Fellowship Experiences

Nearly three years ago I entered the Ph.D. program in the University of Maryland’s Department of Anthropology. This marked a transition point for me. Of course, there was the commitment to at least another five years of life as a graduate student. But for me, the more impactful change was my move into social science.  Read more...

Urban stormwater runoff is the fastest growing source of pollution in Chesapeake Bay.  It’s a big worry, but there is something that each of us can do about it in our own backyards. 

Stormwater structures that manage runoff are becoming more widely used as a way to reduce this pollution. There are lots of options for you to “do your part” and implement stormwater management structures in your own backyard. To help you with your decision, I would like to shed some light on common misconceptions about stormwater structures – insights I have gained through my research on this topic.

On a small tributary of the Patapsco River in Pasadena, Maryland, an avid community of fishermen and boaters frequent the waters daily during the spring and summer. This river, Rock Creek, is home to the Maryland Yacht club and sees a high volume of boat traffic.  Read more...

It was a chilly December morning in Baltimore as I boarded a plane bound for San Francisco. I held tightly my carry-on bag and poster tube, which contained the poster I would be presenting later in the week at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. I had never attended AGU, and this was actually my maiden voyage to California.

Three years ago, I was beginning my final semester as an undergraduate and facing the daunting task of student-teaching high-school classes about earth and environmental science full time for 10 weeks. I often thought about what students should take away from my class. What do I want students to remember in ten years?