Lycoming College News

Clean Water Institute recognized

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College Clean Water Institute (CWI) recently received two recognitions for its environmental efforts.

The CWI received one of the 16 “Champion of the Pennsylvania Wilds” awards presented April 28 in St. Marys. The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their efforts toward the Pennsylvania Wilds initiatives of economic development, planning, community revitalization, community character stewardship and conservation. The Pennsylvania Wilds region encompasses the counties of Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren.

The CWI has already completed 43 stream assessments and plans to work with the PA Fish and Boat Commission in the coming months to assess remaining streams in the Pine Creek Basin.

In addition, CWI interns Zachary Bassett, Zebidiah Buck, Laura Walter, Lauren Mesko and Lori Smith were recognized May 2 at the annual CromaCollege workshop in Williamsport, Pa.

For more than 16 months, the interns and Dr. Mel Zimmerman, professor of biology and director of the CWI, participated in a project for Cromaglass Corporation of Williamsport, which manufactures wastewater treatment systems. The project tested the efficiency of BioFilter technology for improved wastewater treatment. The students highlighted the results of their project at the workshop.

Lycoming College is a national liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. It is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation.

Recyclemania results announced

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College was one of 630 colleges and universities from across the U.S. that recently participated in Recyclemania, which is in its 10th year of competition.

During Recyclemania, Lycoming’s buildings and grounds staff collected plastic, glass, cans, cardboard and paper from receptacles across the campus. The recyclables were weighed and data was recorded weekly by Alyssa Tomaskovic and Steve Wanner, interns in the College’s Clean Water Institute.

During the eight-week competition, the College recycled a total of 10,943 pounds of materials, including roughly 1,451 pounds of plastic, 3,707 pounds of glass, 1,257 pounds of cans, 2,900 pounds of cardboard and 1,628 pounds of paper. The results showed an increase of more than 3,500 pounds of waste recycled compared to last year’s total.

Dr. Mel Zimmerman, professor of biology and CWI director, partially attributes the success to an increase in the number of recycling bins, improved collection procedures and greater campus awareness.

“This helps to demonstrate that by raising awareness about recycling on campus, more students are willing to sort their trash from what can be recycled and help keep a significant amount of material out of the landfills,” he said.

Lycoming pledges to reduce carbon footprint

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College President James Douthat has called upon all members of the College community to support initiatives to reduce carbon emissions on campus. On Wednesday, April 20, during a ceremony on the steps of Long Hall, Douthat signed the Lycoming College Climate Commitment pledge. Members of the campus community were then invited to add their signature to a Climate Commitment banner to be displayed on campus.

“This is an interesting and important step for the College,” said Douthat. “It also is important to note that the document I signed is authorized by the board of trustees, so this becomes an institutional commitment. The pledge produces a new set of responsibilities, a new process and a new procedure for many people on this campus, including the students, as we move forward with this commitment.”

The Lycoming pledge was crafted by the College’s sustainability committee, led by co-chairs Dr. Neil Boyd, chair of the business administration department, and Dr. Mel Zimmerman, professor of biology and director of the College’s Clean Water Institute.

“This is a great day to think about how organizations connect to their physical environments,” said Boyd. “Today’s event is a celebration of a milestone for the College, a top-down institutional affirmation and commitment to environmental sustainability. We are committed to win-win situations, where we can help the environment and at the same time help the institution with its fiduciary goals. Today’s event is clearly a testimony to the hard work of the entire sustainability committee.”

Modified from the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, Lycoming’s pledge affirms the belief that institutions of higher learning must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to reduce carbon emissions and promoting positive stewardship of the earth.

Making emissions reduction and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for students will be a priority. The College recently developed a sustainable business management track within its business administration major as well as an interdisciplinary environmental sustainability minor. Solar panels have been installed on top of the Heim Building and an on-campus biodiesel production facility was recently opened. Additionally, the College dining hall is now trayless, which is helping to reduce energy, water and soap consumption and food waste.

The College’s building and grounds members have been significantly involved in a variety of the sustainability efforts on campus, ranging from recycling to energy conservation initiatives.

In response to the commitment, Lycoming will begin developing a comprehensive plan to continue to lower total carbon emissions. All greenhouse gas emissions will be inventoried annually to track progress. The College will establish a policy to build all new campus construction to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent. Renovation projects will also adhere to environmental guidelines. Additional carbon-reducing activities include implementation of an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy and continued participation in the national RecycleMania competition.

Lycoming College is a national liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. It is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation.

Petokas interviewed regarding endangered species

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Dr. Peter Petokas, research associate in the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, was recently interviewed by Tom Pelton, journalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Bay Daily and WYPR, a regional National Public Radio affiliate in Baltimore, Md.

The interview related to a permit application in Maryland for the deep-mining of coal beneath the Casselman River. Petokas’ concern is that mine discharge in the river will alter the water quality, causing potential harm to the Eastern Hellbender salamander – a Maryland endangered species.

In the interview, Petokas said, “Given that the population is already at such a low level, you could eliminate the entire population from the Casselman should a mine open that would affect water quality in the river.”

Petokas and students from Lycoming College have been studying the Eastern Hellbender in north-central Pennsylvania for the past seven years, and will be continuing their studies this summer in relation to development of the Marcellus Shale gas industry and potential impacts from global warming.

The article can be read here, and the podcast is available here.

Students participate in Unassessed Water Study

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

Clean Water Institute hosts unassessed water initiative

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College Clean Water Institute and the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host a presentation on the initiative to assess the water quality of unassessed streams in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the College’s Heim Building G-11.

The program will be introduced by Bill Worobec, Lycoming alumnus and chair of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission board, and features Dr. Mel Zimmerman, Lycoming professor of biology and director of the CWI, and Robert Weber, fisheries biologist with the PFBC.

In a summer 2010 pilot study, Lycoming student interns, under the supervision of Zimmerman, were given a list of unassessed waters in Pine, Lycoming, Loyalsock and Muncy Creek watersheds. The program will review the initiative and present data from last year and plans for upcoming sampling this summer.

The unassessed water initiative was officially launched in 2010 as part of PFBC''s five-year strategic trout management plan. Last year’s efforts supported four summer interns with more than $10,000 in grant funds from two organizations. This year, new funding will support four to six interns.

There are more than 45,000 unassessed waters in Pennsylvania in which the status of fish populations is not documented. Partnering with colleges and conservation groups, PFBC is attempting to sample these streams in order to determine which merit the greatest protection.

Lycoming participates in Recyclmania

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

College begins biodiesel production

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST