New Student Club Combines Interests with Community Services

Posted on November 9, 2010 by rwgonzal

In October, students in the Natural Resources major and the Environmental Technology and Management major joined forces to create the Natural Resources / Environmental Technology and Management Club, the newest student organization in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources.

At the first meeting, over 50 students met to discuss a vision for the club along with activities that students want to plan together. One of the most popular ideas was the desire to participate in community service activities that focus on general interests within the group—identifying and addressing environmental issues along with the preference of being outdoors!

Shortly after the first meeting, a perfect opportunity presented itself, and the club members quickly accepted the challenge. Students met at Yates Mill Pond on a Friday afternoon to spend time cleaning up the water.

As students moved around the entire pond in canoes, they were able to clean-up fishing line, trash, soda cans, and even a birthday balloon. These dedicated students took a few hours out of their busy schedules to clean-up this community park, so others can enjoy the beautiful scenery and clean water.

Members of Natural Resources / Environmental Technology and Management Club

V. Leanne Penry, Emily Koontz and LeeAnna Young (left to right) are members of the club and participated in the Yates Mill Pond Clean-up.

For more information about the Natural Resources / Environmental Technology and Management Club, contact Undergraduate Coordinator Christi Standley or Faculty Adviser Linda Taylor.

Learn more about Historic Yates Mill County Park

Students Get Hands-on Experience Outside and Inside of the Lab

Posted on November 9, 2010 by rwgonzal

– submitted by Christi Standley

Terrie Litzenberger instructs the students prior to going down to the creek for data collection

The College of Natural Resources offers an abundance of opportunities for students to learn through hands-on experiences!

Recently, students in the Environmental Technology and Management major trekked out to Rocky Branch Creek, which is conveniently located on NC State’s campus. Students actively participated in measuring water quality parameters at four locations along the creek.

The Environmental Technology and Management program focuses on the biological and chemical mechanisms of environmental processes and prepares students to minimize and manage pollution and to solve complex environmental problems. Water Quality is one of the seven labs that Environmental Technology and Management students can choose to take.

On this particular rainy day for the Rocky Branch Creek exercise, students gathered information about their environmental surroundings, while they recorded data collected using a variety of sensitive instruments to test water quality. The students practiced the preciseness needed when recording data to include date, time, location, the person taking the measurement, and other important information. After collecting the data, the students returned to the lab, where they tested the water for E. coli bacteria.

Students collecting water quality data

Through this experience, students used field and laboratory instruments for monitoring water quality. On a daily basis, students gain real-life, hands-on experience to practice managing, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting environmental data sets. This is just one more example of how students in the College of Natural Resources are learning real-world skills through hands-on experiences.

Analyzing water samples taken that day for pathogens

Date set for Rolleo 2010

Posted on October 20, 2010 by rwgonzal

Media Contact: Mike Cheston, President of the NC State Forestry Club

On Saturday, November 6, 2010, the NC State Forestry Club will host Rolleo at Schenck Memorial Forest in Raleigh. Rolleo is the Forestry Club’s annual forestry and timber sports competition in preparation for southern conclave. Last year was a tremendous year for the Forestry Club, with that year’s president, Logan Scarborough, winning the STIHL Collegiate Southern Division and the National Championship.

Barry Goldfarb, Logan Scarborough, Joe Cox, and Kelley McCarter

The Forestry Club is excited about carrying on the tradition excellence this year. Having won the Academic Quiz Bowl at Haywood Community College’s Forest Festival Day earlier this fall, they are poised for a great start. Hosting Rolleo is important for the club, because it provides a great opportunity to work with students from our guest schools, Virginia Tech, Haywood Community College and Montgomery Community College, sharpens skills for conclave, and it helps the club raise much needed funds.

This is the second year Rolleo will be held at Schenck Memorial Forest, which is only about 10 minutes from the NC State University campus. This location has proven to be a great place for the event – convenient, great parking, and lots of room to view the many events.

The academic events will begin at 8:00AM, and physical events will begin at 10:15 and continue after lunch. Events will include archery, axe throw, stock saw, team cross cut, underhand chop, and more. Competitions between students, faculty and alumni are encouraged. The public is welcome to attend, with a small donation accepted for attendance (sorry, no dogs, please). A hot dog & hamburger lunch (12:30) and BBQ catered dinner (5:15) will be available at reasonable individual costs, or pay only $25 and receive lunch, dinner, and a 2010 Rolleo t-shirt.

Jack and Jill cross cut competition

Rolleo is great for the whole family, competitors and spectators alike. So, please come out for the fun and support the NC State Forestry Club.

