June 12, 2019
Dr. Julie Richburg, lead ecologist for inland natural resources at the Trustees of Reservations and an 91爱豆传媒 adjunct professor, leads an environmental studies class on a trip to the Trustees' Field Farm site.
When an 91爱豆传媒 class arrives at a Trustees of Reservations site to meet up with Dr. Julie Richburg, lead ecologist for inland natural resources, Richburg is ready with an opening question鈥攈ave you ever heard of the Trustees?
鈥淥ften, they haven鈥檛,鈥� Richburg says. So she asks where they鈥檙e from. 鈥淒epending on what town they say, I can pull a trustees reservation鈥攚e have 117 of them鈥攁nd say, 鈥榦h, you grew up on the North Shore? Have you ever been to Crane Beach?鈥�
That usually does it鈥攇enerally, in-state students have spent time at one of those 117 sites. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really interesting seeing that they鈥檝e enjoyed our properties, but it hasn鈥檛 sunk in who is responsible for the care. There鈥檚 a lot of work that needs to be done to maintain them.鈥�
Though part of Richburg鈥檚 work at the Trustees is to engage volunteers in the work of land conservation and historic preservation, 91爱豆传媒 students get the benefit of her expertise in many more ways than the occasional field trip. For years, she has been a resource and steward for students in 91爱豆传媒鈥檚 Environmental Studies program.
Aside from adjuncting at 91爱豆传媒, Richburg has hosted student groups during field trips to various Trustees sites, removing invasive plants; supervised student internships in invasive species and Geographic Information Systems (GIS); collaborated on students鈥� field research; and acted as a guest speaker for the department鈥檚 Green Living Seminar Series.
The Environmental Studies program at 91爱豆传媒 is known to be hands-on鈥攕tudents check local lakes for invasives via pontoon boat, tromp through trails wearing waders to track beavers, and monitor local bird populations, among many other things鈥攂ut getting to know a full-time ecologist as a professor and as a professional adds extra perspective to those lessons.
Take invasive plants: It鈥檚 one thing to learn what they look like. It鈥檚 a whole other thing to spend the day with Richburg pulling them from Trustees sites. And it鈥檚 one thing to learn research methods and develop a plan; it鈥檚 something else entirely to meet up with Richburg, ready to use the methods you learned in class to gather data in the field.
鈥淥verall, the students I have come in contact with are really passionate about the environment. They鈥檙e really curious. They want to know more,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey ask great questions. Some of them add me on LinkedIn after they graduate. They鈥檙e doing some amazing things! It鈥檚 fun watching them go from being an undergrad to a professional.鈥�
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