Big Plans for the Center for the Environment

Since moving into their new facility in the renovated Boyd Science Building, the Center for the Environment has come up with some new plans for this year.First, they have hired their first director, Doctor Steve Kahl. Dr. Kahl is well known for his research on acid rain and its effect on lakes and streams. His most well known piece “Have U.S. Surface Waters Responded to the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments” was used by the EPA in a report to Congress and he has received over $18 million towards his research through federal grants. This year’s theme at Plymouth State University is “Sustainability”. Dr. Kahl claims that “Sustainability is not a theme. It’s a fundamental life core value,” and that’s what the Center for the Environment is trying to educate people about since recent polls are showing that for many people environmental issues have taken a backseat to other political issues recently. A large part of the upcoming plans for the Center is the excitement of a new Graduate Program for next year. The program will be a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Science. The Center for the Environment will also have several PSU students visiting Costa Rica for eight days this summer to take part in a Sea Turtle Tagging Course. The students will be learning about the species as well as conservation of the sea turtle. Aside from that, the Center is also getting ready to host an annual conference for the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) this summer. The conference will run June 3-4 and will feature workshops, discussions on policy issues, and several speakers including Dr. Kahl. The Center will also be sending members to The Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) in Maine this July 12-14. This conference is made up of members from 86 different universities. PSU is a major sponsor of the event and Dr. Kahl will also be speaking there. The theme of this year’s conference is “River and Lake Restoration”.