Summer 2013 - Environmental Science and Policy

GREENovation
GMU Department of Environmental Science & Policy
Summer 2013
GREENovation
Summer 2013
GMU Department of Environmental Science and Policy
4400 University Drive, MSN 5F2
David King Hall, Room 3005
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
(703) 993-1043
http://esp.gmu.edu/
Cover photos:
Photos taken at the Environmental Studies on the Piedmont Field Station in Warrenton,
VA. Dr. Thomas Wood, associate professor of Integrative and Interdisciplinary Studies in
the New Century College at GMU, is the director of the field station.
by Samantha Oester
June 2013
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GREENovation Summer 2013 Contributors
Editorial staff
Samantha Oester: [email protected]
Dr. Chris Parsons: [email protected]
Contributors
Dr. Chris Parsons:
Editorial: In an Adventure with Scientists
(Page 4)
GMU Faculty, Staff
& Students:
Green at Mason: GHG Inventories, Recycling
Initiatives and Awards (Page 6)
Jamie Simo:
Undergraduate Essay: SMSC Hosts Field Ecology
Course (Page 7)
GMU Students,
Alumni & Faculty:
GMU at ICCB: The 26th International Congress for
Conservation Biology (Page 8)
Samantha Oester:
News Story: Scientist advocate Dr. Tyrone Hayes
reveals the breaking point (Page 11)
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EDITORIAL:
In an Adventure with
Scientists...
By Dr. Chris Parsons,
GREENovation Editor
In the UK “The pirates ! In an adventure with scientists” an animated movie by Aardman Animations (the
studio behind Wallace & Gromit) saw some success at the movie box office. The film was based by on the popular book by the same name by Gideon Defoe, which features, as the name suggests, pirates, Charles Darwin and
scientists of the Royal Society. When the movie was screened in the US however, the title was changed to “The
Pirates! Band of Misfits” because it was thought that American children would avoid a movie with scientists in.
All reference to Darwin, who was one of the main characters, was also removed from US trailers, presumably
because evolution is viewed as ‘controversial’ in the US.
Why is it science is such seen this way in the US?
Coming from the UK to live in US, I certainly noticed that science, especially biology, was not in the public eye as much as the UK. Science content of (non-tabloid) newspapers was higher in the UK and science documentaries were considered prime time viewing in the UK. In 2007, the average viewership of the first episodes
of the David Attenborough documentary was 11.4 million viewers, or 18.9% of the UK populations [http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Earth_(TV_series)]. When the documentary aired in the US (with Sigourney Weaver instead of Attenborough) it received 5.72 million viewers or only 1.9% of the US population. To put that into
context, 10.2% of the US population watched the American Idol finale in 2007, making a biology-oriented documentary proportionally almost twice as popular in the UK as American Idol.
But it’s not just wildlife and the environment that attracts UK viewers. In 2011, the astronomy-oriented
documentary Wonders of the Universe (2011), presented by Royal Society physicist Brian Cox, attracted 6 million viewers, or 9.5% of the UK population [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonders_of_the_Universe]
Even historically, the US has been less enthusiastic about scientific achievements. To give just one example, Benjamin Franklin is known in the UK for being a member of the Royal Society. He won this accolade for his
work on electricity, and his ideas revolutionized how electricity was perceived. He introduced the idea of positive and negative charge and the flow of electricity as a the result of a gradient or ‘pressure difference’ in
charge, basically introducing the idea of potential difference, or voltage. Whereas in the US he is known firstly as
a politician, and with regards to electricity, it is his work developing lightning rods that is known. This is just the
tip of the iceberg with regards to his scientific feats, which include supporting the then hypothesis that light was
a wave against much opposition, and charging the Gulf Stream with Matthew Maury and other fundamental
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oceanographic observations (both practical and purely scientific). How frequently do Americans discuss this side
of Franklin?
The civics test for new US immigrants has a question about Franklin and asks for one thing he is famous
for, the “acceptable” answers include: writing “Poor Richard’s Almanac,” oldest member of the Constitutional
Convention, first Postmaster General of the United States. Groundbreaking scientist is not included. Thomas
Jefferson, as many know, had a huge interest in science, and especially advocating scientific education. So how
have we gone from a such scientifically motivated and literate founding fathers to the state where science is
almost a dirty word.
