Category: Partners

Water Pollution & Kula Kamala

Kyleigh WardFall 2025 Project Teams

💜We are Team Lavender!!!💜

🌸Hunter Healy is a first-year student majoring in Accounting at Penn State Berks. Hunter is also a part of the Sustainability Council at Penn State Berks.

 

💐Eliana Koehler is a second-year student majoring in Animal Science at Penn State Berks. Her hobbies include being involved on the Penn State Berks Tennis Team and loves animals.

 

🌹Kyleigh Ward is a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology at Penn State Berks. Her hobbies include reading, and spending most of her time at work helping 

 

🪻McKenzie Tritz is a first-year student majoring in Business at Penn State Berks. McKenzie is also a part of the WBB team.

Research: Water Pollution

Our team is focused on water pollution, a critical issue that affects ecosystems, human health, and access to clean drinking water. Much of today’s water pollution is caused by human activity, including waste dumping, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharge. Nearly half of the U.S. rivers are unsafe recreation,and globally, most wastewater enters the environment without proper treatment. Agriculture contributes to the problem through livestock waste and runoff carrying fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides into nearby waterways. Industrial sources such as oil spills and chemical waste further contaminate rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming aquatic life and reducing safe water supplies. Solving water pollution requires action at every level. Enforcing environmental regulations, improving stormwater management and making responsible choices, like properly disposing of chemicals and conserving water, can help protect our water resources. Together, we can reduce pollution and support a healthier, more sustainable future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Xw0E5Z7uM

Service: Kula Kamala

Together, we worked over the course of a few weeks at the Kula Kamala Foundation. This foundation is a yoga ashram where they teach yoga classes, provide spaces for religious practices, make meals to feed the community, host retreats, provide fruits and vegetables from their own gardens for the community, and more. During our time here, we learned about what they do at Kula Kamala, tested the water quality of a newly-acquired stream, collected samples from their gardens, corn field, and soil in their domes, and helped get their new domes together for the winter. They recently finished construction on domes that they will use to grow spices, herbs, and vegetables through the winter so that the community can continue to utilize their resources. This was an amazing experience to learn about new aspects of how to provide for a community, and what environmental aspects they contribute to here at Kula Kamala.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdchU4FkgNw

Reflection: We learned so much about water pollution through the research we conducted in preparation for our service project. We now know how we can contribute to improving water pollution in our own lives, rather than thinking it is strictly a larger issue that we cannot help combat. Additionally, our service project taught us how to conduct a water quality test, collect samples for soil testing, assist in cleaning up gardens to prepare for the spring, and learn about what the foundation does to give back to their community.

 

The Fight Against Plastic Pollution with EcoLogic

jjp7112Ecologic

 Hi! Our names are Jaeden, Esteban, and Christian, and we make up the team EcoLogic. We are all freshmen at Penn State Berks, and for our Fall 2025 EACAP project, we worked with WhatSUP Berks to tackle the issue of plastic pollution.

Research

Our group conducted research on the topic of plastic pollution, examining its causes, environmental impacts, and global significance. We explored how plastic production and use have increased rapidly since the mid-20th century, leading to millions of tons of plastic waste entering landfills and natural ecosystems each year. Plastic pollution has become a major environmental issue, especially in oceans, where plastics harm marine life, disrupt food chains, and break down into microplastics that persist in the environment. Our research highlighted key challenges associated with plastic pollution, including overreliance on single-use plastics, limited recycling effectiveness, and the difficulty of removing plastic once it enters the environment. By analyzing these issues, we gained a deeper understanding of how plastic pollution affects both local communities and the global ecosystem. We used our research to create a narrated presentation to help educate others about the problem and potential solutions, which you can view here.

 

Service

Along with researching about plastic pollution, our team worked with the organization WhatSUP berks, to help push a ban for single use plastic bags in the Berks County. If you would like to learn more, feel free to watch our short informational video about our collaboration with this organization.

