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The MES News
The Newsletter of the Master of Environmental Studies Program
The College of Charleston, South Carolina
Fall 2004
The MES News
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
From The Director
2
Dr. Sy Baron —
Energy: It’s No
Free Lunch
3
New Faculty
Spotlights
4
ASHRAE Night
5
MESSA Activities
6
New Faculty
Spotlights
7
2004 Coastal
8
America Partnership
Award
MES NEWS EDITORS
David Lansbury
First Year Student
Lindsay Goodwin
First Year Student
Adam Sine
First Year Student
MES PROGRAM
Contact Information:
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: (843) 953-2000
Fax: (843) 953-2001
www.cofc.edu/~environ
Program Director
Dr. Michael Katuna
[email protected]
Program Coordinator
Mark McConnel
[email protected]
Visit Our Office At:
284 King Street
Room 206
Suburban Sprawl and Sustainable Development Initiatives in
the Charleston Metro Area
S
uburban Sprawl is the decentralization of urban areas, a
shift in the “nerve center” of commerce and development away
from concentrated urban areas,
stretching it out along freeway and
highway corridors. Sprawl is characterized by low-density, car dependent development. It constitutes an enormous change in land
use patterns, subsequently degrading the regional environment and
threatening the integrity of both
ecosystems and the traditional
characteristics of rural life. One of
Coastal South Carolina’s most
attractive qualities is its incredible
wealth of natural resources, and
the successful preservation of its
historical and cultural identity. It
has however, become an increasingly populated region, and with
this population growth, a prime
location for the seemingly inevitable sprawl that has suffocated so
many landscapes throughout the
U.S., especially the Southeast.
What can be done to mitigate the
effects of unsustainable sprawl in
the Charleston area? How do we
find solutions and alternatives to
the problem of sprawl? These are
the questions that have captivated
many MES students, and have resulted in collaborations with several organizations and agencies in
our region. The following analysis
should provide some insight into
these issues in a regional context,
and examine how we in the environmental field have and can continue to make contributions to the
common goal of sustainability or
“smart growth” in the lowcountry.
The coastal counties of S.C.
have been identified as the fastest
growing counties in the state, and
the Charleston-DorchesterBerkeley area is no exception.
Maybe it’s the 4% approximate
increase in jobs or that easy, laid
back southern feel that is attracting so many folks to our region, or
perhaps the natural beauty of the
lowcountry. Whatever it is, it will
be a catalyst of the projected 49%
increase in our regional population, placing 795,800 people here
by the year 2030. This statistic by
itself is not alarming, however,
when you look at the accompanying 247% projected increase of
developed land; from 250 sq/mi in
1994 to a staggering 868 sq/mi by
2030, a rather dreary environmental picture is painted. Besides
fundamentally altering the biogeochemical processes of our landscape, at this level of development
(specifically in the realm of suburban sprawl) we will see a 30% and
50% reduction in forested land and
cultivated farmland respectively.
Additionally, 35% of the regions
wetlands, 70% of tidal creeks and
60% of the shellfish beds may be
affected. Not to mention that 50%
of the area’s historic landmarks
will be at risk of losing their rural
attributes.
There are many techniques to
address and reduce the threats of
sprawl including: the establishment
of urban boundaries, regional urban service districts, creating
growth zones, designating land to
remain undeveloped, and large-lot
zoning in rural areas (ten acres or
more). Pubic outreach, advocacy
and education, or the benefits of
getting involved in local political
processes to influence the direction of development can be equally
effective.
In our region, there are more
than a handful of organizations and
individuals who play a crucial role
in promoting sustainable development. The South Carolina
Coastal Conservation League,
Lowcountry Open Land Trust,
Friends of the Edisto, Charleston Earthforce, and the Charleston-Berkeley-Dorchester Council of Governments are a few of
the more influential of these. MES
students have collaborated with
several of these organizations for
Internship and Thesis opportunities and, in addition, have undertaken individual initiatives to encourage sustainability in our region. The Sustainable Charleston Initiative, which recognizes
businesses that integrate and
achieve fundamentals of sustainability and energy efficiency in
their everyday activities and business procedures, and the MES
programs’ involvement in the Urbanization and Southeastern
Estuarine Systems program are
a few noteworthy examples of
MES involvement in the region.
