Research
Faculty and students in the environmental studies and geology programs are involved in a variety of research projects studying the effects that humans have on the natural world. Dr. Michele Hluchy and several students, funded by a National Science Foundation research grant, are investigating the impact of acid precipitation on watersheds in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. Acid precipitation is depleting the watersheds of the element calcium, which in turn affects the biological organisms in these ecosystems. Professor Hluchy travels to the Adirondacks regularly with her students to collect samples, monitor watersheds, and apply powdered limestone to some of the study areas to see how they will respond to artificial inputs of calcium.

Outreach
As part of a National Science Foundation research grant with Colgate University, Dr. Michele Hluchy co-teaches workshops on the Impact of Acid Precipitation on Adirondack Ecosystems to secondary school teachers in New York state in the summer. These workshops introduce teachers to the techniques used by scientists to study ecosystems and help them to adapt these techniques for use in their classrooms.