University of Georgia
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Category: News

Whit Gibbons earns John Herr Lifetime Achievement Award

kford on April 2, 2024

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, April 2, 2024 – J. Whitfield “Whit” Gibbons, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, was honored with the 2024 John Herr Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB). Gibbons was honored on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for his astounding body of work and contributions to the field of ecology.

This prestigious award is given yearly by the ASB. Its two main criteria include a long-standing devotion to ASB and contributions to the advancement of biology in the southeastern United States. 

Gibbons was venerated with this award due to his mentorship and engagement of students and other early career professionals and his dedication to environmental outreach. Over his lifetime, Gibbons has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, 30 books, and 2000 weekly installments of “Ecoviews”.  Gibbons has also mentored 45 master’s and PhD students over his career. These facets are just some of the reasons that showcase Gibbon’s dedication to the field of ecology.

Gibbons states about this honor, “I am honored to have been the recipient of the award but owe any achievements to my long-term associates at ASB and to SREL and other UGA colleagues, especially former students. It has been a wonderful experience, and my thanks go out to them. I continue to learn from them and admire their dedication to ecological research in concert with environmental outreach and education for all.”

UGA’s Savannah River Ecology Lab appoints Lauren Maynor as its first Science Content Strategist

kford on January 12, 2024

The University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory has announced the appointment of Lauren Maynor as the first ever Science Content Strategist to effectively bridge the gap between researchers and the general public. Maynor brings a bachelor’s degree in English, a concentration in professional writing, and an extensive background in social media with experience in biology.

Shedding light on night drives

kford on November 16, 2023

A new study delves into factors that impact detecting wildlife after dark

By Katrina M. Ford

According to a 2008 study, wildlife-vehicle collisions cost an estimated $8.4 billion in damages, with more than 58,000 people injured and 440 deaths occurring annually. These numbers continue to increase as urban sprawl expands and human-wildlife interactions increase. For many folks, wildlife-vehicle collisions are becoming a part of life. This is especially dangerous with days getting darker earlier.

A recent study conducted at the Savannah River Site by scientists and students from the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory sheds light on the ability of drivers to observe animals and avoid dangerous wildlife-vehicle collisions at night safely.

“Our goal was to examine how various animals, drivers and environmental variables influenced drivers’ ability to detect animals at night and avoid collisions. We wanted to better understand why wildlife-vehicle collisions at night are so common,” said Travis DeVault, associate director for research at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and senior author on this study.

Read the whole article on UGA News.

Bait, Bite, and Beware: The Complex Web of Invasive Species Management in Guam

kford on September 22, 2023

In Guam, the battle against invasive species like the brown tree snake has led to the use of toxicant-laced bait, a method that’s proven effective but controversial. Recent studies reveal both invasive and native species scavenge on these toxicant-affected carcasses, raising concerns about unintended ecological consequences and the broader impact on the island’s ecosystem.

Can fences hold back nature?

kford on September 19, 2023

How do fences affect wildlife movement patterns? This question has been trending in wildlife management for decades. From mountain lions in Los Angeles crossing freeways to fences in our own backyards repelling deer, wild pigs, and squirrels, how do human-made barriers affect wildlife?

James Beasley, a professor with the University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, along with a team of international collaborators, investigated this topic in large carnivores in Etosha National Park in Namibia. Beasley and his lab focused on the movements of hyenas and lions within the national park. Unlike national parks in the United States, many parks in southern Africa are fenced.

The Savannah River Ecology Lab releases offspring of confiscated turtles

kford on July 27, 2023

The University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service – Savannah River, and the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, successfully released offspring of confiscated eastern box turtles on June 29, 2023 at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. This accomplishment was the culmination of a story four years in the making following the journeys of over 200 confiscated eastern box turtles, their offspring, and owner-surrendered turtles.

Science Saturday is back!

kford on July 11, 2023

Slither, hop, or soar into SREL’s premier event!

AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, July 11, 2023 – The University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory is hosting, for the first time in four years, Science Saturday (formerly Touch an Animal Day) on Saturday, July 15, 2023. This event will be held at South Aiken High School from 10 AM – 1 PM. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to hold alligators, touch a rattlesnake, watch plants breath, see vultures, owls, and hawks, and meet some adorable critters. In addition to exhibiting plants and animals, residents will be able to talk with scientists and graduate students about their research. 

“This event showcases a little bit of everything from the lab,” states Katrina Ford, assistant director for outreach and education.  Ford adds, “It’s a chance for the public to get up and close with the science being conducted at SREL.”

Olin Rhodes, the director for the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and a professor in the Odum School of Ecology, asserts, “It is critical that SREL shows the public the types of research and education efforts that we conduct at the lab so that they understand our important role in the community in helping to keep everyone informed about potential health risks as well as the progress toward keeping our natural environment healthy and sustainable for future generations.”

Science Saturday is one of several free programs offered at SREL.  The lab has a long history of community involvement and investment into the next generation. The Outreach and Education team presents programs such as Ecologist for a Day and EcoTalks throughout the year. The Ecologist for a Day program allows students to become immersed in a guided facilitated field experience. Students identify living and nonliving components that make up our local ecosystems. Students participating are inspired to consider careers in the areas of S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math).

In addition to offering opportunities to community, SREL provides a variety of occasions for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in environmental science and related disciplines to experience field work through internships, courses, and technician positions.

Rhodes affirms, “SREL is committed to utilizing its unique set of scientific expertise and state of the art research facilities to provide educational opportunities to undergraduates and graduate students from our local communities, our region, and from across the globe.  A large part of SREL’s mission is to train future generations on how to conduct impactful and high-quality research for the benefit of our local communities, our nation, and our natural environment.”

Pollinator Palooza Celebration buzzing into Aiken!

kford on June 26, 2023

Capstone event marks end of school program

Aiken, S.C., June 26, 2023 – The University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory lauds pollinators with the final celebration of the “Let’s Grow Together” program through a partnership with the US Forest Service – Savannah River. This big bash focused on all things pollinators will be held at the SREL Conference Center on Friday, June 30, 2023, from 10 AM – 12 PM. The SREL Conference Center is located at 3280 Williston Rd, Aiken, SC 29803.

This free event is geared for children in first through sixth grade and their families. It will feature hands-on S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math) activities. Children can expect to create hummingbird feeders, design unique insects, and plant their own flowers to experience the magic of pollination at home.

The Pollinator Palooza event is part of the “Let’s Grow Together” initiative sponsored by the USDA Forest Service – Savannah River. This six-year long program has reached thousands of students over its tenure throughout the Central Savannah River Area.

Assistant Director for Outreach and Education, Katrina Ford stated, “this program has expanded SREL’s reach by reaching students through education about the plight of pollinators in ecosystems. Pollinators are critical to the growth of products we use daily from paper commodities to food. Students taking part in this program have been amazed to learn where their food comes from and the importance of pollinators.”

Ford stated that while this is the final large-scale event for the program, in late summer new resources will be available on SREL’s website for teachers and families to continue teaching students about pollinators and the role they play. The “Let’s Grow Together” program concludes September 30, 2023.

– ### –

About the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, a research unit of the University of Georgia, located near Aiken, South Carolina, pursues a plethora of research interests from atoms to ecosystems in the realm of ecology. For over seven decades, the SREL’s mission has provided an independent evaluation of the impact of Savannah River Site’s operations on the environment to the public and to the Department of Energy. This mission is accomplished through research, education, and outreach.

SREL hires Ford to lead outreach and education

Vicky Sutton-Jackson on December 8, 2022

The University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory has hired Katrina Ford to serve as its first director for outreach and education. Ford will oversee outreach and public relations staff at SREL and expand the lab’s educational programs.

For the past eight years, Ford worked with the public library system in Anaheim, California where she launched award-winning STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs that earned recognition from the state of California and Penguin Random House. She has extensive experience as an administrator and social media manager.

Ford earned a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies in elementary education with an emphasis in environmental science, a master of library and information science and a master’s in public administration.