 

Conclusion

We as a team have learned a lot, and have gained a lot of valuable experience throughout the semester. We have helped make a change and spread awareness in our community, and I am happy to say that I am proud of the work that we have done as a team.

Environmental Avengers: Hooked on Sustainability — Impacts of Fishing on Marine Ecosystems

Ryan HighEnvironmental Avengers 2025

Team Introduction

Ryan High (Team Leader – Right) – Led the research and service project and coordinated group responsibilities.

Mia Kennedy (Team Progress Log Manager – Left) – Tracked project progress, deadlines, and organized documentation.

Corey Zimmerman (Team Liaison – Middle) – Served as the primary point of contact between the team and external partners.

Research Issue: Fishing & Recreation Impacts on Biodiversity

Our research focuses on how recreational and commercial fishing practices negatively impact marine biodiversity, particularly through abandoned fishing gear, non-selective fishing methods, and overfishing. Fishing line and nets are commonly made from durable synthetic materials such as nylon and polyethylene, which can persist in the environment for decades.

One major issue we explored is Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). An estimated 6.4 million tons of fishing gear enter the ocean each year. This gear continues to trap marine life in a process known as ghost fishing, harming fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals while disrupting ecosystems and food webs.

We also examined bottom trawling, one of the most destructive fishing practices. Bottom trawling involves dragging heavy nets along the ocean floor, destroying habitats, capturing non-target species, and contributing to massive bycatch. This practice accelerates overfishing and threatens both biodiversity and coastal economies that rely on sustainable fisheries.

These impacts contribute to serious global consequences, including habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and food insecurity. Currently, 31% of global fish stocks are overfished, with another 58% fished at full capacity, leaving little room for recovery.

 

Service Project: Fishing Line Recycling & Environmental Protection

Our service project directly addressed the issue of discarded fishing line pollution, which poses a severe threat to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. We partnered with the Sierra Club and Blue Marsh Lake staff to design and install fishing line recycling containers at high-traffic fishing areas.

Initially, the Sierra Club provided us with several possible locations and ideas. After planning and discussion, we finalized our project site at Blue Marsh Lake, where fishing activity is common and the risk of line pollution is high. Our group constructed PVC recycling pipes designed to be more effective than older models. Our containers are larger and include an unscrewable bottom, allowing for easier maintenance and safer removal of collected line.

An exciting aspect of this project is that our recycling containers also support a Boy Scout troop’s new handicap-accessible fishing area, helping ensure that sustainability efforts are inclusive and community-focused.

This project allowed us to take what we learned from our research and apply it in a real-world setting, directly reducing environmental harm while educating the public about responsible fishing practices.

 

EACAP Project Reflection & Message to Others

Participating in the EACAP project helped us understand how research and service work together to create meaningful environmental change. Learning about the long-term impacts of fishing gear pollution was eye-opening, especially seeing how something as small as discarded fishing line can cause severe injury or death to wildlife.

Working with the Sierra Club and Blue Marsh Lake staff showed us how collaboration between students, organizations, and local communities can make sustainability efforts more effective. This project reinforced that environmental problems are not just global issues, they are local, visible, and solvable when people take responsibility.

Through this experience, we gained a stronger appreciation for conservation, teamwork, and the importance of proactive solutions rather than reactive cleanup. To other students and young people, our message is simple: small actions matter. Whether it’s disposing of fishing line properly, supporting conservation efforts, or educating others, everyone has the ability to reduce their environmental impact and protect biodiversity for future generations.

Commute PA

Liam NoonanCommute PA

Saving the environment one car ride at a time!

Eco-Protectors Team Members

Liam Noonan- I am a Freshman majoring in Early Childhood Education.

Michael Thalassinos-I am a Freshman. I enjoy video games and baseball.

Owen Grove-I am a first year student, majoring in Business.

We are the Eco-Protectors and we are here to protect the environment. We are not only teammates for the environment but we are teammates on the baseball diamond too.

