Intern Experience: By Brennan Waupoose

Brennan Waupoose, College of Menominee Nation student and Sustainable Development Institute Intern, shares his internship experience in the piece below. Brennan's hometown is Keshena, WI and he is a CMN Biological and Physical Sciences major.

SDI Intern: Invasive Species Research Technician

"In the summer of 2012 I spent 6 weeks with Dave Mausel Ph.D., Forest Health Forester with Menominee Tribal Enterprise studying the different invasive plants, insects, and diseases that impact the Menominee forest.

As part of the internship I was to be included in a research project identifying what impacts European earthworms may have on hardwood forests. With a professor and students from UW-Platteville and a student from UW-Madison we spent one week in the Chequamegon National Forest in northwestern Wisconsin collecting our samples and another week at the TREES Lab on the UW-Platteville campus carefully analyzing our data. With our findings we developed a poster presentation to be presented at two national conferences.

·         Society for Advancing Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference was held in Seattle, WA Oct. 11-14. 1 of 3 awarded in Environmental Sciences category.

·         American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference in Anchorage, Alaska Oct 29-Nov 4. Received 4^th Place of 88 Undergraduate Research Poster presentations.

This opportunity has changed my career goals. I enrolled in Spring 2012 thinking I would go for a nursing degree. I actually applied for a different internship that I was interested in and was offered this one instead. I was hesitant to accept the position since it was not in my intended field but it has all been worth it. I have met an incredible group of people who have made this project a memory impossible to forget. The most positive outcome of this has been the educational path formed with the help of Evan Larson Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Geography at UW-Platteville who has helped open doors to working in his lab if I go to school at UW-Platteville.

The internship experience also led me to the AISES  conference where I met an admissions director from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Science who joined McKaylee Duquain, Evan Larson and I in our celebratory dinner and offered us unbiased insight on the application process and  how the programs work at Yale. Now, I have a goal in mind: to earn a Masters and possibly Ph.D in Ecology at Yale. Furthermore, more opportunities continue to arise where I can keep presenting results from this project and to develop other projects based off of this one experience.

I highly encourage others to apply for something they may not initially be interested in because in the end it will be beneficial in some way. You will find out if you like it or not, it will look good on any resume, and most importantly you will meet people that may help direct you in the right path."

UW Madison Professor Ankur Desai on Carbon, Climate, and the Forest

 

On November 2, 2012, Guest Lecturer, Professor Ankur Desai, from UW Madison gave a presentation on Carbon, Climate and the Forest. Desai explained carbon uptake and how it may affect the Menominee forest and climate change. Desai also highlighted the importance of getting CMN students internships to study such subjects. “My hope is that the simple act of exposure, in a field-based setting, provides that first taste to some College of Menominee Nation students that might go on to careers in science,” said Professor Desai.

Through slides and an interactive game, a CMN audience of about 30 students, faculty, and staff learned from Desai. “One particular service the landscape can provide is the uptake of carbon and that’s what we want to talk about today,” said Desai. He also explained how understanding microclimates, soil, and carbon uptake throughout various ecosystems varies – not to mention population.  “We can use atmosphere to understand land systems,” said Desai, “but you have to think about each person’s use of energy, not just space.” Furthermore, this energy use will influence our future. “As we change C02, we change the climate,” Desai noted, “the short story is solid science.”

To explain the exchange of carbon between atmosphere, the ocean, decomposers, and the like, the room participated in a game which simulated the global carbon cycle. Participants visualized first-hand the atmosphere as an exchange system and the large influence that photosynthesis has. Most critically, it was clear to see how fossil fuels are such a small part of the carbon exchange, but how over time, it builds up in the atmosphere. Desai explained how carbon exchange can be variable and sensitive and the uncertainty is what scientists are often trying to figure out.  Although science shows this change globally, factors like water vapor effect, land warming, snow melting, permafrost, and positive and negative feedbacks are all influencers. “This is what makes climate change modeling so difficult,” said Desai.

It is critical that Menominee students to get involved in this science. Students need to study physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and economics to study the relation to climate change. Impacts for Menominee will be great and it is necessary to have CMN students trained how to maintain forestry in the face of climate change –for example, to study how winter temperature change may affect summer plants. There is potential through Desai’s research for students to study these research topics. This research is widespread and topics could cover anywhere from soil decomposition in spreadsheets measured in spatial variables on the reservation to engineering long term measurements with specialized equipment.

Sustainability Event at Ashwaubenon High School

Sustainability Event Planner Intern Laundi Keepseagle and Sustainability Education Coordinator Kate Flick recently visited Ashwaubenon High School to give a lesson on sustainability to two Forestry and Natural Resources Classes.  High school students worked collaboratively to make and present posters on their vision of sustainability which included concepts like 7 generations, linear vs. holistic thought, interconnection, and the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability. See photos below!

Guest Speaker Maria Janowiak Presented: "Forests in a Changing Climate"

On Thursday, October 25, 2012 CMN welcomed guest lecturer Maria Janowiak. Janowiak is a Climate Change Adaptation and Carbon Management Scientist at the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science. She spoke to about 25 students, staff and faculty on “Forests in a Changing Climate.”

Janowiak presented data which supports evidence of a warming climate and said that large-scale data shows that the earth is the warmest it has been in over 400,000 years. She noted the pressing importance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally.

One of the most noticeable areas climate change is seen is via season change. “The biggest changes we've seen in our region in the last 50-100 years is in winter,” said Janowiak  People have been measuring ice for years and locals are recognizing huge changes. "Not only does it affect the ecology of lakes, but also the community like in winter recreation and ice road access," said Janowiak  Additionally, shorter winters mean conditions will increasingly become more unsuitable for wildlife, causing disease and population decline. 

Summer precipitation is difficult to predict, but data supports rainfall changes. "When you dig down to what it looks like at a seasonal viewpoint, it looks like it’ll be wetter in spring and fall," said Janowiak  There will also be more extreme events, such as storms like 'Superstorm Sandy.' Although they can't be predicted and recorded as quantifiable as temperature change, "what you can do is look at trends over time and intensity and severity," said Janowiak.

Forests are particularly in danger because they cannot adapt as quickly as animals, for example, in the case of migrating. "The pace climate change is going is moving much faster," said Janowiak  "It's uncertain if trees can keep up." Based on weather predictions, scientists and foresters are starting to think about planting vegetation in different regions to acclimate. "In the case of moving trees, the question right now is, how are they going to get there," said Janowiak.

In all cases, scientists are developing different storylines and scenarios and Janowiak says that although some ecosystems are in serious risk, some, thankfully, are not. CMN thanks Maria Janowiak for presenting as a guest lecturer.