Schenck Memorial Forest Location on Google Maps
Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607

For more information, contact Mike Cheston, President of the NC State Forestry Club

SAF Honors Lee Allen with Biological Science Award

Posted on October 18, 2010 by rwgonzal

Professor Emeritus H. Lee Allen is the 2010 recipient of the Barrington Moore Memorial Award in Biological Science from the Society of American Foresters (SAF). This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievement in biological research leading to the advancement of forestry.

Lee during Summer Exploration Camp for High School Students

Lee as faculty participant of the Forestry and Environmental Resources' Exploration Camp for high school students

During his 30 years of service to NC State University, the College of Natural Resources, and the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Lee has been a devoted teacher and eminent researcher. In 1998, Lee was made the C.A Schenck Distinguished Professor of Forestry and Environmental Resources. He was honored in 2007 with the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal of Excellence, the highest award made by the University in recognition of faculty achievement.

“I can’t think of a more deserving individual,” said Department Head Barry Goldfarb about SAF’s choice for the award. “Lee’s career has transcended the typical academician. While he is a great teacher, he has also left a legacy of students who have gone on, themselves, to have distinguished careers.”

Much of Lee’s research effort was focused around the scientific and administrative leadership of the Forest Nutrition Cooperative. Under his leadership, the Cooperative grew from being a regionally based fertilizer cooperative into an internationally recognized silviculture research and education partnership. The Cooperative involves students, staff and faculty at NC State, Virginia Tech, and the Universidad de Concepcion in Chile, as well as more than 40 supporting members around the world, representing forest industry, consulting firms, TIMOs and public agencies that manage over 24 million acres of pine and broadleaved plantations in the Southeast US and Latin America.

Forest Nutrition Cooperative - Co-director Tom Fox and Director Emeritus Lee Allen

Lee has and continues to make a huge impact on how plantation forestry is practiced. With his mantra that “leaves grow trees and resources grow leaves,” he has demonstrated that with appropriate silvicultural treatments, potential productivity on most sites is much higher than previously realized. He has helped forest managers from around the world to recognize that active management of both the plant and the soil resource are required to optimize value production. As Barry explains, “While he was a very productive researcher, he always made it a point to make sure that his research was relevant to forest management. Thus, his impact on the profession and practice of forestry has been profound.”

“I am very pleased and honored to be recognized by my colleagues with this award,” said Lee. “Working at NC State has rarely been work – much more an avocation. I have been able to continue to learn and grow personally and professionally, and I have been able to work in an area of great personal interest. I have had lots of fun and have had the opportunity to work with and for many wonderful and dedicated people.” Previous recipients of this award from NC State include Bruce Zobel (1968), Charles Davey (1982), Robert Kellison (1997) and Ellis Cowling (2000).

Lee will be presented with the award and $1,000 honorarium Thursday, October 28, during the opening general session of the SAF National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We are very proud that he will also be attending the Wolfpack Alumni Luncheon during the convention, Thursday, Oct. 28, 11:30-1:15, in the Ruidoso room. Lee received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Maine, and his PhD from North Carolina State University in 1981.

About SAF:
The Society of American Foresters is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest professional society for foresters in the world. safnet.org

New Degree: Master of Environmental Assessment

Posted on October 18, 2010 by rwgonzal

– submitted by Sarah Slover

The first class of our new Master of Environmental Assessment began this fall with 16 students (8 in Forestry and Environmental Resources and 8 in Toxicology). This online degree is now officially affiliated with the Professional Science Masters Program.

The Master of Environmental Assessment (EA) degree is intended for working professionals who seek advanced study beyond the undergraduate level but are not interested in pursuing a career in research. The EA degree is a joint non-thesis graduate degree program administered by the College of Natural Resources (CNR) and the College of Agriculture Life Sciences (CALS). The program requires 30 credit hours. Twenty-two credit hours will be in required courses with the remaining nine hours selected from the list of elective courses or equivalent. No thesis is required.

The courses are selected to offer a cohesive continuing education opportunity for people in agricultural, chemical, environmental, energy, natural resource, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and biotechnology fields. Companies and government research facilities in these fields, as well as regulatory agencies, all have a need for employees who understand the basic principles of environmental assessment, how to perform and review human and ecological risk assessments, and how these assessments relate to environmental regulation and management.

For more information, please see the Masters of Environmental Assessment website.

Sarah Slover is the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. Learn more at http://cnr.ncsu.edu/fer/grads/, or contact Sarah at sarah_slover@ncsu.edu, or 919-515-7563.