, Catherine Gehring, Stephen Hart, George
  Koch Community analysis, herbivory impacts on
  ecosystem function, spatial analysis,
  dendroecology, biogeographyMycorrhizae in
  Traditional Native American and High-input
  AgroecosystemsNancy Johnson, Tim Crews, Diana
  AndersonComparison of mycorrhizae and soil
  properties in traditional low-input
  agroecosystems high-input agroecosystems.Livesto
  ck Management, Productivity, and Diversity of
  Southwestern GrasslandsTom Sisk, Tim Crews,
  George Koch, Stephen HartGrazing impacts on
  plant and arthropod diversity, primary
  production, decomposition rates, and nutrient
  cycling.

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My Project

• Studying Prairie Dogs in rural areas and their
  relationship with livestock.
• Studying the effects of overgrazing and prairie
  dogs.

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Any Questions?