What is Commute PA?

Commute PA is a program designed to reduce traffic, cut pollution, and make traveling easier across Pennsylvania. It encourages people to use greener options like carpooling, biking, walking, or taking public transit instead of driving alone. By helping commuters find smarter travel choices, Commute PA aims to lower greenhouse-gas emissions and improve air quality in local communities. The program also offers tools and rewards that motivate people to build long-term sustainable commuting habits.

Scan Code_Logo for Commute PA

Research

Our team found that the number 1 contributor to global warming and climate change is air pollution. These particles and gases can come from many sources. These include exhaust from cars and trucks, pollution from factories, and smoke from wildfires. It also includes ash from volcanic eruptions, dust from deserts, sea spray, pollen, and mold spores. However, the number 1 contributor is pollution from the vehicles we drive. Carbon Dioxide is the primary green house gas emitted from cars and trucks. Other greenhouse gases include methane, nitrous oxide, but in smaller amounts. Green house gases contribute to global warming trapping heat in the atmosphere. Not only can the air be polluted from the burning of gasoline, but noncombustion sources like tire wear, brake dust, and road surface particles contribute to air pollution. Motor Vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in the US.

Climate Change and Pollution

Consequences of Air Pollution

  • Disrupts aviation including flight paths of birds, but also airplanes causing turbulence while traveling.
  • Contributes to climate change leading to global warming
  • Pollutes the water we drink
  • Respiratory sickness
  • Increase water-borne diseases from flooding and warmer waters, and the spread diseases like Lyme and Malaria

How Can You Help?

  • Decrease the amount of time you are traveling alone.
  • Increase your exercise and walk or bike whenever possible
  • Download the app and earn rewards.

Follow Along with Commute.PA on Instagram.

OR

Psuberks.commute.pa

Head on over to commute.pa.org

REFLECTION

Working with Commute PA helped us understand how everyday travel choices can make a real difference for the environment and our communities. We learned how small changes like carpooling or using public transit can reduce pollution and save money. Participating in the program also made us more aware of how transportation impacts air quality and traffic. Overall, it encouraged us to think more sustainably about how we get around.

Team Recycleables

Brayden ForrerFall 2025 Project Teams

Hello! We are Team Recycleables for the EACAP Project for Fall 2025. Our team consists of: Eshaan Tolani (Team Leader), Ryan La (Team Liaison), Brayden Forrer, and Ayokunle Mustapha. Together our group focused both our research and service on understanding how plastic pollution/waste occurs as well as ways to hopefully fix the problem for

the future.

Introductions

My name is Ryan La. I am a senior at Penn State Berks pursuing my bachelor’s degree inside of Business Marketing/Management. I am from Berks so I strongly believe in the ban on single-use plastic bags within Berks county and am glad to support What’SUP Berks.

 Hello, my name is Eshaan Tolani. I am a third year Psychology student. I’ve lived in the Berks County area my entire life so I very much support the efforts to ban single use plastics in the county.

 Hello, I’m Brayden Forrer, I’m a freshman at Penn State Berks and I plan to major in statistics. I’ve lived in Berks County my whole life and went to high school at Governor Mifflin. 

My name is Ayo, this will be my 3rd year at Penn State. I am an Animal Science major. I’m from New Jersey, a state that has already taken actions against single use plastics. So I know that such a thing is possible and helping to spread awareness is with the help of What’SUP Berks is an honor.

Research

The issue that we are trying to address with our initiative pertains to plastic pollution. A lot of plastics find their way to landfill sites, roadsides, and eventually enter rivers, seas, and other sources of fresh water, where they disintegrate into small plastics that affect marine life as well as sources of fresh water, which also find their way onto our dining tables. With increased plastic pollution, our ecosystems, health, and even climatic conditions are threatened. This requires actions from all of us, including individuals, governments, and even manufacturers of plastics. Our initiative involves promoting a policy in the Berks area.

