The commencement ceremony for our December graduates was held on Saturday, December 13th at the SIU Arena. 

OUR GRADUATES:
William Brendecke - MS ~ Shashi Dhungel - MS ~ Johnathan McQuaide - MS
Christopher Carter - BS ~ Megan Hahn - BS ~ Phillip Ochs - BS ~ Jacob Pruiett - BS 
Kent Salisbury  - BS ~ Matthew Stevens - BS ~  Jolene Wright - BS

WE ARE PROUD OF EACH OF OUR GRADUATES AND WISH THEM HAPPINESS & SUCCESS IN ALL THEY DO

While walking through a national park, ever wanted to ask a question about some of the things you see? A group of students in Dr. Erin Seekamp's environmental interpretation course spent the Spring 2008 semester creating and producing five "podcasts" for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The individual "podcasts" can be downloaded from a kiosk located in the Visitor's Center and serve as a tour guide while visitors explore the many walking paths and environmental areas the Refuge has to offer. To learn more about the "Pocket Ranger" project, follow the link below:

 

· "Students Create Podcasts for Guided Refuge Tours" [The Saluki Times, 05/14/2008]

 

 

 

The Department of Forestry is literally, "raising cane" at the SIUC Tree Improvement Center.  Cane has gradually been disappearing for years.  According to Dr. Jim Zaczek, "Only about 2 percent of the canebrake habitat is left" in the United States.  Cane does a number of important things for a habitat such as riparian filtering, fodder for cattle, and is home to all kinds of insects and animals.  In more recent days, the focus on cane is in its potential use as a biofuel component.  Due to its increased potential in that area, SIUC has started the nation's first cane production "nursery."  Learn more about this developing story at: 

 

· "SIUC Developing Nation's First Cane Nursery" [The Saluki Times, 06/25/2008]  

 

 

 

Senior Forestry Student, Andrew Somor, completed a study on the water quality impacts of autumn olive.  Somor performed his research through an undergraduate research award he received as part of the University REACH program.  Somor spent the past summer examining the link between "water quality and the active management of autumn olive."  Somor has been guided in his project by Dr. Karl Williard, Associate Professor of Forestry.  Learn more about Somor's research:

 

 

· "Project Explores Autumn Olive's Impact on Streams" [The Saluki Times, 05/20/2008]     

 

 

 

Dr. John Phelps, Forestry Department Chair retires after 18 years with the Departrment of Forestry. The Department welcomes Dr. Jim Zaczek as the Interim Chair.

 

 

· "Zaczek Named Interim Chair of Forestry Department" [SIUC Press Release, 05/08/2008]

 

 

 

After years of serving as a training ground for tanks and various other Army weaponry, the ground at Fort Knox has experienced significant eroision and damage. In addition to the damage caused to the vegetation, various animal species residing in sinkholes, caves, and surrounding properties have been disturbed as well. SIUC hydrologists Karl Williard, Jon Schoonover, John Groninger, James Zaczek and Charles Ruffner have the monumental task of beginning the restoration of the area. Learn more about this project at:

 

· "Researchers Tackle Run-Off, Soil Issues at Fort Knox" [SIUC Press Release, 12/04/08]

 

 

The SIUC Forestry Club recently competed in the the Midwestern Foresters Conclave Competition held on October 6, 2007 in Madrid, Iowa. The team from SIUC had won the championship for the past 15 years, and continued their winning tradition by bringing home their 16th straight championship. Competitions ranged in classification from those completed for lighthearted fun (tobacco-spitting) ... to those that were extremely dangerous (such as speed-chopping). The team credits their success to their rigid practice schedule. Team members practiced almost daily at the onset of the fall semester in preparation for the event. The team took first place in eight categories. "Mizzou has been our biggest rival for 20 years, and historically they're the runner-up, but this year, Iowa beat them--we were kind of happy about that!," said SIUC Club President, Maredith Mendola. As conclave winners, the team took home a new chain saw and a new bucksaw.