In Congress today there are 535 voting members (435 members in the House of Representatives, 100 in
the Senate). Of these, 22 representatives and 3 senators have some sort of medical degree, there is 1 engineer
in the Senate and 5 in the House of Representatives, together with three scientists (a microbiologist and 2 physicists). So 34 US political leaders have some sort of scientific background of at least college-degree level, or just
6%. Thomas Jefferson said, “I can assure you, that the possession of [science] is what (next to an honest heart)
will above all things render you dear to your friends, and give you fame and promotion in your own country.” Oh,
if only. This was the case as far as Congress was concerned.
The United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology makes public distain for science
almost an art form. The committee is currently chaired by Lamar Smith (R-Texas) an infamous climate change
skeptic, as are fellow committee members Dan Benishek (R-MI), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher
(R-CA) and Paul Broun (R-GA). The latter is particularly infamous for stating publically, “All that stuff I was taught
about evolution and embryology and Big Bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of hell.”
Rep. Rohrabacher showed a stunning understanding of climate science and concern for environmental
issues by stating in a hearing on UN Climate policies, “Is there some thought being given to subsidizing the clearing of rainforests in order for some countries to eliminate that production of greenhouse gases?” Past Committee members include the infamous Todd Akin, whose knowledge and understanding of female reproductive
systems was based in the middle ages. The former chair of House Science Committee, (former) Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) said that “[the current committee] see science as a liberal plot, to validate something they don’t
think is true. And climate change is a good example” (in Science 341(6141):15).
Rep. Smith recently floated the idea of the “High Quality Research Act,” which would require any research receiving federal funds to go his committee. Environmental scientists across the country had a collective
shudder of fear at the idea that this science illiterate committee might make major decisions on research funding.
On a local government level, the situation is arguably worse in some states. Education committees expunging climate change and evolution from textbooks aside, in 2012 North Carolina’s legislature passed a bill
that prevented the measurement of sea-level, taking a toddler’s approach to climate change – if you don’t see
the sea level rise, it is not happening.
Famous science advocate Neil DeGrasse Tyson said, “The problem in society is not kids not knowing science. The problem is adults not knowing science. They outnumber kids 5 to 1, they wield power, they write legislation. When you have scientifically illiterate adults you have undermined the very fabric of what makes a nation
wealthy and strong.” Sadly, this is all too true.
Continued on page 10
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Around Campus:
Green Happenings @ Mason
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Fairfax County, in cooperation with GMU, published Virginia’s first Community Greenhouse
Gas Inventory (2006-2010). Dr. Dann Sklarew
was the lead author and Mason’s prinicipal inves- 
tigator for the project. The inventory was created
to provide a baseline measurement, as well as to
guide future efforts to cut these emissions. Mason graduate students Maheen Aziz, Robert A.
Johnson, Ilirana Mushkolaj, Ranjay Shrestha and
Elizabeth Striano Smith contributed to the pro
ject. The inventory can be found at:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/
greenhousegas/greenhouse-gas-inventory.htm
A garden planting project featured a collaborative effort with the University Police and the Child
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Development Center.
AE Green designed, built, and installed a brand
new hydroponics growing unit in place of the previous Woolly Pockets in Southside. This change
will allow dining services to grow more types of

herbs in a faster, more efficient fashion.
Environmental Science and Policy graduate student Ashley Milton received a Fulbright Award for
dissertation work on forest resilience for sustaining livelihoods and ecosystem services in the Congo. She is working on her PhD focusing on water
resource management. Her field work in the Con- 
go deals with how logging, fuel wood harvesting,
settlement creation and farming impact local
people.
The SUB I Kitchen Recycling Program was expanded to now allow for the collection and recycling of metals and plastics, in addition to recycling of used oil and cardboard. The Office of
Housing and Residence Life added new exterior
recycling bins to enhance recycling practices.
Environmental Science and Policy graduate student Robert Slate received a Doan Fellowship at
the Chemical Heritage Foundation for his research on regulating nanomaterials. He is pursuing a PhD.
ESP faculty member Dr. Allison M. Macfarlane was sworn in to a full five-year term on the
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and designated by President Obama to continue serving
as the agency chairman.