Several students are also active in
Charleston Critical Mass, a bicycle advocacy group.
Although all of the models,
trends and predictions have our
region slated for inevitable suburban sprawl, it is not unavoidable.
Through multi-discipline tri-county
efforts, we can influence the
growth of our region and help
shape the future of the lowcountry
to preserve the unique characteristics of our area without impeding
or compromising economic
growth. The MES program and its
students have played an important
role in this vision thus far, and no
doubt will continue to do so well
into the future. By gaining insight
and understanding the scope of
these issues, we can make significant contributions to protecting
the environment of the lowcountry in the face of adversity and
pressure from any number of
— David Lansbury
sources.
The MES News
Page 2
From the Director
November 2004
Greetings! I guess you might say that I’m the “New Kid on the Block”. Having grown up
in the streets of New York (the Lower East Side of Manhattan), this statement might be fairly
accurate. However, I have been at the College of Charleston for the past 30+ years and was
one of the original “founding fathers” of the MES program when it was first started in the fall of
1994. I have the pleasure of succeeding Dr. Angela Halfacre Hitchcock who did an exceptional
job serving as the MES director for the past five years. Dr. Halfacre Hitchcock, who is currently on sabbatical leave for the 2004-2005 academic year, hopes to return to the program in
2005-2006. Upon her return, she will resume teaching the Public Policy core and Wetlands Policy courses as well as other electives in the program. Hurry back Angela! We all miss you!
This first semester as MES director has been a most enjoyable learning experience. I
have certainly enjoyed meeting and interacting with both the newly admitted students as well as
second year students in the program. I am already impressed as to the quality of students who
are currently enrolled in the program, and truly amazed by the number of student activities and
the level of community involvement provided by members of the MES Student Association
(MESSA). I am committed to providing any assistance in support of student activities whenever
possible.
I am also committed to working towards improving the overall quality of what is already
a very successful graduate degree program. This coming Spring semester the MES program is
scheduled for an external review. An evaluation panel consisting of external reviewers from
outside institutions will be on campus to evaluate the academic quality of the program that is
now in its eleventh year. I will be calling upon faculty members and students to assist in the
evaluation process. I hope that I will have your support when called upon. Details concerning
the evaluation process will be provided at a later time.
One of my initial goals as MES director is to decrease the number of students enrolled
in core courses by offering multiple sections of these required courses or by offering these
courses during both academic semesters. This hopefully will increase the level of student /faculty interaction, provide greater flexibility in course scheduling for students, and reduce some
of the enrollment burden placed upon instructors teaching these courses. This year we will be
offering the Case Studies course both in the Fall and Spring semesters. We are hoping to initiate a similar course sequence for the seminar courses beginning next year. I am also hoping to
increase the number of roster and adjunct faculty members teaching in the program (see new
faculty section of newsletter) or serving on student committees. Increasing the number of active faculty members will increase the diversity of course offerings to meet student needs and
interests. Finally I am looking for a “new home” to house the program. I am pursuing the acquisition of suitable new facilities on campus to relocate the MES program offices, as well as provide conference and study space for students enrolled in the program. Keep your fingers
crossed.
I would like to thank the students, faculty, and friends of the program for the support that
you have already provided, and I look forward to working with all of you in the months and years to
come. Good luck to all of our graduates. Please do not hesitate to contact me if problems arise. We
are always open to suggestions that will continue to improve the quality of the program.
The MES News
Page 3
Dr. Sy Barron “Energy: It’s No Free Lunch”
O
n October 1, 2004, Dr. Sy Baron, former Associate
Director at Brookhaven National Laboratory,
came to the College of Charleston to present a lecture concerning energy policy: Energy: It’s No Free lunch. The lecture addressed conventional energy resources as well as fuel
cells, wind, tidal, geothermal, and solar power. There were
also many startling revelations about oil use in particular and
the nature of American society's consumption.