 

· "Forestry Club Wins Midwest Foresters Conclave" [SIUC Press Release, 10/31/2007]

 

 

 

The Department of Forestry is taking the first step in implementing a management plan for over 1,200 acres of woodlands on its University Farms. SIUC runs one of the nation's top forestry programs, and the addition of a "Teaching Forest" is seen as a way to enhance the Forestry program, as well as faculty research and community outreach programs. The Department plans to develop campus wooded areas into outdoor lab spaces in which student can work hands-on with management techniques they learn in class--including techniques for harvesting.

 

· "Forestry Program Plans 'Teaching Forest' on Campus" [SIUC Press Release, 03/02/2007]

 

 

 

That is exactly the question that Dr. Mae Davenport, an Assistant Professor of Forestry, wants to know. Davenport has been holding focus group studies to determine whether visitors to Giant City State Park understand the breadth and depth of the problem that park officials are having with such varieties as autumn olive, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, oriental bittersweet, and garlic mustard. The study also helped park officials gage public acceptance of management plans for controlling these types of invasive plant varieties. For additional information regarding Dr. Davenport's findings, visit the press release link below.

 

· "Survey Provides Input on Managing Invasive Plants"[SIUC Press Release, 03/01/2007]

 

 

 

Dr. John W. Groninger, Associate Professor, visited Afghanistan as part of a joint research team from SIUC, University of Illinois, and Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Agricultural University. The researchers hoped to assist Afghan scientists with rebuilding the agricutlure program at Balkh University in Mazar-e-Sharif. Several things have led to the decline of forest lands in Afghanistan: mismanagement, drought, war, and urban growth. The country needs forest planning and time for regrowth. Most of the existing forests are located in areas that are not secure, and the team was not able to obtain a closer look at existing natural forests. However, the team did witness some of the urban forestry planning taking place in the cities. In particular, the planting of trees as windbreaks and watercourse stabilizers. Refer to the press release below for additoinal information.

 

· "Forestry Professory Provides Expertise to Afghans" [SIU Press Release, 01/19/2006]

 

 

 

After completed a summer job in a factory, Forestry student Brian Bosler, decided he wanted to pursue his dream of fighting fires in forest wild lands. Bosler's dream started taking shape after joining the "Saluki Fire Dawgs," a student group dedicated to forest research and wild lands maintenance. Bosler credits Dr. Charles Ruffner, SIUC fire ecologist with "sparking" his interest in forestry. After completing Forestry 315 [Fire in Wildland Management], Bosler received his prized "Red Card,"--a ticket into the world of fighting forest fires. As part of the "Saluki Fire Dawgs," he gained "hands-on" experience with fighting fires. Upon graduation, Bosler will accept a position in New Mexico, where he will enroll in a three-year apprenticeship program for forest fire fighters.

 

· "Diploma Just the Beginning for Saluki Fire Dawg" [SIU Press Release, 12/02/2005]

 

 

According to forest ecologist, Dr. James J. Zaczek, Illinois' maple syrup could become a successful alternative crop. Zaczek stated the farmers who look at such alternative methods can optimize their farm planning and income. For the business person willing to invest a little time and money, syrup-making can be a profitable venture. In addition to Zazcek, SIUC Professors Andrew Carver, John Preece, Jean Mangun, Karl Williard, along with graduate students Joshua Buchheit and Michelle Crum, spent three years studying the industry's business potential, and the impact this type of farming would have on the health of the trees being tapped. Because Illinois has an abundance of fast-growing, native silver maple trees, the resources are available for mining the syrup. Overall, the researchers estimated that in southern, western and part of central Illinois, some counties could produce as much as 344,400 gallons of syrup each year. For additional information about the study, access the links below.

 

· "Maple Syrup: An Alternative Agriculture Crop for Illinois" [Maple Syrup Website]

· "Economic Feasilibity of Commercial Maply Syrup Production in Illinois" [Research Report]