 

Service

Our service project was in collaboration with the local organization WhatsUpBerks and their main organizers, Mr. Tom Crotty, Mrs. Grim Louise, and Mr. Arthur Grim. Their goal was to create grassroots support for a single use plastics ban in Berks County, based on similar bans in other areas of PA and other states. Their job for us was to go door to door to various local businesses to ask for managers or employees to sign a petition in support of such legislation. These petitions are then likely going to be sent over to PA state senator Judy Schwank to look over and see if there is enough support to pass such legislation. The specific details of the outreach we did can be seen in our video attached to the photo.

 

Reflection

Overall, our service project in collaboration with What’SUP Berks gave us as students an opportunity to make a difference within our local community by spreading information to the general public that may not have even known that plastic waste is a huge problem that is destroying our environment at such a rapid pace. Even as students, we were given insights that we will continue to carry with us when we are out shopping and see people using plastic bags. We wish What’SUP Berks the best on their journey as they continue to raise awareness on the ban on single use plastics continuing past local legislation in hopes to enter a state or country wide effort.

Photos

 

Cutting Down Invasive Species with the Go Birds

Caraline HerbFall 2025 Project Teams

Introduction

Caraline, Yen Nhi, and Grace at the Sustainability Expo!

Caraline Herb- I am a Sophomore at Penn State Berks, and I like to bake and play sports. I also like to spend time with my friends and family.

Yen Nhi Hoang – I am a Junior at Penn State Berks. I like to cook and bake, and I also like to play video games and sleep. I like to travel the world. 

Grace Kagan – I am a freshman at Penn State Berks. I like to read, take walks with my dog, and hang out with my friends in my free time. I work a lot in my free time off campus! 

Research

We researched the impact that invasive species have on local native plant biodiversity, pollinators, and wildlife. Our research talks about the impact that invasive species have on the local Wyomissing area. The main invasive species that we focused our research on is the Chinese Silver Grass, which we cut down in the Wyomissing Park. This invasive species impacts many other native species and can overpopulate, making it difficult to remove.

Service

Our team successfully removed the invasive species, Chinese Silver Grass, from Wyomissing Park. We spent 8 hours removing this plant and were able to remove our entire area of it. We first had to remove the seeds of the plant that are located at the top because if we did not remove this part, the plant could reproduce very easily. We then cut the bottom of the plant. The park team will put a black tarp over the whole area over the winter to completely kill everything.

Reflection

From this project, we gained so much knowledge about invasive species. We also learned that they affect so much more than just taking over the area that they are in. This project taught us so much, and we will always check to make sure the next plant that we plant is not invasive. Participating in our EACAP project has been a rewarding and eye-opening experience. Working on removing the invasive Chinese silver grass in Wyomissing Borough gave us a real sense of contributing to environmental conservation and community improvement. It was fulfilling to see firsthand how invasive plants can impact local ecosystems, and how hands-on efforts like ours help native plants and wildlife thrive. Through this project, we gained not only practical skills in environmental management, such as identifying and safely removing invasive species, but also a deeper appreciation for teamwork and community service. Collaborating with teams and volunteers taught us the value of patience, persistence, and working together toward a shared goal. It also reminded us that small, consistent actions can create meaningful change in our local environment. Our message to the youth is that you should always try to make an impact in your community, and it can be as simple as removing invasive species. The impact that you make is very strong just with a few hours of work. 

More Photos

Team Re-Leaf Tackles Invasive Species with the Wyomissing Borough!

lfh5483Team Re-Leaf

Hello! Our names are Sam Wolfe, Orion Parks, Sonia Conrad, and Litzuli Hernandez-Sanchez, and we are team Re-Leaf! Sam is a first-year film major, Orion is a first-year finance major, Sonia is a first-year criminology major, and Litzuli is a second-year economics major. For our project, we worked on invasive species in the Wyomissing Parklands.

