News Archives - Department of Environmental Conservation

Anglers’ Reaction to Shark Depredation Is Key to Conservation

November 29, 2021 by Comment Closed

UMass Amherst study finds links between the two in recreational fisheries In a broad-scale study recently published in Fisheries Research, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst quantified the emotional and behavioral responses to shark depredation in recreational fisheries. The study found that anglers, and especially recreational fishing guides, who experienced depredation were more likely to have a negative response towards sharks and were thus more likely to target sharks for additional harvesting. Imagine hooking the big one, a trophy fish, only to have it eaten by another marine creature before you can reel it in. When this happens, it’s called depredation. Though there are many animals that engage in depredation, recent attention has focused on sharks in part because decades’ long shark conservation efforts have seen some populations rebound, but also because saltwater angling is increasingly popular. Simply put, with more sharks in the water and more people reeling in fish, there is a greater chance for conflict. “We know that sharks are...

Changing Land-Use Practices Could Help Save Narragansett Bay

November 17, 2021 by Comment Closed

UMass Amherst researchers focus on a systems approach to reducing the worst impacts of climate change The Narragansett Bay, which covers almost 150 square miles along the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, is New England’s largest estuary, and it is under threat from both changing patterns of land use in New England and global climate change. Recently, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst published the results of a new study that connects land use, the coast, and the climate, to identify various workable interventions that could guide the Bay’s restoration. “I grew up on Narragansett Bay, 1,500 feet from the water,” says Evan Ross, senior lecturer in UMass Amherst’s College of Natural Science and the paper’s lead author. “In 2003, I saw a massive fish kill, which resulted from nutrient runoff, and I’ve watched as Rhode Island has made significant investments in protecting the bay.” But, as Ross and his co-author, Timothy Randhir, professor of environmental conservation at UMass Amherst, argue, conservation efforts may...

Artwork Communicates Climate Change Challenges

October 29, 2021 by Comment Closed

UMass Amherst researchers team up on award-winning project FutureSHORELINE, a collaborative public art and science project, recently won the “Rebecca Ballestra” Climate Change Communication Award in an international competition hosted by the Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici. Spearheaded by Carolina Aragón, assistant professor in UMass Amherst’s Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning department, the project represents what many say is the perfect blending of art and science. The temporary water- and land-based art installation in Fort Point, Boston, consists of two sculptures created from used lobster traps: one floating in Fort Point channel in Boston, the other installed on land nearby. By demonstrating the projected flooding for the area due to sea level rise over the next few decades, the installation aims to spur people into taking action around climate change. “Despite all the challenges that COVID-19 threw at us with this project — and there were many — working with Carolina and the rest of the team on FutureSHORELINE has been a really...

The Sustainability Road Less Traveled: BCT’s Applied Learning Pathways Lead to Jobs

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 by Adrian Jordaan Comment Closed

During the last year, 10 pioneering UMass students took the road less traveled – pursuing the BCT (Building Construction Technology) Applied Learning Pathways, a new option for students to ‘study abroad’ at the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst in Newton, Massachusetts. Students worked one-on-one with a faculty sponsor to create a customized, hands-on learning experience based on their interests in sustainability. These one-of-a kind pathways built the students’ confidence and portfolios (i.e. GIS mapping, augmented/virtual experiments, original research, multi-media videos, 3D models) as they collectively pursued more than 30 academic credits toward the completion of their degrees. “As a master’s degree student at UMass, I wanted my learning to be meaningful and to have an impact,” said Abigail Moore, B.S. ’19, M.S, ’21. “The Independent Study project I designed with my professor focused on the idea of ‘Living Buildings;’ structures that generate more than they consume – and I was able to focus on understanding how these buildings can work with...

We’re Hiring: Assistant Professor in Advanced Building Technologies

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

Effective immediately, we are seeking qualified applicants for the following position in BCT: Assistant Professor – Advanced Building Technologies Apply now Job no: 510501 Work type: Faculty Full Time Location: UMass Amherst Department: Environmental Conservation Union: MSP Categories: College of Natural Sciences About UMass Amherst UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth’s flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to diverse urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region. Job Description The Building and Construction Technology (BCT) program in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (http://bct.eco.umass.edu/) invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track position in the area of Advanced Building Technologies. This is an academic year appointment at the level of Assistant Professor. We seek candidates with...