Environmental Science and Design Research Institute

A 4,000-Mile Journey Leads to “Sticky” Award-Winning Research for СƬƵ Graduate Student
Though she had an interest in science at an early age, Raissa Mendonca had no idea she would end up over 4,000 miles away from her hometown of Recife, Brazil, studying and doing award-winning ecological research in the College of Arts and Sciences at СƬƵ in Kent, Ohio. She probably did not expect to be wearing a bug net over her head in Manitoba, Canada, either.

A 4,000-Mile Journey Leads to “Sticky” Award-Winning Research for СƬƵ Graduate Student
Though she had an interest in science at an early age, Raissa Mendonca had no idea she would end up over 4,000 miles away from her hometown of Recife, Brazil studying and doing award-winning ecological research in the College of Arts and Sciences at СƬƵ in Kent, Ohio. She probably did not expect to be wearing a bug net over her head in Manitoba either. Now, while pursuing her Ph.D. at СƬƵ, Mendonca conducts research in Costello’s lab that focuses on ecotoxicology and biogeochemistry and how environmental disturbances affect aquatic communities and ecological processes. One of her recent projects resulted in her being first author on a peer-reviewed journal article and earned her a $5,000 award to continue pursuing her research.

Geography Professor Reveals Abnormal Weather Patterns
Scott Sheridan, Ph.D., professor and chairperson of СƬƵ’s Department of Geography, recently conducted a study on abnormal weather patterns published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, a publication of the American Geophysical Union.

Research Fellowship Award to СƬƵ Undergrad Supports Summer Microbiology Research on Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Found on Rats
City rats are unlikely to be on anyone's list of favorite animals, but researching exactly how they are problematic for public health provided a unique opportunity this past summer for Gracen Gerbig, СƬƵ junior majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology.

СƬƵ Biological Sciences Department Addresses Road Salt Concerns
СƬƵ Biological Sciences Assistant Professor Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Ph.D., confirmed the possibility that increasing amounts of road salt could potentially end up in Ohio’s water supply, but it is very unlikely.

СƬƵ Ecologist Part of Global Collaboration to Answer Pressing Questions СƬƵ Global Change
The work of 153 ecological researchers from 40 countries, including СƬƵ Assistant Professor Dave Costello, Ph.D., from the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, has revealed new findings on the effect of climatic factors on river-based ecosystems.

Kinsman-Costello Named as New Director of СƬƵ's Center for Ecology and Natural Resources Sustainability

Researchers Reveal How Loss of South African Grasslands to Shrubs Could Affect the Soil and Atmosphere
