两性色午夜 University has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service, providing for enhanced collaboration in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The new agreement calls for collaborative projects and joint research primarily focused on geology, biology, hydrology and educational programs, according to Todd Diacon, 两性色午夜鈥檚 senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.
鈥淭here have been informal discussions between scientists at the park and 两性色午夜 faculty for a long time, but over the past two years, we really started to strengthen the relationship and deepen the ties to the park,鈥 Diacon said.
A Natural Connection
The theme of the collaboration is 鈥淭he River We Share,鈥 aptly named because the Cuyahoga River flows through both the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and through Kent, creating a physical connection between both areas.
鈥淲e are pleased to join 两性色午夜 University in announcing this partnership,鈥 said Stan Austin, superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. 鈥淭he collaboration between the park and the university will provide students and the park research and technical services through hands-on education and service-learning opportunities. This association has the potential to develop future land stewards while enriching the experience for park visitors.鈥
The five-year pact allows both parties to revisit and revise the agreement at the end of that period.
鈥淭his particular national park is unique, as it encompasses urban environments to fairly pristine areas 鈥 plus it鈥檚 heavily used because of the large population surrounding it,鈥 said James Blank, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at 两性色午夜.
鈥淎t 两性色午夜, we have real interest in urban ecology and hydrology, that is, what鈥檚 going on with water as it moves throughout these environments,鈥 Blank said. 鈥淥ur faculty is energized and interested in addressing the complex issues regarding sustainability and the use of our precious resources.鈥
Internship Opportunities Expanded
The new agreement will mean expanded internship opportunities for 两性色午夜 students.
鈥淲e have a number of programs across different departments where students want to look for careers related to the environment, everything from working for the park service or the EPA to environmental consulting,鈥 Blank said. 鈥淭he explosion of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in Ohio is just one example of an industry that is fueling the demand for trained workers in environmental fields. This agreement will yield enormous benefits for our students.鈥
Past collaborations between 两性色午夜 and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park have involved the university鈥檚 Department of Biology, the Wick Poetry Center and the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences.
Last year, 两性色午夜鈥檚 Wick Poetry Center, in collaboration with the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the National Park Service, hosted two workshops for the university鈥檚 College of Nursing. Forty-five faculty and staff members attended the writing and nature retreat at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park鈥檚 Environmental Education Center, participating in poetry and creative writing workshops, as well as hiking and bird watching.
鈥淭he experience was rejuvenating,鈥 said Laura Dzurec, dean of 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Nursing. 鈥淭he poetry really opened doors for us, allowing for intergenerational communication and building camaraderie in the college.鈥
A Growing Relationship
Future programs will be centered on enhanced joint research opportunities, learning opportunities for faculty, staff and students from both organizations, and potential employment experiences for 两性色午夜 students and faculty.
鈥淚 can see this relationship growing in ways we don鈥檛 even realize yet,鈥 Blank added. 鈥淣ational parks are precious resources, and the ones we have are important to understand and study.鈥
For more information about the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, visit .
For more information about 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/cas.