News From the Environmental Studies and Science Department
Suburban Biodiversity Conservation Center: A New Vision for Conservation
The newly named Suburban Biodiversity Conservation Center launches new hands-on projects and opportunities for Pace and the local communities.
Identifying Trees in the Field with our Flora and Fauna class
Students in Dr. Rubbo’s Flora and Fauna of the Hudson Valley class spent a beautiful day at Turkey Mountain Nature Preserve to learn about local plant species and test their identification skills.
Prof. Land Discusses Raptors and Rodenticides at the Chappaqua Library
At this event, hosted by the Saw Mill River Audubon, Professor Land discussed rat poisons that are harming local hawks, eagles, and owls and shared ways the local community could help.
Black Bear Spotted Near Pace University
Reported by James Steigerwald, editor-in-chief of The Pace Chronicle, the story of a black bear wandering near Pace University has captured plenty of local attention. Jacob Reiter, who manages Pace’s conservation center, said the bear was likely in a state of hyperphagia, a feeding frenzy before hibernation.
Presenting at the Pace University Spring Research Conference
Students from the class Soils and Society: The Critical Zone (ENV 297T) presented at the Pace University Spring Research Conference, discussing their unique environmental studies course that examines soil as both a scientific and metaphorical framework for understanding environmental justice, labor, and identity.
Banning the Sale of the Red-Eared Slider
Students from Pace University’s Animal Advocacy Clinic drafted legislation in early May— now introduced in the New York State Legislature, that would prohibit the breeding, sale, and trade of the invasive red-eared slider turtle.
Cultivating Justice
Assistant Professor Perl Egendorf, PhD, worked with a group of students to organize a series of lectures and volunteer opportunities in the Pace Land and Labor Farm.
Launching the Native Plant Propagation Project
Learn more about the Native Plant Propagation Project, an educational program to showcase the diversity of local native plants and their benefits to the biodiversity of a region.
Students Presenting at the 2025 Northeast Natural History Conference
MS in Environmental Science and Policy students Jasmine Moayedzadeh Rad ‘25 and Samantha Cronk ‘25 recently presented their research findings at the 2025 Northeast Natural History Conference in Springfield, MA.
New Nesting Boxes in the Conservation Center
If you’ve walked the Conservation Center grounds on the Westchester Campus this spring, you may have noticed wooden nesting boxes placed in various locations. These boxes are being monitored for breeding bird activity, and the recorded data is actively being submitted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology NestWatch program.
Presenting at the Annual Society of Fellows Meeting
Congratulations to Environmental Science student Hannah Engelmeyer ’25 who won awards for their paper and their presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Fellows!
New Book Explores How Science Can Drive Real-World Change
Associate Professor Anne Toomey, PhD, recently published the book Science with Impact: How to Engage People, Change Practice, and Influence Policy which offers guidance for researchers and practitioners looking to connect their work with broader societal needs, from community engagement to influencing policy.
ESS PROF DISCUSSES RECENT NEW YORK WILDFIRES AND THE NEW NORMAL OF EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
Associate Professor Matthew Aiello-Lammens, PhD, was quoted in a LoHud article on extreme weather conditions, and specifically, the recent wildfires in New York State, and whether these are expected to be annual occurrences or represent a rare coming together of atmospheric conditions.
ESS Professor Explains the Environmental Impacts of NY’s Drought on Fox Weather
Associate Professor Michael Finewood, PhD, explains the environmental impacts of NY’s drought on Fox Weather.
HOW NYC IS USING ANCIENT SOIL FOR A HEALTHIER CITY
Assistant Professor Perl Egendorf, PhD, provides environmental insight to ScienceLine on how New York City is using ancient soil for a healthier city.
Environmental Students Receive Provost Awards
Environmental science students Nadine Zeidan ’25 and Sophie Valle ’26 received a 2024-2025 Provost’s Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Award. Environmental Studies student Danielle Shoulders ’25 received a Summer 2024 Provost’s Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Award.
Read on BBC: THE LOGGER WHO LEARNED THE VALUE OF LIVING TREES
Associate Professor Anne Toomey, PhD, discusses with BBC News about Roberto Brito, who learned to use a chainsaw at age 11 and now leverages his deep knowledge of the Amazon rainforest to guide tourists.
25 PACE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SELECTED FOR UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP
Twenty-five students from Pace University have been selected for the highly competitive United Nations Academic Impact-Millenium Fellowship, including two Environmental Studies students.
Hawk Released in Pace’s Nature Center After Recovering from Injury
Find out what happened when a juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk was brought to Pace’s Conservation Center Manager, Jacob Reiter, with a broken leg.
Pace Students and Faculty Collaborate to Deliver Environmental Analysis
The Fundamentals of Environmental Science II course collaborated with the nonprofit organization Gotham Park in New York City to provide data the organization would use to inform their activities and offerings to the public in the namesake park nestled below the Brooklyn Bridge.
Read on BBC: THE MEAT WORKERS WHO BECAME VEGAN ENTREPRENEURS
BBC writes a story about several former animal-industry workers who have founded start-ups focusing on plant-based foods— they reference Environmental Studies and Science Professor Anne Toomey, PhD’s scholarly work, ‘Why facts don’t change minds: Insights from cognitive science for the improved communication of conservation research’.
Read on the Atlantic: MILK HAS LOST ITS MAGIC
Professor Melanie DuPuis, PhD, speaks to The Atlantic about a recent report from the FDA revealing that 20 percent of milk samples collected from retailers nationwide contained fragments of bird flu, raising concerns that the virus, which is spreading among animals, might be on its way to sickening humans too.
ESS Students Present Their Research at the 2024 Northeast Natural History Conference
Pace Environmental Studies and Science students Samantha Cronk ’25 and Lucas Andujar ’24 presented posters on their independent research with faculty mentor Michael Rubbo, PhD, at the 2024 Northeast Natural History Conference.
Paid Summer Internships for Pace Students
Pace’s Community Impact Funded Internships are up! Apply now.