The ESP Department will host graduate Q&A
information session for new and returning graduate students on Aug. 20, 2013, in the Showcase to the right of Research Hall. Interested
students need to RSVP o Sharon Bloomquist at
[email protected] by August 16, 2013.
Look for information at the beginning of the Fall
2013 semester on joining the ESP Graduate Student Association and the ESP GSA’s fun events!
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Undergraduate Essay:
SMSC Hosts High School Students from Across the
Country for Field Ecology Course
By Jamie Simo,
GMU Undergraduate Student
The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE)
brings high school students from around the country to George Mason’s Fairfax campus every summer. Once there, these delegates
have the unique opportunity of meeting and discussing environmental issues with leaders in the field during a week-long conference.
They also have the opportunity to visit some of D.C.’s best attractions, such as the National Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Air and
Space Museum, and the National Geographic Museum.
This summer, the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), headquartered at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology
SMSC field studies participants learn about
Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, hosted an additional week- native birds during an early morning bird
long field studies course for selected WYSE participants and other
walk.
high school applicants. The 2013 inaugural year for the field studies
(Photo by Grascen Shidemantle)
week was a big success. Nineteen students attended the field ecology course, which earned each two college credits through Mason. During the week, the students attended lectures
from SMSC faculty and SCBI staff, went on field trips to places such as Shenandoah National Park, and learned conservation field techniques in collaboration with a mentor.
I am extremely pleased to have been asked to mentor those
students interested in learning about bird conservation. Other topics
of study included insects, reptiles and amphibians, water quality
monitoring, mammals, and animal behavior. Students worked in
groups of two or three to come up with a research question in collaboration with their mentor that could be answered through the field
techniques and additional library research.
My students participated in bluebird nest box checks and
learned about purple martin conservation from Sue Garvin. Sue is an
education assistant with Friends of the National Zoo and the coordiSMSC field ecology students identify trees nator for the bluebird and purple martin monitoring efforts at SCBI.
during a field trip to Shenandoah National The students’ observations resulted in a question about the habitat
Park
needs of various cavity-nesting birds and how best to place bird
(Photo by Liz Hoke
Continued on page 10
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GMU @ ICCB:
26th International Congress for
Conservation Biology
GMU faculty Elizabeth Freeman and
graduate student Lisa LaCivita during
an ICCB poster session
Dr. Lee Talbot delivers the
opening plenary on conservation biology's deep roots
Graduate student
Samantha Oester
helps hand out the
SCB Awards with
the Board of Governors President
Graduate student Adrian Dahood with a
fellow volunteer at the conference registration desk
GMU Environmental Science
and Policy associate faculty Dr.
Chris Parsons introducing a plenary speaker at
ICCB
GMU graduate students Sarah Josway, Dana McCoskey and Ryan Richards volunteering for ICCB
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Aumna Megan Draheim, graduate student Katheryn
Patterson, affiliate faculty Andrew Wright and graduate
student Jason O'Bryhim at the Marine Section Social
GMU graduate student Marieke Kester after giving a presentation on scent marking of maned
wolves
GMU graduate
student Christine
Gleason answering questions
about her poster
on whale watching in the Dominican Republic
PLENARY SPEACH
Talbot, L. Conservation biology’s deep roots
PRESENTATIONS
Aguirre, A. Conservation Medicine: bridging
the gaps to face transdisciplinary challenges
and integrative research in ecological health
Dutta, T., Sharma, S., Maldonado, J.E.,
Wood, T.C., Singh Panwar, H.& Seidensticker, J.Using a genetic approach to test the functionality of forest corridors: case study from
India
Mickelberg, J., Ballou, J., Beck, B. & Martins, A. Evaluating the transfer of genetic diversity from the captive to the reintroduced
population of golden lion tamarins, Leontopithecus rosalia
Freeman, E., Meyer, J., Addendorf, J.,
Schulte, B. & Santymire, R. Scraping behavior of black rhinos (Diceros bicornis bicornis)
is related to age and fecal progestagen metabolite concentrations
Gleason, C. & Parsons, E.C.M. The conservation awareness and attitudes of whale-
watching tourists in Samaná, Dominican Republic
Hartl, B. Why guidance is not enough: regulatory sideboards on recovery.