Dr. Baron suggests that we must learn to rely on more
efficient cars and mass transit systems or we will soon deplete our resources. Americans consume 18 MBPD of oil,
half of which is imported directly from the Middle East,
which is home to 70% of the world’s oil reserves. Meanwhile, the US only has 3% of the world’s oil and natural gas
reserves. These reserves only consist of the oil that is economically recoverable. However, the US does maintain 25%
of the world’s coal resources. Regrettably, Americans consume 100 megatons of coal per year, far exceeding the use
by other nations. These resources are used to fuel America’s 200 million vehicles out of the 700 million vehicles
worldwide as well as to generate our electricity. A standard
electric plant generates 1000 MW of electricity, which is
only enough to serve 500,000 people. This leads to a problem of heavy pollution because of the waste material generated by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and to
move a car. It is clear that a net energy analysis must be
done in order to sustain future generations and ourselves.
Dr. Baron also noted that the efficiency of these fossil
fuels is far greater than those of alternative energy sources
but nowhere near as environmentally friendly. Synthetic fuels
such as gasohol, made of concentrated corn liquor, and
methanol, which has only half the heating value of oil, create
endothermic reactions which have a very poor efficiency
rate. It takes over 18 years for the plants to regenerate to
the point where one could reuse them for energy purposes.
Wind powered energy plants create problems with visibility
and can interfere with bird migration. There is one geothermal energy plant in California that produces 3000 MW, yet
this is scarcely .5% of the U.S energy needs. Solar energy
only generates .2 KW/meter squared, so there would need
to be a massive amount of space to lay out enough solar
panels to create a 1000 MW energy plant. Solar energy also
has the problem of a 10-year payback for a 20-year plant.
Hydroelectric power seemed to be the best form of energy
with a 70% efficiency rating. This is a fundamental source of
energy production within the U.S with 10 to 12% of U.S energy produced in hydroelectric energy plants.
The lecture eventually led to a discussion on fuel cells
and hybrid cars. The basic premise of fuel cells in cars is that
chemical emissions from the car can be directly re-routed to
create electrical energy. However, chemical emissions from
cars generally consist of CO, H, and H2O, not CO2. Hydrogen is a major problem because it reacts with everything, it
leaks out of the fuel cells, it burns too quickly, it is hard to
store and to transport, and it also leads to endothermic reactions, which are inefficient. Hybrid cars, which run on both
gas and electricity, are not selling well. Cars like the Honda
Civic and the Toyota Prius can run 55 miles per gallon, yet
they are not selling because they have no “sex appeal.” This
led to a discussion on American consumerism and the belief
that SUVs are a necessity in the mass market even though
they often get less than 20 miles per gallon.
The essence of the lecture is that there are problems
with any form of energy production. Whether it is air or
water pollution or inefficiency, these issues must be addressed. The question is whether a happy medium can be
found where we can sustain a healthy environment while
maintaining a healthy economy. The answer remains to be
seen.
