Environmental Studies students earn top honors at Ohio River Basin conference

Two Environmental Studies graduate students received high honors for their presentations at the 2019 Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education (ORBCRE) Symposium held at Ohio University Oct. 2-4.  

Jasmine Facun placed first in the student oral presentations; Moira Snuffer took second place in the competition.  Andreana Madera Martorell also presented.

ORBCRE’s theme was, “Managing our Water in a Changing World: from Social, Environmental, and Policy Perspectives.”  The symposium brought together students, professionals and researchers in the environmental fields.  

Students submitted research abstracts to be evaluated for presentation. Those who were selected were allotted 20 minutes each to discuss their work.

“I’m still in the data collection phase, so I presented where I am now and what I plan to do,” Facun said.

Facun’s research, funded through the Stream and Wetlands Foundation, focuses on pollinator and prairie growth in the riparian buffer of the Hocking River.  

“Aside from the award, I got a lot of really great feedback.  I was able to talk to people from all different fields: hydrologists, engineers, ecologists.  I got advice from perspectives I hadn’t thought about,” Facun said.  “It was also nice validation that I’m on the right track.”

The symposium was co-chaired by Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs Director of Environmental Programs Jennifer Bowman and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Natalie Kruse Daniels.  Find more information about the symposium here.