What a bright time it is on Douglas Lake!
The moon glows and tree tops glisten in our neck of the woods. Coated in winter beauty, the University of Michigan Biological Station is closing out a successful year of education, research and discovery.
I am grateful for all that we have accomplished together this year, including (but by no means limited to): The success of our excellent, immersive classes and dedicated teaching faculty; the student researcher program; the debut of our Nature Day Camp for children to support families at UMBS; the UMBS Student Ambassadors who proudly share their enthusiasm for living and learning at our historic field research station; our increase in press external to the University that amplifies our important work to new and expanding audiences; the uptick in new researchers who have received prestigious grants; the gathering of generous and helpful feedback from UMBS interested parties from around the world as we build our five-year strategic plan; and the completion of interior redesign projects that position us with flexible spaces to prepare for capital projects that will allow us to offer year-round academic and research programming.
We’re keeping our momentum charging forward into 2025 to work toward the goal of offering fall and winter semesters for students at our campus up North. That’s a guiding light for me as we evolve into the field station of the future.
People make the difference, and UMBS is home to a world-class team of caring, talented individuals. Those festive faces at the top of this newsletter deserve the spotlight. It was a comfort and joy to relax together with staff and retired employees and share a meal last week with loved ones — and enjoy the snow!
Before I share our final news and announcements of 2024, please take a moment to follow our new UMBS page on LinkedIn. Engage with us and tap into your networks to help recruit new students, research scientists and donors as we work to grow our historic, immersive community of practice that learns from the natural world and inspires action.
We have launched applications for 2025 field research proposals, fellowships, academic courses, scholarships and our artist residency. Spread the word! We welcome undergraduate students, graduate students and research scientists from all universities and from all areas of study as well as artists of all mediums.
Our science is better when we have people who view the environment through different lenses — expanding broader than ecology and biology to include diverse intellectual communities invested in place-based environmental work such as public health and architecture.
Six of our 20 course offerings this year have no prerequisites, which hopefully serves as a draw for humanities and other non-biology/ecology majors. In fact, students who are rising first-years can take these classes. They are:
- Rivers, Lakes and Wetlands (EEB 321/ENVIRON 331)
- Conservation Biology in Practice (EEB 405)
- Observation and Modeling of Climate Change Biology (EEB 405)
- Insights from Trees: Science, Art, and Observation in a Noisy World (EEB 405)
- Environmental Writing: The Art of Observation (ENGLISH 221)
- Learning from the Landscape (ENGLISH 242)
What’s also thrilling on the academic front is that we are debuting five new UMBS courses in May, June and July based on student feedback:
- Field Studies of Insects (EEB 405)
- Conservation Biology in Practice (EEB 405)
- Field Mycology (EEB 405)
- Field Ecology (EEB 478)
- Observation and Modeling of Climate Change Biology (EEB 405)
Thank you to UMBS Academic Program Manager Candice Everett for her expertise in bringing those courses to fruition. One of our heroes in enhancing student experience, Candice navigated a complex process — five-fold — with aplomb.
With the holidays upon us, please make note of important UMBS deadlines:
- Research proposals, renewals and fellowship applications: Feb. 1
- Field-based courses and scholarships: March 15 (Priority deadline)
- Spring term courses and scholarships: April 30 (Final deadline)
- Summer term courses and scholarships: May 30 (Final deadline)
- Artist residency: Feb. 1
We’ll have more to share next month about exciting undergraduate student research fellowship opportunities — opportunities that we can offer thanks to generous donors. As we close out 2024, please consider giving to UMBS in your end-of-year philanthropy. Everything from $10 to $10,000 (and beyond!) adds up and can make a huge, immediate difference in our upcoming field season.
Our UMBS Alumni Success stories have quickly turned into a series thanks to popular demand. This month we introduce you to Ysabelle Yrad, an environmental justice changemaker along the Pacific Ocean who was a graduate student researcher (U-M SEAS ‘23) and front desk clerk in the administrative office at UMBS. I hope this feedback fills your heart with community pride: “Ysabelle has made a resounding impact on behalf of the Blue Lake Rancheria, a small but mighty Tribe in northern California,” said Heidi Moore-Guynup, director of government and tribal affairs for Blue Lake Rancheria. “Her work to advance clean energy projects, to ensure Tribal input is at the forefront of regulatory decision-making and her ability to influence developers to adopt green strategies has been remarkable. The Tribe is grateful for her service.”
I had the pleasure of catching up with recent UMBS alumni at the Michigan Winters Roundtable earlier this month in Ann Arbor. I was impressed by the turnout, enthusiasm and questions on the last day of classes for the fall semester. It was my honor to discuss UMBS research focused on changing winters.
Scientists at the University of Michigan Biological Station said the effects of last year’s record-setting mild winter lingered almost to the next winter. Read our story featuring Dr. John Lenters, senior research specialist, and UMBS Resident Biologist Adam Schubel about how a late freeze and zebra mussels marked the end of the 2024 smart buoy deployment on Douglas Lake.
If you’re in northern Michigan this winter, stop by for a visit. The public is invited to use ski trails, which are groomed, at the University of Michigan Biological Station.
View the full December 2024 newsletter here, including stunning photos of the moon.
On behalf of my husband and our two sons, I wish you and your families a healthy and happy new year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Aimée Classen
UMBS Director