For more information concerning this lecture or any
questions you may have please contact Dr. Baron at
[email protected]
— Adam Sine
MES Student Fall Thesis and Internship Presentations
Congratulations to All of the Students who have Successfully Completed their Defenses this Fall
Nick Boeschen — Thesis: “Forecasting the Potential Effects of a Proposed South Carolina Blue Crab Trap License Moratorium and
Limited Entry System” Committee Members: Professor Marcela Rabi; Dr. John Creed; Dr. Frank Hefner; Dr. Ray Rhodes
Krista Bunker — Thesis: “A Hydrologic Assessment of Two Detention Pond Watersheds in an Urban Coastal Landscape” Committee Members; Dr. Marianne Burke; Dr. Timothy Callahan; Dr. Dan Hitchcock: Dr. Alan Lewitus
Julia Byrd — Thesis: “The Effect of Beach Nourishment on Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting in South Carolina” Committee Members; Dr. Robert Van Dolah; Dr. Michael Katuna; Ms. Sally Murphy: Mr. Alan Shirey
Katherina Diemer — Thesis: “Impoundments on Headwater Streams: Do Small Ponds Have a Large Cumulative Effect on Water Quality and Species Distribution?” Committee Members: Dr. Brian Scholtens; Dr. Tim Callahan; Dr. Lauren Kolowith; Dr. Paul Marino
Sarah Habrun — Thesis: “Investigation of a Novel Epiphytic cyanobacterium Associated with Reservoirs Affected by Avian Vacuolar
Myelinopathy” Committee Members: Dr. Alan Lewitus; Mr. Jason Kempton; Dr. Allan Strand; Dr. Susan Wilde
Scott Harder — Thesis: “Hydrology and Water Budget of a First Order Forested Coastal Plain Watershed, South Carolina” Committee Members: Dr. Devendra Amatya; Dr. Timothy Callahan; Dr. Jon Hakkila; Dr. Carl Trettin
Joe Dukes — Internship: “College of Charleston Greenhouse Gas Audit and Environmental Education in the Lowcountry: A Portfolio"
Committee Members: Kirk Anne Taylor (project supervisor); Dr. James Neff (primary advisor); Dr. John Creed; Dr. Maxwell Shaw
The MES News
Page 4
M
egan Terebus grew up in a small, university Rhode Island’s supply system sufficiently planned for times of
town named Indiana located just outside Pitts- drought. Unfortunately, she found that it was a poorly
burgh, Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate planned, retroactive system that left citizens' well being in
degree in Environmental Science from Allegheny Col- question. While working on this thesis, she was also a part
lege in Meadville, Pennsylvania. During the 1970s, Alle- of the drought planning task force that monitored and issued
gheny College was one of the first schools in the country alerts when water was in short supply. Through her hard
to offer a degree in Environmental Science. While there, work and dedication, she was able to help the State Senate of
she worked as an undergraduate psychological counselor Rhode Island revise their current drought planning system.
for students involved in crisis and non-crisis situations. Her thesis is still available on Brown University’s Center
After receiving her degree, she
for Environmental Studies homepage.
worked with the American Farmland
January 2003, Professor Terebus
New Faculty movedInback
Trust for a brief period but soon realto Charleston on a full time
ized the importance of a broad-based
basis. She is currently working with the
Spotlight:
education beyond the limited specifics
Coastal Conservation League. When the
of scientific data observation. She Megan Terebus spring semester begins, she will be teaching
became interested in the infrastrucEnvironmental and Community Ethics, and
ture of communities and the impact
she warns, “There will be a lot of reading as
of environmental policy.
well as an independent project.” The class will focus on perProfessor Terebus moved to Charleston, SC, in sonal environmental philosophy, and students will be asked
1998, but after two years of living here, she decided it to consider where we are as individuals and as a community
was time to get her graduate degree. In 2000, she en- and how can we make positive changes. As a teacher, she
tered a program at Brown University where she did a hopes to help integrate the MES program into the commucomparative analysis of transportation and energy con- nity while facilitating student outreach. She has a very high
sumption in Rhode Island. She also received a fellowship regard for the MES program and sees it as a valuable, unfrom The Watson Institute for International tapped resource for the Charleston community. She loves
Studies that gave her the opportunity to travel to the her job, but during her free time, she can be found doing
Dominican Republic to study the possibility of a devel- anything but sitting still. Hiking, cycling, spinning classes, and
oping country directly transitioning into a sustainable reading are a few of her favorite activities. She also finds
society and bypassing the process of rapid industrializa- time to enjoy swimming while teaching swimming and fitness
tion. Yet another noteworthy opportunity allowed her swimming classes to adults. When asked if she has any advice
to study the conflict over mining rights in Arizona be- for students, she suggests, "Don’t be too quick to settle
tween the Navajo and Hopi Indians. Her master's thesis down. Go out and explore the world before you decide you
focused on water management and questioned whether want to work specifically on one thing for a lifetime.”
D
r. Briget Doyle received a BS in Hydrogeology ently working with GIS systems to create a comprehensive
from Western Michigan University as well as a map of former manufactured gas plants and is also conductbachelor’s in Geological Engineering from the Univer- ing research in North Carolina on potential impacts of dam
sity of Missouri at Rolla. She went on to receive a failure.
