Even autumn had a good time as the Albion College Student Farm dedicated its new hoop house October 27. The crowd included the family of Linda and Rich Baird, '78, who presented the Good Soil Growhouse in honor of daughter Jessie Baird, '11, one of the Student Farm founders.
Veteran ABC news correspondent Bill Blakemore was the latest guest for Kirk Heinze, '70, on his "Greening of the Great Lakes" radio show. ABC's primary reporter on climate change, Blakemore discussed the significance of Hurricane Sandy and his own Northern Michigan history. Blakemore's radio appearance also previewed his upcoming visit to Albion College November 19-20. Blakemore was featured, with history professor Geoff Cocks, in the new documentary "Room 237," an exploration of the Stanley Kubrick classic "The Shining." The film will be screened November 19 on campus, and Blakemore and Cocks will anchor a panel discussion following the show.
This summer, 40 Albion College students from multiple academic disciplines developed an independent research project, and presented their findings, through grants received from The Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA).
Aaron Hiday, '13, has studied turbidity in Rice Creek for the past two years with professor of geology Thom Wilch.
"FURSCA has given me the opportunity to get two summers of field experience," Hiday says. "In the geology world, that's big."
"For many students, FURSCA research will lead to national presentations and publications," Ian MacInnes, English professor and FURSCA director, says. "These can help them enroll in graduate programs and succeed in their fields."
Hiday was honored for his research by winning the Best Student Poster Award at the 2011 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. He hopes to write a departmental thesis on his research this year.
MacInnes says FURSCA helps students plan and study independently, and to problem solve over the course of their summer research. That independent project management experience is a hallmark of the liberal arts, he says.
"All of this will hopefully add up to put me in a good position to get a good job after I graduate," Hiday says.
Albion College and its French partner, the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), are taking a global approach to sustainability in more ways than one. The two institutions have recently signed an agreement to implement two new programs for Albion students that will involve them in sustainability studies on both institutions' campuses.
Students may choose either an undergraduate major in sustainability studies or a one-year postgraduate course of study based at UVSQ culminating in a certificate of sustainability studies which is equivalent to completing the first year of a master's program. The programs will provide a worldwide perspective on key environmental problems and solutions and will prepare students to advance sustainable lifestyles on a broad scale.
"This new program with UVSQ builds on the good work that Albion College has already been doing through its Center for Sustainability and the Environment," said Albion President Donna Randall. "We have much to learn from our European counterparts about incorporating sustainability into everyday life, and this international partnership will enable our students to see best practices in action and bring those practices back home to the United States."