Field Ecology Students Help Colgate Earn Tree Campus Certification mdonofrio@colg… Tue, 04/01/2025 - 13:00 With more than 3,500 individual trees and 130 species, Colgate’s lush tree canopy provides an undeniably stunning backdrop for study, work, and play.  But when plant life is regarded as just part of the scenery — not something to learn about and engage with — it could point to a condition with serious implications for the future of our ecosystem. “Plant blindness is an actual phenomenon,” says Professor of Biology Eddie Watkins of the term coined by botanists James H. Wandersee and Elizabeth E. Schussler in 1998. When plants are seen as static or even purely decorative, Watkins explains, people are less likely to care about preserving them, despite their critical importance for air quality, food sources, and animal habitats. “Most of my career has been dedicated to helping people see plants from multiple perspectives — beyond their mere presence to who they are and what they do,” he says. Students in Watkins’ Field Ecology (BIOL 328) course joined in that effort last fall. With help from Oneida Nation botanist Sheri Beglen and Professor of Biology Emeritus Ron Hoham, students were tasked with developing a field guide, signage, and a website dedicated to the University’s diverse tree canopy, examining plant morphology and physiology and incorporating information about Native American traditions and medicinal uses. The project was supported by the President’s Office and funded through a grant from the Upstate Institute. The result of their semester-long endeavor: the Campus Tree Guide, a 69-page handbook with extensive information on every species from American Basswood to Sweet Gum, and an accompanying map, which guides visitors through the campus’ plant landscape, much like Hoham’s popular reunion tree walks.  “[The goal] was to share the traditional wisdom of the Oneida while honoring the two most important people who have shaped our tree canopy: President Brian Casey and Professor Hoham,” says Watkins, adding that President Casey’s emphasis on tree health and sustainability as part of the Third-Century Plan has added hundreds of trees from dozens of species to campus and “helped create a botanical Shangri-la for anyone interested in plants.” As the work on the Tree Guide progressed, Watkins encouraged students to submit Colgate’s application for national certification from The Arbor Day Foundation. They did — and later received news that the University was recognized as a 2024 Tree Campus “for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and engagement.” At an end-of-term celebration, students unveiled the Tree Guide to community members — and reflected on their months of hard work. “What surprised [students] most was their ability to pull off something this complex, this big, this public, in a single semester,” says Watkins, noting that students have expressed how work on the project helped them appreciate plant life on a deeper level. “You really can’t miss plants on this campus anymore.” Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research Third Century News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Department of Biology Photo by Mark DiOrio

Patti Rizzo ’26 Receives Goldwater Scholarship mniedt@colgate.edu Tue, 04/01/2025 - 08:14 Patti Rizzo ’26, a chemistry and applied math double major from Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., has been named as a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship.  The Goldwater Scholarship Program identifies and supports college sophomores and juniors on their way to becoming research leaders in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. “Receiving the Barry Goldwater Scholarship is an honor,” Rizzo says. “It will provide the support, resources, and encouragement I need to explore new scientific ideas and work toward achieving my long-term career goal of continuing research at the graduate level.” During her sophomore year at Colgate, Rizzo joined the lab of Visiting Assistant Professor Shanmuka Shivashankara working on theoretical high-energy physics. This experience led to a co-authorship on a peer-reviewed paper — an achievement that she credits for giving her the desire to pursue a career in research. “Applying my knowledge of coding and matrices to create a deeper understanding of the behavior of subatomic particles and seeing these fundamental concepts contribute to higher-level research made me see how interconnected research and my passion for math could be,” Rizzo states. Following this experience, Rizzo completed a summer research opportunity, working under Assistant Professor of Chemistry Eric Muller on polymer analyses. Polymer blends are chains of different molecules that can come together to form patterns on a very small scale. But how can we see the arrangement of polymers in these nanostructures? Rizzo wanted to know. So she used infrared scattering scanning nearfield optical microscopy, IR s-SNOM, in a new way to take pictures of the nanostructures. The method allowed her to dig down and see how different pieces of polymer interacted with each other and with light. The information in her snapshots could aid in the design of electronic devices. Rizzo will continue this work with Muller this fall. In addition to pursuing research, Rizzo is the president of the Colgate Chemistry Club and tutors high school students with Colgate High School Tutors. She aims to inspire young girls to be curious and pursue science. She is also an oboist in the Colgate University Orchestra. Rizzo is currently studying abroad in Cardiff Wales, and she recently accepted a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates position at the Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, an interdisciplinary program focused on multi-functional nanoscale material structures. To learn more about the Goldwater Scholarship or other nationally competitive awards, reach out to Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, in the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships to schedule an appointment. Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics News and Updates Student onfs Department of Chemistry Department of Mathematics Patti Rizzo ’26

In honor of Colgate’s Bicentennial year, the Picker Art Gallery is hosting a special traveling exhibition, Koolanga Boodja Neh Nidjuuk (Children Looking and Listening on Country), through June 30. The post Repatriation and Reconciliation: The Carrolup Artworks Return to Colgate first appeared on Colgate University News.

Grafters X Change: Branches and Networks brought together Colgate and local community members, eco-artists, and activists to foster creative community resiliency. The post Grafters X Change Builds Community Resiliency first appeared on Colgate University News.