Masters and PhD in Geological Engineering from Rolla.
Prior to joining our MES program, Dr. Doyle worked as
She researched engineering geology of Jefferson City, a visiting professor at Hope College, Michigan teaching
Missouri as her Master’s Thesis and
GIS and physical geology. Dr. Doyle’s atfor her PhD she studied seismically
traction to Charleston, SC began years
induced landslides in the western
ago with family vacations to our charming
New Faculty
New Madrid seismic zone. Her
city. She is now very excited to be workresearch expertise is engineering
ing and living in Charleston permanently.
Spotlight:
geology as applied to natural hazThe Charleston region is an ideal place for
Dr. Briget
ards.
Dr. Doyle to continue her studies of natuDr. Doyle, who started off as
ral hazards such as: landslides, flooding,
Doyle
chemistry undergrad, took a geoland erosion. She hopes to develop a
ogy course on a whim and has now
strong natural hazards program emphasizfound her passion in geological engineering. Geology ing mitigation techniques. Because the MES program is
allows her to “play in the dirt” and work outdoors while highly interdisciplinary, Dr. Doyle would like to offer an
the engineering aspect is more like putting together entry-level engineering geology class that will help students
pieces of a puzzle. She incorporates GIS in much of her understand the basic concepts and language involved in geowork and is currently co-teaching a GIS course with Dr. logical engineering. Students should be on the look out for
Levine. The diverse applications of geological engineer- upcoming classes offered by Dr. Doyle, as her expertise will
ing allow Dr. Doyle’s work to be varied. She is pres- surely be an exciting addition to our MES program.
Page 5
The MES News
MES Students Participate in ASHRAE
Student Activities Night
O
n October 12th several MES students
along with Program Director, Dr. Michael
Katuna attended this month's American Society of Heating Refrigeration and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) meeting to participate in Student Activities
Night. Students put together an informative
display board highlighting some of the programs
and activities that MES students are involved
with around the community. Students from the
Savannah College of Art and Design
(SCAD) were also present and displayed several design projects featuring energy efficient
building concepts. Both
student chapters individually
addressed the
members of
the Charleston ASHRAE
Chapter and
talked about
the
main
components
of their respective programs. The
Charleston
ASHRAE
President, Chris Crane, was very pleased with
the efforts of both chapters and encouraged
continued academic efforts toward sustainability.
The MES Program established an ASHRAE
Student Chapter several years ago when the
College of Charleston's "Green Building" was
being retrofitted using energy-efficient initiatives. ASHRAE meetings
are held on the second
Tuesday of each month
and students from the
MES program attend the
meetings
to
enjoy wonderful dinners
along with informative
presentations on energyefficient design and airpurification
standards. The MES Program
is working to set up a
tours at the Center for
Sustainability and the
Charleston Civic Design
Center for when SCAD
student members visit
Charleston.
There are
also efforts being made to
organize an MES trip to Savannah and tour the
SCAD campus to see some of their innovative
building designs. For questions regarding ASHRAE student membership, please contact Jonathan Hopkins, Angela Jones or Sarah Falkowski.
Fall 2004
Highlights
August
August 23rd
9:00 a.m.
MES Orientation
August 28th
8:00 p.m.-???
MES Welcome Back
Party
September
September 17th
9:00 a.m.
Adopt-A- Highway
September 18th
9:00 a.m.
Beach Sweep
September 25th
9:00 a.m.
Reef Sweep
October
October 2nd
Oyster Roast!!!
November
November 19th
10:30 a.m.
Adopt-A- Highway
November 5th — 7th
MESSA Camping Trip:
Colleton State Park
December
December 3rd
8:30 a.m.
MESSA Habitat for
Humanity
December 16th
Holiday Party and
Fall Graduation
Celebration
December 19th
Midyear
Commencement
The MES News
Page 6
MESSA Activities
T
he Fall semester has kept members of the Master of Environmental Studies Student Association
(MESSA) busy! The officers welcomed back the second year students as well as introduced the first year
students with a 1980’s theme party on Saturday, August 28th. Everyone dressed up in vintage gear and had a great
time!
