Graham Peaslee (PHYS) recently published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters highlighting that fluorinated high-density polyethylene plastic containers tested positive for PFAS, demonstrating the ability of PFAS to leach from containers into food. Read more

Ellis Adams (Keough), Marc Muller (CEEES), and Leonardo Bertassello (CEEES) presented research at the United Nations on how industries can sustainably manage water resources and preserve human access to safe, clean water. Read more

Roy Scranton (English) was highlighted in a Q&A reflecting on why the humanities are essential to addressing climate change and how the Environmental Humanities Initiative supports Notre Dame's mission. Read more

Melissa Berke (CEEES) was featured on Notre Dame's 2023 Women Lead series, discussing her lifelong interest in geology and her journey with paleoenvironmental change research and fieldwork at Notre Dame. Read more

Jason McLachlan (BIOS) evaluated the role evolution plays in ecosystems by studying a type of grass-like plant in the Chesapeake Bay. Published in Science, the research demonstrated that “resurrected” plants store carbon more quickly than modern plants. Read more

Tracy Kijewski-Correa (CEEES) discussed how the earthquake in Turkey and Syria offered a reminder that safe housing is one of the most overlooked human rights. The failure of residential buildings continues to be the primary source of life loss in disaster events. Read more

In honor of World Water Day, the Notre Dame community was invited to H₂0@ND's week-long celebration focused on the importance of freshwater. Events included a blessing of the lakes and clean-up, PFAS panel, virtual seminar, stormwater badge installation, and more. Read more and see photos from the week below!

Blessing of the Lakes

PFAS Panel featuring Gary Lamberti (BIOS) and Kyle Doudrick (CEEES) 

Stormwater Badge Installation

Please join us in congratulating several ND-ECI postdoctoral researchers who are transitioning onto exciting next steps in their careers! 

Assistant Professor of Climate Policy

Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies

Florida Gulf Coast University

Project Officer for Scientific Research

Domain: Climate Change

European Commission

Research Assistant Professor

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Notre Dame

Assistant Professor

School of Chemical, Materials & Biomedical Engineering

University of Georgia

ND-ECI is excited to announce the recipients of our 2023 Postdoctoral Fellowships, which support postdoctoral research and scholarship to grow collaborative bridges through interdisciplinary training.

Can you suggest one (or more) names that would make a great speaker for the ND-ECI Fall 2023 Virtual Seminar Series? The series is a great opportunity to hear from colleagues on a wide range of topics that fall broadly under the umbrella of environmental change.

The Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF) research grants serve as a mechanism for students to test novel ideas using the facility. 

Congratulations to ND-ECI affiliated faculty, who have received 11 new grants since November, totaling ~1.7M award dollars. Below are some highlights: 

The ND-ECI Community has been very productive with over 60 publications since our last newsletter. Below are some highlights, please click here to view the full list.

Birkett, B. A.; Obrist-Farner, J.; Rice, P. M.; Parker, W. G.; Douglas, P. M. J.; Berke, M. A.; Taylor, A. K.; Curtis, J. H.; Keenan, B. Preclassic environmental degradation of Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala, by the early Maya of Nixtun-Ch'ich'. Communications Earth & Environment 2023, 4 (1), 10, Article.

Brandao-Dias, P. F. P.; Hallack, D. M. C.; Snyder, E. D.; Tank, J. L.; Bolster, D.; Volponi, S.; Shogren, A. J.; Lamberti, G. A.; Bibby, K.; Egan, S. P. Particle size influences decay rates of environmental DNA in aquatic systems. Molecular Ecology Resources 2023, 23 (4), 756-770, Article.

Chen, W. L.; Bibby, K. A Model-Based Framework to Assess the Feasibility of Monitoring Zika Virus with Wastewater-Based Epidemiology. Acs Es&T Water, 11, Article; Early Access.

Curasi, S. R.; Fetcher, N.; Wright, K. S.; Weldon, D. P.; Rocha, A. V. Insights into the tussock growth form with model-data fusion. New Phytologist, 14, Article; Early Access.

Kelly, P. T.; Jones, S. E. Crustacean zooplankton densities in northern temperate lakes are related to habitat temperature across a wide gradient in lake dissolved organic carbon and nutrient content. Freshwater Biology, 14, Article; Early Access.

O'Reilly, K. E.; Berg, M. B.; Cooper, M. J.; Forsythe, P. S.; Houghton, C. J.; Shrovnal, J. S.; Student, J. J.; Uzarski, D. G.; Lamberti, G. A. Lakescape connectivity: Mobile fish consumers link Lake Michigan coastal wetland and nearshore food webs. Ecosphere 2023, 14 (2), 21, Article.

Ocobock, C.; Turunen, M.; Soppela, P.; Rasmus, S. The impact of winter warming and more frequent icing events on reindeer herder occupational safety, health, and wellbeing. American Journal of Human Biology 2023, 35 (1), 14, Article.

Ravikumar, A. P.; Baker, E.; Bates, A.; Nock, D.; Venkataraman, D.; Johnson, T.; Ash, M.; Attari, S. Z.; Bowie, K.; Carley, S.; Grubert E.; et al. Enabling an equitable energy transition through inclusive research. Nature Energy 2023, 8 (1), 1-4, Article. 

Ross, A.; Mack, E. A.; Marcantonio, R.; Miller-Graff, L.; Pearson, A. L.; Smith, A. C.; Bunting, E.; Zimmer, A. A mediation analysis of the linkages between climate variability, water insecurity, and interpersonal violence. Climate and Development, 15, Article; Early Access.

Siddik, M. A.; Grubert, E.; Caldwell, P.; Marston, L. T. Retirement of US fossil fuel-fired power plants will increase water availability. Journal of Hydrology 2023, 617, 11, Article.

Tiwari, A.; Adhikari, S.; Kaya, D.; Islam, M. A.; Malla, B.; Sherchan, S. P.; Al-Mustapha, A. I.; Kumar, M.; Aggarwal, S.; Bhattacharya, P.; Bibby, K.; et al. Monkeypox outbreak: Wastewater and environmental surveillance perspective. Science of the Total Environment 2023, 856, 7, Review. 

Whitehead, H. D.; Peaslee, G. F. Directly Fluorinated Containers as a Source of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 6, Article; Early Access. 

At the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative, over 60 faculty across several disciplines are pursuing research solutions for key environmental challenges of our time.

ND-ECI focuses on multidisciplinary research that can translate into solutions to help make the world a better place for humans and the environment upon which people depend.

We call it “Science Serving Society.”

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