Invasive Species

An invasive species is a non-native organism that spreads rapidly through new environments, causing harm to the native ecosystems. The invasive species the Re-Leaf team worked on was Chinese Silver Grass. This particular species arrived in the 1940s and originates from an overseas country. The specific SDGs related to our issue are Life on Land, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Quality Education, and Responsible Consumption and Production.

EACAP Narrated PPT Presentation (1)

Service

For this project, we physically removed invasive species. We were given pliers to cut off the plumes at the very top of the plant. These plumes hold the seeds of the Chinese Silver Grass, so we had to swiftly throw them out in a plastic bag downward so the seeds don’t fly around. We then cut off the stems to completely remove the plant from the area. 

The head/plume that holds the seeds

 

Reflection

Overall, we found the EACAP project to be engaging and educational. At first, we found this new project exciting! Being able to work with a local organization on a project to create a positive impact on the park and foster a more environmentally conscious environment felt inspiring!  As time went on, our group dynamic developed as we chopped down. We had fun going together to the park and enjoying the views. We learned a lot throughout the process, not only about the negatives of invasive species but also about Chinese Silver Grass specifically, which allows us to educate others about this aesthetically pleasing plant that causes harm. For those reading this, take action in your communities! Big or small, the impact will always be grand!

Berks Environmental Group 1, Erosion and runoff 0

Benny SantanaBerks Environmental Group

Hello everyone, we’re the “Berks Environmental Group.” The team members are Sarah, Benny, and Leo. Sarah is a sophomore majoring in business management with a minor in International Business Administration. She loves to watch shows, spend time with friends, and travel around world. Benny is majoring in criminal justice B.A. He loves to travel and meet new the people and lastly Leo is a freshman majoring in Business Marketing, His hobbies include Playing ice hockey for Berks, coaching and working in detailing cars.

Benny, Sarah and Leo

Research:

Our research project was about stormwater runoff and erosion. Stormwater runoff is when water from rain or melted snow stays on the ground instead of being absorbed into the soil. That water carries pollutants and chemicals into waterways. Runoff rarely happens in forests due to the soil and plants filtering the water before it reaches the rivers. Erosion is when soil, rocks or other materials get worn away or moves by water, wind, or ice. It can happen very quickly like in mudslide or slowly like with river erosion. Some things that worsen these issues are urbanization, old or outdated drainage systems and certain agricultural practices. Erosion can lead to a loss of fertile soil, a reduction in agricultural productivity, and overall land degradation. Stormwater runoff results in erosion, pollution, habitat loss, increase in flooding, and damage to infrastructure. One solution is streamside buffers, which means planting trees and other plants along waterways. These plants act like a sponge and help filter the water, preventing erosion and runoff. Another important solution is education the public about the use of toxic chemicals, so fewer harmful pollutants end up in our water.

https://pennstateoffice365-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/r/personal/sal6397_psu_edu/Documents/EACAP%20Presentation.pptx?d=wf4c2adadb83e4e8e9d09360e6a9e50b2&csf=1&web=1&e=0ce1Lu

Sustainable Development Goals:

Stormwater runoff is related to Goal 6, which focuses on improving water quality by reducing pollution and preventing the discharge of harmful chemicals. To help achieve this goal, people should be careful not to overuse water, especially when showering or washing dishes. They can also organize or take part in a cleanup for rivers or oceans and stay informed.

Erosion is connected to Goal 13, which focuses on helping countries prepare for and fight the impacts of climate change. People can help by composting food scraps and using reusable and eco-friendly products. Additionally, using public transportation, biking, or walking, eating less meat, and reducing paper use all contributes to combating climate change.