MESSA members helped beautify Charleston on four separate occasions already this semester! Litter was pickedup along a section of Route 61 through participation in the Adopt-a-Highway program on September 10th and
November 19th. Beach Sweep is a national campaign
to clean up waterfront areas. MESSA participated on
September 18th downtown at Waterfront Park. The
very next weekend, MESSA was back out there cleaning
up again - this time on Morris Island as part of Reef
Sweep. Members collaborated with students from the
Marine Biology Masters Program.
The Annual MES Oyster Roast was a hit on Saturday,
October 2nd. Faculty and students enjoyed a beautiful
day at Dixie Plantation while they munched on oysters
and socialized.
The South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Project (SCORE) is an ongoing water
quality activity for many MESSA members. In fact,
MESSA’s participation has been recognized by the Office of the President of the United States. A representative of President Bush presented MESSA with an award on Friday, November 19th at an 8:30 am media event.
MESSA’s annual fall camping trip took place this year at Colleton State Park on November 5-7. Several first
year students joined a group of seasoned second years
for the weekend. Smores and kayaking were enjoyed
by all!
Habitat for Humanity is something near and dear to
many members of MESSA. The next volunteer date is
Friday, December 3rd at 8:30 am.
That same day, it will be time for election of new officers! Nominations have been pouring in for next year’s
positions. Stay tuned to find out who will be representing MESSA in 2005. Just after finals, and right before
winter break, is time for the Holiday Party! Slated for
Thursday, December 16th at the Blacklock House on
Bull Street, the Holiday Party is a celebration to honor
the December graduates and is shared with other students and faculty.
Thanks to all of our MESSA officers for their help and support
Page 7
The MES News
D
r. Courtney
Murren
is
originally
from
southwestern Connecticut. She received her undergraduate
degree
from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA where
she majored in biological sciences and minored in French. After receiving her degree, she went on to get her PhD at the
University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT where she studied
with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She
then went on to do a post-doc in the Department of Botany at
the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the Department of Biology at the University of Maryland.
During her most recent post-doctoral position, she has
worked at the University of Maryland in College Park. There
she is studying Mimulus guttatus. This flowering plant is commonly know as the monkey flower and is a member of the
snapdragon family. It is a native species of California and Ore-
New Faculty
Spotlight: Dr.
Courtney Murren
D
r. Dan
Hitchcock
is originally from
Hendersonville,
TN, a suburb of
Nashville.
He
has always enjoyed the outdoors and our
natural environment: camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Dr.
Hitchcock became specifically interested in water quality while
living in the Florida Keys during a break from his undergraduate
studies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. When
the Exxon Valdez oil spill happened in Alaska, he became impassioned about his potential role in the protection and improvement of environmental quality. While working as a research
technician at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on
Sapelo Island, a barrier island off of the Georgia coast, he became particularly interested in coastal environmental quality. He
also had fantastic role models in environmental studies, including
Dr. David Etnier and Dr. Stuart Pimm at the University of Tennessee, and Dr. Bernie Patten and the late Dr. Eugene Odum at
the University of Georgia.
Dr. Hitchcock received his B.S. in zoology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and both his M.S. in environmental health and Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering
from the University of Georgia. “Through each degree, I
learned to describe the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, to find ways to assess the health of aquatic ecosystems, and
to design ways to improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems,
respectively.”
Dr. Hitchcock's interests focus primarily on water-related
resources and on any mechanism for improving their quality,
whether it be research or education/outreach. In the past, he has
studied natural treatment systems for water quality improvement
including constructed wetlands and phytoremediation. Currently
he works as the Coastal Environmental Quality Specialist for the
SC Sea Grant Extension Program. This is a joint program
with Clemson University and the SC Sea Grant Consor-
New Faculty
Spotlight:
Dr. Dan Hitchcock
gon and is commonly found growing in rocky environments.