Kester, M., Huff, T., Freeman, E., Goodwin,
T. & Songsasen, N. The solitary maned wolf
uses scent signals to ensure reproductive success.
LaCivita, L. Working landscapes in Virginia.
Parsons, E.C.M., Shah, A., Karaffa, P. &
Scott, C. 2013. It’s all in the name. Public
attitudes to the conservation of biodiversity,
habitats and charismatic-sounding species.
Sevin, J. & Grant, E. Occupancy study investigates historic hypothesis related to distribution of endangered Shenandoah salamander.
Shafer, C. Roads and grizzly bears in the
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, USA
Sharma, S., Dutta, D., Maldonado, J.E.,
Wood, T.C., Singh Panwar, H., & Seidensticker, J. Forest corridors maintain historical gene flow in a tiger meta-population in
central India.
Thornhill, J. Can new metrics help us bridge
the gap? A case study in the measurement of
scientific literature's impact on decision making.
Wright, A. It's good to be Liked: Effective
conservation outreach in the Age of Facebook.
SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS & COURSES
Aguirre, A. & Mark Pokras. New directions in
conservation medicine: connecting systems,
disciplines and stakeholders for ecological
health in practice.
Bullard, K., Christen, K. & Adams, T. New
media matters: communicating conservation
research and ideas.
Hartl, B. Introduction to conservation law and
policy in the United States.
Student Activities and Events coordinated by
Katheryn Patterson with help from Christine Gleason and Jason O’Bryhim
Communications and Media Relations coordinated in part by Samantha Oester
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Editorial (continued from page 4)
Undergraduate Essay (continued from page 7)
Across the other side of the Atlantic, there have been
complaints about a lack of scientists in Parliament (Goldstein
2010). But even so, there was public outcry recently when
the UK government overruled scientific evidence and the
advice of scientific advisors (such as Lord Professor John
Krebs), to introduce badger culls (Brumfiel 2012) for example, and the deliberate ignoring/downplaying of studies such
as Donnelly et al. (2006). The protests for scientific evidence
-based policy were championed by many public celebrities,
including Queen guitarist Brian May. Dr May has significant
scientific credentials himself, having a PhD and published in
Nature (Hicks et al. 1972) before going on to arguably greater fame via his guitar solo in Bohemian Rhapsody. Can you
imagine such a state of affairs in the US?
Isaac Asimov (1980) wrote, “There is a cult of ignorance
in the United States, and there has always been. The strain
of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding
its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the
false notion that my ignorance is just as good as your
knowledge.” Sadly, three decades later the situation has
gotten worse rather than better, especially for environmental science.
boxes to facilitate conservation of native species.
The culmination of the week was a 15-minute
presentation from each group on preliminary research
and findings. For only having a few days to come up with
a question and do initial research, the presentations were
impressive. Topics ranged from comparing parental incompetence in captive maned wolves with those in the
wild to the impact of white-tailed deer on the spread of
invasive plants.
The students’ enthusiasm for their projects and
what they learned was also infectious. Even when they
themselves were not presenting, the students had plenty
of questions and comments for each other. In a time
when the world is facing so many environmental crises of
which many people are either apathetic or ignorant, it
was gratifying to see young people engaged. While the
field studies week may be over for this year, I am sure
that the experience will last a lifetime. I feel privileged to
be associated with George Mason University, which,
through this program and others, is leading the way in
connecting youth with their environment.
References

Asimov, I. (1980) A cult of ignorance. Newsweek (January
21): 19.
Brumfiel, G. (2012). Badger battle erupts in England. Nature
490(7420): 317–318.
Donnelly, C.A. et al. (2006) Positive and negative effects of
widespread badger culling on tuberculosis in cattle.
Nature 439(7078): 843-846.
Goldstein, S. (2010). Parliament needs members who are
scientifically literate. Nature 463: 876-877.
Hicks, T.R., May, B.H. & Reay N.K. (1972). MgI emission in
the night sky spectrum. Nature 240(5381): 401–402.

Dr. Chris Parsons is an associate professor and the undergraduate coordinator in the ESP Department. He is the marine section president and a governor of the Society for
Conservation Biology, the program chair for the 2014 International Marine Conservation Congress and a national delegate to the Scientific and Conservation Committees of the
International Whaling Commission.
