Good morning!
My college-aged son texted me.
Unprompted.
He wasn’t asking for money. He wasn’t injured. And, perhaps most remarkably, he wasn’t replying to a message I had sent first.
Instead, he wanted information about the University of Michigan Biological Station.
One month into empty-nester life, I’m still teetering between pride and sadness after my husband and I moved our youngest son into his residence hall. I’m proud to watch him spread his wings and explore the world on his own, but I’m still adjusting to how quiet the house has become.
Then came that text. Someone in his class had expressed interest in the Biological Station, and my son wanted information to pass along. Just like that, he had become a recruiter, helping connect another student with the life-changing opportunity to take immersive field courses in the spring and summer along Douglas Lake.
So yes, I’m one proud, grateful mom — giddy that my son texted, delighted that he still remembers me, and especially thrilled that he’s spreading the word about a place that means so much to all of us.
If you know a college student in the humanities, arts or sciences who would savor the chance to learn while immersed in nature at our historic northern Michigan field station in 2027, please encourage them to attend one of our information sessions in November or December.
You’ll find all the details in this newsletter, along with an epic drone video that offers a bird’s-eye view of the UMBS campus in the Northwoods.
That soaring view feels especially fitting because lately I’ve been thinking a lot about perspective.
Last week, I spent a day being onboarded as a senior fellow of the Michigan Society of Fellows, and the conversations reminded me why I love academic life. We moved from science and politics to sociology and history, examining the world through one another’s lenses. It was energizing and a powerful reminder that some of our best ideas emerge when disciplines overlap.
We’re creating more opportunities for that kind of exploration at UMBS through new research and courses in the arts and humanities.
One course that has brought those perspectives together for the past three years is Insights From Trees. Students study trees through ecological, artistic and societal lenses while completing a hands-on research project.
In this newsletter, we’re excited to share a student research publication that grew from the course — the second in two years. The study explores how some trees invest less in chemical defenses when they provide housing for protective mite “bodyguards.”
Trees know the value of having good neighbors.
At UMBS, we’re fortunate to have the best neighbors.
A group representing them — the Douglas Lake Improvement Association — is featured in a new story about a collaborative water-quality project with UMBS and researchers from Michigan Sea Grant and the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). Scroll down to watch the video and read the story.
Our Biological Station Undergraduate Research Fellows were busy this field season. This month we’re shining the spotlight on Étienne Nuñez, a sophomore aiming for a career in environmental conservation and restoration ecology. I served as one of her science mentors as she studied how invasive plants respond to environmental change, connecting it to broader research underway at UMBS on carbon cycling.
We’re hiring! UMBS is looking for a Research Area Specialist Associate to join our team at the Pellston campus. This year-round, two-year position will help strengthen data collection and maintain the long-term scientific and data infrastructure that supports research at UMBS. Interested — or know someone who would be a great fit? You’ll find the full job description, requirements and application details on the U-M Careers website.
Before I sign off, thank you to everyone who attended the Water@Michigan coffee talk, Changing Michigan Winters, in early September on U-M Main Campus. What an incredible turnout! About 50 people joined our talented panel for an important conversation about one of the most pressing issues facing our watersheds, communities and region.
Between the enthusiasm in Ann Arbor for an area of research excellence at UMBS and that unexpected text from my son, I’m feeling hopeful about what’s ahead. Our community is growing, our connections are deepening, and people are eager to be part of this work.
Even better, some of them are recruiting their classmates.
Read the September 2026 newsletter for all of the stories and fall photos.
Sincerely,
Dr. Aimée Classen
Director
