From the Classroom

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The Coastal Resilience of NYC (II) , article
[In Part I of this four-part series, Virginia Tech’s Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) alumni, environmental consultant, and sustainability professional Kyle Haynes began a conversation on the need for and reasons behind efforts to improve New York City’s coastal resilience. In this installment, Haynes reviews the impacts of recent hurricanes in NYC, and explores what is required to build a stronger, more resilient city]
Date: May 28, 2018
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A Disappearing Act? The Reefs of Vieques , article
The coral reefs surrounding Vieques have been subject to many destructive activities over the past few decades. After years of military exercises, large swaths of coral have been destroyed and are trying to recover. Current issues such as warming waters, strong hurricanes, and human impact are hindering progress and making matters worse. Without a plan for conservation and restoration, the reefs of Vieques may face a dim future.
Date: May 24, 2018
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The Coastal Resilience of NYC (I) , article
On October 29th, 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit New York City tragically killing 44 New Yorkers and causing over $19 billion in damages and economic losses. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed, more than 88,000 building were flooded, 23,000 businesses were impacted, and infrastructure throughout the city was substantially disrupted. It was described by Mayor Bloomberg as “the worst natural disaster ever to hit New York City.”
Date: May 21, 2018
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Chesapeake Bay Community-Based Public-Private Partnership (CBP3) , article
Each year in Virginia Tech’s Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) program, one of the case projects students investigate is stormwater management, specifically in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Date: May 17, 2018
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Humanity’s Plastic Footprint (IV) , article
[Gail Kulisch, a Virginia Tech Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) alumni and an environmental consultant with experience in marine pollution and remediation. In Part I of this four-part series, Kulisch introduced the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact; in Part II she discussed what makes plastics such a persistent water problem; and Part III presents the path plastics take from production to accumulation in the world’s oceans. In this final installment, Ms. Kulisch offers a discussion of the alternatives and initiatives for preventing plastic pollution in ocean environments.]
Date: May 14, 2018
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Humanity’s Plastic Footprint (III) , article
[Gail Kulisch, a Virginia Tech Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) alumni and an environmental consultant with experience in marine pollution and remediation. In Part I of this four-part series, Kulisch introduced the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact; in Part II she discussed what makes plastics such a persistent water problem. This installment presents the path plastics take from production to accumulation in the world’s oceans.]
Date: May 07, 2018
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Humanity’s Plastic Footprint (II) , article
[As a graduate student in Virginia Tech’s Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR), Gail Kulisch has applied her 28 years of experience in the US Coast Guard protecting the maritime environment from harmful materials that degrade the health of our waters. In Part I of this four-part series, Kulisch introduced the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact on the aquatic food chain. In this installment, she’ll discuss why plastics are a such a persistent waste problem.]
Date: Apr 30, 2018
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Humanity’s Plastic Footprint (I) , article
[As a graduate student in Virginia Tech’s Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR), Gail Kulisch has applied her 28 years of experience in the US Coast Guard protecting the maritime environment from harmful materials that degrade the health of our waters. In Part I of this four-part series, Kulisch will introduce us to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact on marine food chains.]
Date: Apr 23, 2018
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Authentic Problems, Transformative Learning , article
Master of Natural Resources (MNR) faculty member Dr. James (Jim) Egenrieder recognizes that students need to explore. That’s why, as a teacher, he’s always made a point to plan unique experiential learning excursions—”field trips”—for his students, most often in the form of an outdoor adventure.
Date: Apr 16, 2018
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Transboundary Elephant Conservation , article
As a photographic safari guide I am fortunate to travel to unique and interesting wilderness locations. In January this year I had the opportunity to guide a safari to Zakouma National Park in Chad.
Date: Apr 09, 2018