Note: Yale School of the Environment (YSE) was formerly known as the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES). News articles and events posted prior to July 1, 2020 refer to the School's name at that time.
Sixty-six masters students, doctoral students, and postdocs from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies community presented their research during the 33rd annual F&ES Environmental Research Conference on April 21.
For the first time, the conference integrated both masters and doctoral research into one event, highlighting the range of innovative, original scholarship coming out of the F&ES community. Also, the event involved faculty and staff members — including representatives from many of the School’s centers and programs — who served as panel moderators and judges.
And unlike previous conferences, the daylong event consisted of a series of panel discussions, five-minute flash talks, and poster sessions. So while in previous conferences students shared their research in a series of formal presentations, typically in a large auditorium, the new format allowed participants to discuss their work with peer researchers as part of issue-based panels. For presenters that meant they were able to share their research in a range of dynamic settings — and to packed rooms.
“It was the first time that I can remember seeing the original research from the entire school, and the breadth of what we’re doing, become activated. It was very exciting,” said Karen Seto, Associate Dean of Research. “It was amazing to see the entire community come together, including so many of the faculty who were there throughout the day and representatives from the centers and programs who were so engaged.”
For the first time, the conference integrated both masters and doctoral research into one event, highlighting the range of innovative, original scholarship coming out of the F&ES community. Also, the event involved faculty and staff members — including representatives from many of the School’s centers and programs — who served as panel moderators and judges.
And unlike previous conferences, the daylong event consisted of a series of panel discussions, five-minute flash talks, and poster sessions. So while in previous conferences students shared their research in a series of formal presentations, typically in a large auditorium, the new format allowed participants to discuss their work with peer researchers as part of issue-based panels. For presenters that meant they were able to share their research in a range of dynamic settings — and to packed rooms.
“It was the first time that I can remember seeing the original research from the entire school, and the breadth of what we’re doing, become activated. It was very exciting,” said Karen Seto, Associate Dean of Research. “It was amazing to see the entire community come together, including so many of the faculty who were there throughout the day and representatives from the centers and programs who were so engaged.”
During the conference the School awarded Ashley Keiser ’14 Ph.D. the fourth annual F. Herbert Bormann Prize, which honors an F&ES doctoral student whose work best exemplifies the late Yale professor’s legacy of interdisciplinary research creating insights into the relationship between humans and the environment. Read more
For the first time the School presented the Oswald Schmitz Award for Excellence in Research Communication, which honored best communications among doctoral researchers, and a prize for best poster presentation.
The winner of the Schmitz prize was Eleanor (Kellie) Stokes, a doctoral candidate who described her study of accessibility to jobs by automobile, bus, and subway for the general public and the working poor. The recipient of the poster prize was Jay Wason, a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of F&ES Prof. Craig Brodersen, who tested the drought tolerance of certain tree species.
The keynote address was delivered by Pamela Matson, dean of the Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, who discussed leadership traits that will be needed achieve the goals of sustainability and the wellbeing of all people.
For the first time the School presented the Oswald Schmitz Award for Excellence in Research Communication, which honored best communications among doctoral researchers, and a prize for best poster presentation.
The winner of the Schmitz prize was Eleanor (Kellie) Stokes, a doctoral candidate who described her study of accessibility to jobs by automobile, bus, and subway for the general public and the working poor. The recipient of the poster prize was Jay Wason, a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of F&ES Prof. Craig Brodersen, who tested the drought tolerance of certain tree species.
The keynote address was delivered by Pamela Matson, dean of the Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, who discussed leadership traits that will be needed achieve the goals of sustainability and the wellbeing of all people.
Moderators
Jason Lam, Yale Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering
Zach Wendling, Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy
Zane Kessler, The Thompson Divide Coalition
Lisa Fernandez, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
Amy Vedder, F&ES lecturer and ecologist
Mary Tyrrell, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
Minna Brown, Case Study Integration Manager
Sarah Vaughn, James and Mary Pinchot Fellow
Sara Smiley Smith, Yale College Environmental Studies
Gary Dunning, The Forests Dialogue
Gaboury Benoit, Grinstein Class of 1954 Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Hixon Center for Urban Ecology
Lisa Dale, Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy
Ned Gordon, Journal of Industrial Ecology
Judges
Reid Lifset, Journal of Industrial Ecology
Mary Tyrrell, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
Barbara Reck, Center for Industrial Ecology
Ranran Wang, Postdoctoral Associate
Diana Morgan, F&ES Research Office
Gai Doran, F&ES Research Office
Colleen Murphy-Dunning, Urban Resources Initiative, Hixon Center for Urban Ecology
Amelia Casey, F&ES Research Office
Mary Tyrrell, Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
Barbara Reck, Center for Industrial Ecology
Ranran Wang, Postdoctoral Associate
Diana Morgan, F&ES Research Office
Gai Doran, F&ES Research Office
Colleen Murphy-Dunning, Urban Resources Initiative, Hixon Center for Urban Ecology
Amelia Casey, F&ES Research Office
Published
May 4, 2017