Dr. Murren is interested in how species exist and develop
outside of their natural range, and she has been using Mimulus
guttatus as a case study. She hopes to continue this research in
Charleston. Dr. Murren also has a broad range of interests
outside of her academic studies. She loves hiking, cooking,
wine tasting, and taking care of her yard. She also enjoys playing with her cats and reading.
While searching for program information, Dr. Murren
became interested in the MES program at the College of
Charleston. Eventually this led to Dr. Michael Katuna asking
her to teach the Case Studies in Environmental Sciences with
Professor Lindeke Mills in the Spring Semester of 2005. She is
also teaching Plant Ecology in the Department of Biology. She
is excited about the interdisciplinary aspects the MES program
offers its students and cannot wait to begin teaching and guiding students through their graduate school careers. When
asked if she had any advice for her future students, she simply
stated, “Follow what you are passionate about…keep your
energy and work for what you care about.”
tium. There his job provides a wide variety of stakeholders with
education and outreach regarding environmental quality issues,
including, but not limited to, nonpoint source pollution prevention, stormwater management, and protecting our coastal waters
from eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.
He previously held a post-doctoral associate/research hydrologist position with the USDA Forest Service Southern
Research Station’s Center for Forested Wetlands Research in Charleston, SC. He was stationed at the Savannah
River Site near Aiken, SC, where he conducted research on the
phytoremediation of tritium-contaminated groundwater. His
colleagues at the Center for Forested Wetlands Research
encouraged him to pursue an adjunct faculty appointment with
the MES program.
Unfortunately, Dr. Hitchcock will not be teaching in the
Spring 2005 semester. However, he says, “I am always eager and
willing to guest lecture if the opportunity presents itself...I hope
to be an energetic and engaging resource for the MES program.
My door is always open, and I am easily accessible by email at
[email protected]”. His goal is to provide the program
with a diverse background in ecology and engineering, including a
more technical approach to addressing environmental issues.
Outside of class, Dr. Hitchcock can be found with his wife,
Dr. Angela Halfacre Hitchcock, who is also associated with the
MES program as its former Director. They are both avid kayakers
and birdwatchers. “I’m also a huge fan of music, and I love going
to shows, listening to music, and playing guitar. I also enjoy hiking, camping, biking, and photography.”
When asked if he could offer any advice for the student, Dr.
Hitchcock stated, “First, I think students should work very diligently to perfect their communications skills through discussions,
presentations, and writing. Second, students should always stay
aware of issues and be active in their community. Finally, students should have an open mind and be willing to explore any
opportunity for growth and development. I would encourage
students to be involved in as many activities as possible (within
reason, of course), because one never knows what might be right
around the corner that could pique your interest, provoke your
passion, and guide you along your career path.”
2004 Coastal America Partnership Award
The South Carolina Oyster Restoration and
Enhancement Program (SCORE) is managed by
the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. This program recycles shucked oyster shells
and bags them in wire mesh containers for distribution to various creeks and estuaries along the state’s
coast. These ‘artificial reefs’ provide substrate for
oyster larvae to attach and grow, building new living
reefs of oysters. MESSA participates in this program
by monitoring the water quality at one of the 100 constructed reef sites. Volunteers from
MESSA visit the Bowen’s Island reef each week to measure such variables as water and air
temperature, pH, salinity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. This data is entered and submitted
to SC DNR online so they can track these variables throughout the year and evaluate the
health of the reefs.
SCORE was honored with the 2004 Coastal America Partnership Award at
the International Conference on Shellfish Restoration held in Charleston, November 17-20 this year. This recognition is one of the nation’s highest environmental awards as
it comes directly from the President and was presented by Timothy Keeney, Deputy Assistant Director for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA. The award recognizes public and private collaborations that have been effective towards improving coastal environments.
MESSA volunteers are part of a group of 2,000 people that participated in this community
based restoration program and have been instrumental in improving oyster habitat in South
Carolina. Good work and congratulations MESSA volunteers!
MES PROGRAM
College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: (843) 953-2000
Fax: (843) 953-2001
We’re on the Web
www.cofc.edu/~environ
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. Postage
P-A-I-D
Permit No.149
Charleston, SC