Out and about with the Buck Lab e-bike
Professor Ben Neal of Colby’s Environmental Studies Program, worked with students to build an electric bike (a project funded by the Buck Lab). He can be seen around campus using the bike for commuting, maple syrup production, and trash pickups. This fall he and his ES senior capstone students are using the bike for water sampling to study aquatic e-DNA in collaboration with Pete Countway from Bigelow Lab for Ocean Sciences. Says Ben, “[the bike] is a very useful machine in these days of outdoor teaching … [and the] batteries are still going strong!”
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Maine Climate Action Summit
On November 9, 2019, the Buck Lab and the Environmental Studies Program hosted a Climate Action Summit for students from Maine’s colleges and universities. Approximately 100 students turned out to hear messages of encouragement from Sandy Buck and climate activist/writer Bill McKibben, to hear Reverend Lennox Yearwood, founder of the Hip Hop Caucus, speak about climate justice, and, most importantly, to connect with each other to plan climate actions in Maine and beyond.
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Wabanaki perspectives on climate change
During the Fall 2019 semester, the Buck Lab for Climate and Environment and the Environmental Studies Program have been pleased to partner with the Colby Museum of Art on a series of collaborative events at the intersection of art and climate change. On October 8, 2019, we welcomed four members of the Wabanaki Confederacy in Maine to speak about climate change. Pictured below from left to right are Professor Darren Ranco, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Native American Programs at the University of Maine, Barry Dana, artist and former Chief of Penobscot Nation, Richard Silliboy, Micmac basketmaker, and Suzanne Greenlaw, Ph.D. student at the University of Maine. (Photo credit Joseph Bui ’22)
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Inaugural BUCK PRIZE Awards Night
Buck Prize Awards Night, April 24, 2019
From left: Gail Carlson, Director of the Buck Lab, Keller Leet-Otley ’19, Judge Gerry Boyle ’78, Ben Theyerl ’20, Judge Bill Donahue ’86, Judge Heather Hansman ’05, Dominick Leskiw ’21, Jared Fong ’20, Annelise Walsh ’21, Hannah McGrath ’22, and WINNER Cal Waichler ’21.
The Buck Lab sponsored the inaugural BUCK PRIZE contest for Colby students communicating about climate change. Students submitted written works of creative fiction and non-fiction, a policy brief, a children’s book, and visual media. Submissions were judged by Colby alumni who are professional writers: Heather Hansman ’05, Bill Donahue ’86 and Gerry Boyle ’78. On April 24, 2019, students presented their submissions to the public. The WINNER of the inaugural Buck Prize (and a $200 prize) is Cal Waichler ’21, Environmental Science major, for her submission “Dancing on Your Lovely Bones.” The RUNNER-UP ($100 prize) is Meghan Hurley ’20, Environmental Policy major, for her submission “Rays.” (Meghan is not pictured because she was studying in Madagascar for the Spring 2019 term.)
Read the winning submission here.
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Buck Lab Environmental Trek to Washington, DC
Colby ES students and Buck Lab Director Gail Carlson traveled to Washington, DC, over spring break (March 24-27, 2019) to learn about environmental careers and build their professional networks. We visited the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice, Environmental Defense (EDF), Environmental Working Group (EWG), Population Reference Bureau, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Maine Representative Chellie Pingree’s office.
“The trip really solidified different career options and helped me to understand the actual process of networking.”
“It was extremely helpful in my career planning.”
“I loved being able to hear about what Colby grads have been doing … and connect with them as they were all very friendly and open to keeping in touch.”
“[Talking to recent college graduates] boosted my confidence and reassured me of what I should focus on in the next year.”
