INSPIRING FUTURE CUSTODIANS OF THE EARTH
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN
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To be good stewards of the earth, we have to bring new talent and new voices to the picture. Glenn McGee, Ph.D.
Cover photo by Robert Rattner
The University of New Haven, which was founded
100 years ago on the campus of Yale University, commemorated its Centennial year in 2020 by honoring our history and celebrating a future that beckons with boundless potential and limitless possibility. It’s a time to reflect on the impact we seek to make on the world and, especially, to take charge of our responsibility to care for the Earth. We welcome you to learn more about our commitment to protecting the planet.
THE TOOLS TO DRIVE CHANGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE
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In India, my education was very much on the theoretical side. I knew I needed to further my education to pursue a career in environmental health and safety and environmental ecology. Bhumika Rathod ’19 M.S.
Bhumika Rathod received her master’s in
environmental science at the University of New Haven after previously completing both her undergraduate and graduate degree from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, in Gujarat, India. Bhumika came to the United States to gain skills and experience working with tools including GIS (Geographic Information Systems). She was able to work on a unique drone project alongside Luke Miconi ’19 that allowed them to gather and analyze information using drone technology to study low-level images of salt marshes in Connecticut. Their work helped show changes in our environment over time.
DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY
The University of New Haven was one
of 12 schools that competed in the 2020 Wind Collegiate Competition in Denver, Colo., a competition that raised awareness in the Connecticut and the New England area regarding all aspects of wind-generated energy. Justin Beardsley, a Connecticut native and Navy veteran, served as the team leader overseeing a group of 10 students working on wind energy. Justin and his team have benefited from trips to local wind turbine farms, which challenged them to think about innovative ways to develop wind energy for the average citizen.
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The experience of being part of an engineering project that has real-world impact since it can be scaled up is pretty incredible. Justin Beardsley ’20 B.S.
CREATING A LASTING IMPACT THROUGH EDUCATION
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I saw this as an opportunity to create something that would have a lasting impact well beyond my time. Olivia Walton ’19 M.S.
Photo by Robert Rattner
After receiving her degree in natural resources
from Cornell University, Olivia Walton, a native of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, came to the University of New Haven to further her education. Through the University’s work at the Gerace Research Center in San Salvador in the Bahamas, Walton was able to develop a research project that implemented an environmental education program. Olivia was also our first student to earn a Switzer Environmental Fellowship, a research award granted to only 20 emerging environmental leaders in the nation.
LIVING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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I believe the results of my research on human behavior will be used for something greater than myself and this University to educate the public on marine plastic pollution. Shelby Miller ’20 B.S.
Shelby Miller is a first-generation college student
from Central Massachusetts studying marine biology and marine affairs with a passion for the water, as well as plastic pollution education, policy, and regulation. Shelby loves exploring the biology of animals and organisms that live in the ocean and Long Island Sound and is currently conducting research to learn how human behavior affects this important ecosystem. Shelby hopes that her research on the social perspective of plastic pollution will call various government agencies and the public to positive action.
EDUCATING AND TRAINING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
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When I was looking at marine biology programs, I was looking for something hands on because I really do learn by seeing and doing. As soon as I set foot on campus, the first phrase I heard was ‘experiential education’ and that really brought me in. Michelle Stephens ’17 B.S.
Michelle Stephens earned her bachelor’s degree in marine
biology in May 2017. As a recent alumna living her dream job, Michelle credits her success to the deep-rooted connections she developed at the University. As hatchery manager at locally based GreenWave, she is fulfilling her passion and leaving an impact on the world by providing a sustainable source of ocean farming with sugar kelp. One of Michelle’s many goals at GreenWave is to introduce the next generation of environmental stewards to restorative aquaculture by partnering with the University of New Haven for an internship program that introduces farming with kelp.
A DRIVE TO CREATE CHANGE
“ I can’t think of any other university where I would get the opportunity to draft comments as a twenty year old on legislation that actually could have an impact on climate change.
Karina Krul ’19 B.S.
During her undergraduate studies in
marine biology, Karina Krul was able to pursue three unique paths that together shaped her goal of attending law school and working on environmental policy. Karina was heavily involved in the Model United Nations, where she served as the delegate in China. She was also the editor of the University’s student-run newspaper and began faculty-mentored research in her first year on small-scale fishermen’s perceptions of environmental changes under ‘shifting baseline’ theory. She presented her thesis, which focused on the effect of environmental awareness on attitudes toward sustainability, at a national conference.
WELCOME TO THE CANAL DOCK
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Our hope is to change the future by engaging the community, especially kids at a young age, in learning about the natural world so that we will create a more diverse next generation of marine and environmental scientists. Amy Carlile, Ph.D.
The Canal Dock is the new home for our Marine and Environmental
programs, which brings our campus and this learning right to the shoreline of the Long Island Sound. This beautiful new facility will provide much-needed research and project space for our students and will also serve as the linchpin in connecting the work we’re already doing with its role as a hub for education and outreach in our greater community.
Dr. Amy Carlile, chair of the Department of
Biology and Environmental Science, is at the helm of a program that offers learning that is experiential at the core. Our students learn by doing — whether it’s inside the classroom, out in the field, or in our community.
A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW
We are committed to doing our part
to developing the bold plans needed to protect the environment and to inspiring future custodians of the earth to join us. We hope you will consider learning more from us about how we plan to capture the essence of what a beautiful tomorrow can look like for Connecticut, the Long Island Sound, and the world.
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There is no better high than discovery. E. O. Wilson
SUCCESS STARTS HERE newhaven.edu