Rachel Lantz
This month's Sustainability Champion is Rachel Lantz, a Biology major who will graduate in spring 2019. Read her full interview below to hear about how her time at UR has allowed her to see sustainability in action in Belize, Colorado, Oregon, and Richmond, Virginia.
What made you choose to study Biology?
I started out studying Environmental Studies, but switched to biology because I was looking for more science courses. Once I got into biology, I ended up choosing electives that were all focused on ecology and environmental issues. I'm really interested in research in plant communities and when you're doing research on that topic, it's easy to see how sustainability and different environmental issues are involved.
What course has impacted your understanding of sustainability the most?
During my sophomore year I took my first elective as part of my Biology major. It was a field ecology class taught by Dr. Amy Treonis and Dr. Kristine Grayson. During the course we traveled to Belize and it really broadened my understanding of ecology and helped me see what issues connected to sustainability look like in different parts of the world. Belize is still developing in many ways, and there are a lot of important issues besides sustainability. They're focusing on how to deal with things like poverty and, even though pollution is a big issue, it can be difficult to know how to start addressing sustainability in a situation like that.
Can you talk about your time doing research in Colorado this summer?
This past summer I spent seven weeks at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, Colorado doing research with Dr. Carrie Wu. It was a really beautiful area and I'm planning to go back this summer if I can get funding. While I was there, I studied the mountain monkey flower and its pollen viability and limitation across elevations. The goal was to look at the reproductive assurance of the flower and think about what we could do about isolated populations that might be negatively affected by climate change. Dr. Wu has been studying these plants at RMBL for 10 years, so we have a lot of data on it, and the monkey flower is native to the area where the field station is, so it brings in a large scientific community interested in alpine plants.
My average day started really early in the morning and I would drive out towards a field site with Dr. Wu or other researchers. Once we were done driving, we would all put on our hiking boots and hike anywhere from half a mile to 10 miles, depending on the day, to our field sites. Then I would collect samples like anthers from the flowers or leaf tissue and take them back to the lab.
The best part of my time in Colorado was being able to be part of a large scientific community. I was constantly surrounded by people who love science, who love nature, and who care about the environment. Getting to know those people and talk about science with them every day reminded me of why I do what I do, it showed me that other people care.
How did you love for the environment develop?
I actually didn't grow up hiking a lot. But I was part of a class called Geography of the James River Watershed taught by Dr. Todd Lookingbill. As part of that course, we went out west to the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon. It was really amazing. I loved hiking there and, after seeing how beautiful places like that can be, I just want to help preserve the natural environment.
Another part of that class with Dr. Lookingbill was researching and proposing changes for the Gambles Mill Corridor. Now that stream restoration and eco-corridor construction are happening, it's incredible to see connections between what our class proposed and what's being implemented.
How have you gotten to learn about sustainability and the environment outside the classroom?
I have joined URSA, University of Richmond Sustainability Advocates, and it's really helped me learn about what our campus is doing for sustainability. I'll also be going on a SEEDS trip this spring to West Virginia to learn about coal mining communities there. In those areas, a lot of people feel like they have to choose between helping the environment and keeping their jobs, since a lot of them do work in the coal industry.
What advice do you have for students interested in learning more about sustainability?
Just take a first step somewhere. Find something you're interested in about sustainability, then learn about what UR is doing and what we could be doing better. After that, I think it's really important to find a group of people you can work with, like URSA, to accomplish something together.
What's next for you after UR?
Eventually, I plan on getting a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Right after graduation, though, I'll be taking a year to work as a research assistant or field assistant. Then I'll start applying to PhD programs.
Thank you Rachel for all you do to support sustainability here at University of Richmond! Do you know someone who should be featured as a Sustainability Champion? Let us know at sustainability@richmond.edu.