Service:

We helped improve the Wyomissing parkland by planting native trees, cutting back invasive honeysuckle and making informative signage to explain to park users why we’re doing restoration work. When we looked back at the area, we saw a lot of erosion, and some storm runoff. In the first picture, you can see the area we worked in, the creek near us is shown in the middle picture

https://pennstateoffice365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/sal6397_psu_edu/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fsal6397%5Fpsu%5Fedu%2FDocuments%2FService%5FVideo%5FFor%5FBerks%5FEnvironmental%5FGroup%2Emp4&ct=1765392667522&or=OWA%2DNT%2DMail&cid=88151400%2D3e3c%2D5d8f%2Df2be%2D445d37c7bd02&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E41eb86b2%2D42b5%2D4902%2D8a3a%2Da6d0c2c800dd

Reflection

Working alongside my group during the project with Wyomissing Borough Riparian Restoration turned out to be way more eye opening than we thought. Getting our hands dirty onsite, planting trees while clearing stubborn weeds like Honey Suckle, helped us see firsthand just how tough ecosystem care really is. This wasn’t some college project; it hit home like real work with actual impact. ​

This project gave us a better grasp on stormwater runoff along with erosion. As we moved forward, researching both subjects was key to seeing their daily effect on our environment. Our tasks tied closely to what we did alongside the Wyomissing Borough Riparian Restoration group, making everything more tangible. Learning how runoff harms landscapes while restoration helps them clarify why our role mattered. In the end, that insight boosted our work plus deepened our respect for its real-world value.​

Biodiversity in the Wyomissing Borough

Jenna JablonskiFall 2025 Project Teams

Leaf it to Us!

Members – Ella, Hannah, Marilin, and Jenna

 

Introductions–

Ella- I’m Ella, I am a Freshman this year at Berks. I am an early childhood education major.

Hannah- I’m Hannah, I’m a freshman this year at Berks, and I’m a psychology major!  

Marilin- I’m Marilin, I’m a freshman at Berks! I am majoring in early childhood education!

Jenna- I’m Jenna and I’m currently an elementary education major at Berks! I have two dogs and absolutely love going on walks.

 

Team Picture–

Research– For our research project, we look at bees. They are an endangered species that is a key component to our natural world. With bees in our population, we have increased biodiversity which leads to better, healthier native plants. Recently, pesticides have been damaging bee populations along with invasive species. It is up to us to protect our bees and save them from becoming extinct. See our PowerPoint for ways that you can help the bees.

Click the picture below to get to the PowerPoint!

Service– For our service, we each had a few different occasions to which we learned and helped our environment and the biodiversity that we need.

First, Jenna went on a nature walk where she learned about the different invasives, like honeysuckle, and the importance of the diversity of trees. She learned about the need to protect the trees around the riverbed. 

Second, Marilin, Hannah, and Jenna went to a borough park to clear out the Japanese stilt grass which is an invasive species. In the field, we had to rip out the invasives so that the natives would not be overcrowded. 

Third, Hannah, Ella, and Jenna went to a swell in a Wyomissing neighborhood. In this swell, we planted a variety of different bushes as well as over 50 grasses! It was a very fun experience and we ended up planting so much! 

Fourth, Marilin went around Wyomissing Park’s Bluebird trail and assisted Dr. Lucy Carins examine the bird boxes. She learned about why bird boxes are important, types of invasive bird species and different types of materials used to build bird boxes. 

Marilin also worked on a flyer to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity in the borough regarding their new grant.

Click the picture below to see our video about our service!

Summary–

Ella– Throughout this project I really enjoyed the feeling of helping out the environment with the service. I enjoyed going out and making a difference to one little place and can’t wait to see the plants grow over time. I enjoyed talking to Jen and her telling us how we are making a difference. I also enjoyed learning so much about bees with my research aspect. I had no idea that bees are so important to our environment and do so much more than I thought they did. It was really interesting, especially watching a documentary about bees and not just reading about them but actually watching and see up close. 

