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Environmental data science capstone students strive and succeed in applying data to real-world projects

Brian Strahm is studying carbon ins soil

Building the tools to make environmental data more accessible and forecasts more accurate

In the Spotlight

  • Video Item
    Forestry students learn to use a versatile tool
    Forestry students learn to use a versatile tool , video

    Students in Carolyn Copenheaver's Forest Ecology and Silvics class are learning how to use a very versatile tool. "One of the skills that I think is really important for them to learn is how to identify plants using a taxonomic key," said Copenheaver. "And then they're able to take that tool, and anywhere they get a job in the world, then they're able to identify the plants that they're working with."

  • Video Item
    Forest ecology students learn to identify microhabitats
    Forest ecology students learn to identify microhabitats , video

    Carolyn Copenheaver's Forest Ecology and Silvics students are learning to identify tree-related microhabitats. "A microhabitat is a little tiny feature on a standing or dead tree that allows other organisms to live in that feature," explains Copenheaver. "The reason we pay attention to microhabitats is they're a proxy record for bio-diversity. So the more microhabitats you have in a forest, the higher the biodiversity is in that stand."

  • Article Item
    A tree sapling's branches with green leaves covers the image. People stand in a grassy area in the background.
    Urban forestry team reaches new program heights alongside partner collaboration , article

    The team is responsible for the overall planting, health care, safety, and general maintenance of the over 11,000 trees that cover the Blacksburg campus’ 2,600 acres.

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