Students enrolled in a Local Field Ecology class at St. Joseph’s University, New York contributed to sustainability efforts on Long Island by partnering with the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) Ministry.
Led by Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, the class—comprised of 12 students—took a trip Nov. 25 to the Sisters of St. Joseph’s campus in Brentwood, NY. Along with the ministry’s ecologists, students performed an assessment of CSJ’s native grass meadows, the goal being to observe the soil structure and discover what substances it contained as well as conduct an insect survey.
The data collected will be used to develop solutions on how to live more sustainably, increase biodiversity and preserve Long Island’s current environment for wildlife.
The 200-level course was created so students pursuing biology degrees could explore and study local ecosystems right outside their front door.
SJNY biology received hands on ecology experience analyzing soil samples.
“We are thrilled to continue partnering with the CSJ Brentwood Campus’ ecologists on their important environmental monitoring projects,” said Dr. Rountos. “The Sisters’ trailblazing environmental efforts is something that inspires me and my students. This is a great partnership that truly benefits both our students and the research efforts at CSJ Brentwood.”
While the class’s partnership with the Sisters of St. Joseph may have begun in 2022, the organization has longstanding ties with the University through its Sustainability Committee. Through this collaboration, students can participate in real-world ecology while CSJ can benefit from the University’s research and resources.
“This class was a joy to be a part of, in fact it inspired me to switch my career goals, as I was previously more interested in the medical side of biology,” said Abigail Debiase, a biology major in her sophomore year. “Going out into nature and collecting samples while taking note of the scenery and wildlife ended up being something I was incredibly interested in, and it has made me eager to apply to the internship the Sisters of St. Joseph ecology team mentioned.”
Learn more about the Sisters of St. Joseph’s sustainability efforts on Long Island here.
