News - October 2021

A coyote walks through a meadow
‘Citizen scientists’ sought for urban wildlife project

From your couch or desk, help researchers better understand Athens’ animal populations   They’re always a hot topic for social media or neighborhood listservs: Wildlife in our backyards. But what do we know about these animals who inhabit urban spaces alongside people? Now, a project recently launched in the Athens area aims to shed some light on the local wildlife. Part of a global project called the Urban Wildlife Information Network, or…

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Informing Conservation Practice in Rwanda: Integrating wildlife, poaching, and ranger patrol data

Download: https://kaltura.uga.edu/downloadmedia/index/download/flavorid/1_12an0lwj

Caterina Villari stands among pine trees
Building a model for trees’ defenses

When we get sick, our bodies launch a defense. It’s a similar story with trees. But while these plants don’t have an immune system like humans, they do have a chemical response that helps protect from invading organisms. It’s this defense mechanism that Caterina Villari is exploring. “If you understand what’s happening, it will help you select for resistance,” said Villari, an assistant professor of forest pathology at the Warnell School of…

A field of carinata plants
Plant-based jet fuel could reduce emissions by 68%

Replacing petroleum-based aviation fuel with sustainable aviation fuel derived from a type of mustard plant can reduce carbon emissions by up to 68%, according to new research from Warnell associate professor Puneet Dwivedi. Dwivedi led a team that estimated the break-even price and life cycle carbon emissions of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from oil obtained from Brassica carinata, a non-edible oilseed crop. The study…

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Fullbright Research in Spain: Storks, Raccoons, Sparrows, and More

Download Link: https://kaltura.uga.edu/downloadmedia/index/download/flavorid/1_x7yol2u1 

Jack DeRochers signs the Warnell Ambassadors' mission statement for the 2021-2022 academic year
Weekend activities introduce student ambassadors to their role, each other

Listen to this story as a podcast.   In a way, they are the faces of Warnell. They are the first people you meet when you come for a tour. They might check you in at a Warnell event. Often, they are the first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave. They are our student ambassadors. It’s a lot of work. Being a student ambassador means taking time out of your evenings and weekends to serve at events, attend meetings, or give tours to…

Students search through a mud pile
Class experiences: There’s more to mud than meets the eye

Listen to this story as a podcast.   Staring into a glob of mud, the students saw some movement. A few whipped out their phones to capture what they were watching. Except, one dropped. The one with the cleanest hands was elected to wipe it off. “But my credit cards are OK,” chirped the phone’s owner, no worse for wear. This is just one of the occupational hazards that Warnell students might encounter during a class. On this day, it’s a…

Lizzie Ashley holds a juvenile terrapin before it's released.
Helping turtles find their balance

As students investigated terrapins’ tolerance for salty water, they also discovered turtles’ ability to learn—and remember—where to find fresh water   The idea began to take shape in John Maerz’s Animal Behavior class. Lizzy Ashley, an undergraduate Honors student majoring in ecology and biology, was looking for topics for her Honors program thesis. She also wanted to get some research experience and approached Maerz about potential…

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