Jamie Simo is a second-degree environmental science
and policy undergraduate student and a WYSE field
studies course mentor. She is keenly interested in environmental education and conservation.
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News Story:
Scientist Advocate Tyrone Hayes Reveals the Breaking
Point
By Samantha Oester,
GREENovation Editor
BALTIMORE, MD – Dr. Tyrone Hayes is an endocrinologist, herpetologist and
evolutionary biologist in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received his doctoral degree. He
earned his bachelor’s degree in evolutionary biology from Harvard. He is a
world-renowned scientist, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and has
been profiled by several mainstream and scientific publications. Hayes is
respected for his work on the role of steroid hormones in amphibian development in the US and Africa, as well as the effects of exogenous steroids on
gonadal differentiation and the potential role of endogenous steroids.
Hayes, however, finds himself at the center of a highly controversial
debate—a controversy which he now invites. “There’s a connection between
environmental health and public health,” Hayes explained to an audience of
Dr. Tyrone Hayes delivers the keynote speech
scientists at the 26th International Congress for Conservation Biology in July. during a panel discussion on the role of scientists
“The more I uncovered in the science, the more I realized focusing on the in advocacy during ICCB 2013 in Baltimore, MD.
science is not going to produce results.” Hayes was specifically referring to a
(Photo by Samantha Oester)
chemical in a top-selling herbicide. Atrazine, an effective and cheap herbicide, is a teratogen and estrogen disruptor, as evidenced by Hayes’ work with demasculinized northern leopard frogs. Atrazine is
present in drinking water in several regions of the US, and Hayes asserts there is also a correlation between the concentration of
atrazine and incidences of prostate and breast cancers, as well as infertility, in humans.
“Ninety percent of our seeds is owned by chemical companies, like the ones that produce atrazine,” Hayes stated. “It’s a
conflict of interest.” It is this research and Hayes’ public statements that have attracted the negative attention of companies like
the Switzerland-based Syngenta, which produces atrazine. Atrazine is currently banned in the European Union but is still used
legally in the US, with US sales driving the market for the herbicide. Syngenta has attacked Hayes publically, calling to question
his research methods, results, personality and credibility as a scientist. Hayes has retaliated, using some contentious tactics, like
quoting Tupac Shakur lyrics in emails to the herbicide producer, which Syngenta described as “explicit and obscene.”
Hayes explained when the controversy began, he refrained from answering Syngenta’s “harassing emails, calls and
statements.” He faced a scientists’ dilemma and wanted to focus on the science. But after the science continually revealed how
atrazine is affecting people, and meeting some of those affected, it became clear to Hayes that this was “environmental injustice.”
Then, Hayes’ research with amphibians revealed the effects of atrazine was lasting through generations. Second and
third generations of frogs, who were never directly exposed to atrazine, were displaying negative consequences of generation
one’s exposure. “I chose to focus on my research…but then I looked at my daughter, my little girl,” he said. “I thought, my grandchildren could be affected by chemicals we’re exposed to today. That’s when I became an advocate.” Hayes thought who better
to lead the charge than the scientist who has worked intimately on the research and can speak intelligently and knowledgeably
about the subject.
Hayes continues to be the spotlight of smear campaigns by chemical companies and factory-based agricultural corporations. And he persists, with research, speeches, articles, public talks, lectures and interesting emails to Syngenta. Although atrazine is still used in the US, atrazine manufacturers are on the receiving end of multiple lawsuits as a result of Hayes’ work. Hayes
asked, “As scientists, when we see things like this, how can we sit by and not be advocates?”
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Samantha Oester is a former journalist and policy analyst, now a GMU ESP graduate student. She serves on the Board of
Directors of the Society for Conservation Biology Marine Section as the communications officer.
The Environmental Studies on the Piedmont is a private research, education and
conservation organization headquartered on a 914 acre field station in the
Northern Piedmont. With upland forest, meadow, wetland, vernal pool, stream,
pond and small lake habitats, it is a rich resource for indigenous plant and wildlife studies. The field station has been home to several GMU graduate student
research projects, studies and volunteer work.