Hannah– Overall, I enjoyed this project and think it’s a cool and meaningful way to learn more about the environment and get hands-on experience with different aspects of helping with things like biodiversity and keeping our environment clean and safe. I learned a lot about how things like invasive species, the decline of pollinator populations, and certain plants and animals all affect each other as well as all of us humans. I learned that taking care of our environment, these places, and species isn’t just about doing what is right for those living things, it’s also about helping ourselves and our future environment and planet. I think we all felt really proud of ourselves after removing invasive plants from the Highlands and planting new native ones in the swale, and it did feel nice throughout this project to feel like we accomplished something that will help all of us as well as the community and environment in the future. 

Marilin– I absolutely loved this project! I am glad I got to do it. I have learned so much about our environment and how everything works so well together. What was really interesting to me was to learn what a big part pollinators play in our ecosystem. They assist us with food production and biodiversity. I’m also very proud that we were able to make a huge difference in our community by removing invasives from the borough. It was really interesting to learn about why bird boxes are so important and the different types of native and invasive bird species that are in wyomissing. I am glad we got to complete this as a group and not only make an impact in our community but learn so many new and important things. 

Jenna– Throughout my research and service, I think I really learned a lot about not just the need for biodiversity, but also the impact of invasives like honeysuckle. With the invasive species being here, they ruin our diverse natives and quickly overtake them. With that being said, we really need to be mindful and take care of things like riverbeds and swells so we can keep our environment in a healthy cycle. I also felt really accomplished after we cleared out the one patch of invasives at a park. It was a lot of hard work that we put in and we got the job done.

Team LeBron James Dunks on Invasive Species

jgc5512Fall 2025 Project Teams

Hello everyone, we are Team Lebron James. We worked with the Wyomissing Borough organization to remove invasive species and also conducted research on the pollinator population decline.

 

LeBron James at the Sustainability Expo

 

Team Members

 

Dominick Lipsky: 3rd Year Early Education Major

David Zhang: 1st Year Finance Major

Jonathan Colon: 2nd Year Accounting Major

 

Research

 

        This semester, we researched about the population decline of pollinators. We chose to cover this issue because pollinators are an important contributor to our ecosystems, and if the population keeps decreasing, it will have a rippling effect that will also harm us humans. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects are declining mostly because of a widespread use of pesticides, urbanization and agricultural expansion, climate change, and disease causing organisms. These threats to pollinators reduce their access to food, disrupt their life cycles, and increase their mortality rate. Some of the ways to help with this problem is to use integrated pest management (IPM), cut back on pesticide use, support sustainable ecosystems, and plant flowers.  Raising public awareness and supporting conservation efforts can also help slow down and eventually stop the decline of pollinators.

SDG

For our Sustainable Development Goals, we chose…

  • SDG 15 – Life on Land
    • Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
  • SDG 13 – Climate Action
    • Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
    • Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

 

For more information, watch our research presentation

 

Service

 

        For our service project, we partnered with Jen from the Wyomissing Borough organization to remove Chinese silver grass, an invasive species, from the Wyomissing park. Over the course of a month, we drove to the Wyomissing park, met with Jen to grab necessary tools, and got to work. The majority of the work was cutting the plant, but an important step was to separate the seeds from the silver grass to prevent more spread of this invasive species. To do this, we would bag the seeds by themselves and lay the silver grass on the ground for our organization to pick up. After we were done removing the majority of the Chinese silver grass, our organization will lay a tarp over the cut silver grass to overheat and remove the remaining seeds and grass.

 

For more information, watch our service video

 

Reflection

 

The EACAP project was a very enjoyable and valuable experience because it gave us the opportunity to learn about our environment through both research and hands on service. The research portion gave us a better understanding of the causes and consequences of the population decline of pollinators and why it is an important issue that affects ecosystems. The service portion, on the other hand, allowed us to contribute directly to our local community, which showed us how environmental action often starts at a local level. These experiences helped us realize that helping the environment can be in multiple forms, from spreading awareness through research to taking physical action in the community. Our message to other students and individuals is that no matter what your interests or skills are, there is always a way to get involved and make a positive impact on the environment.