Category Archives: Public Health

Agriculture, Climate Change, Conservation, Ecology, Energy, Habitat Management, Local government, Parks and Recreation, Public Health, Rivers, Urban ecology, Water Quality, Wildlife

Downtown Stewardship Center concept gets some MORE press

Pathway running over vegetation and water towards a line of buildings highlighted by sunlight with a clear blue skyHow would you like to have this in Fort Wayne??

 

 

 

For an update on this thread, check out this nice piece by Lisa Ryan of WBOI, or local NPR channel.

Fort Wayne Riverfront Development Could Include Environmental Center

The ERC’s director Bruce Kingsbury is working with the City of Fort Wayne and others on the concept of a downtown facility focusing on environmental stewardship and sustainability. It is proposed as part of the Riverfront Fort Wayne Development and would help the community pursue the goals of enhancing the economy, providing additional recreational opportunities, and protecting and restoring the rivers and other habitats.

For previous coverage, read the recent article in the News Sentinel here.

Energy, Local government, Public Health, Sustainable Living, Urban ecology

Environmental Sociology class completes spring tasks

IPFW’s Dr. Sherrie Steiner and her Environmental Sociology students completed their initial investigation into industrial sites and environmental hazards in Blackford County, 50 miles south of Fort Wayne. They generated maps and made videos documenting their efforts.  Here is the link to one of their videos.

The ERC worked with the class to help them collect and depict spatial information using GIS. Here is an example of one of thier products!

Computer generated map of cumulative industrial legacy (1880 - 2015) with various colored markers dotting it and a legend on the bottom

“The mapping expertise that the university brings to this project are a tremendous benefit for the community,” said Dr. Indra Frank, the Hoosier Environmental Council’s environmental health project director.  “This will help us have a clearer picture of possible environmental hazards.” As professor Steiner noted, “This project has been collaboratively designed and implemented with our community partners,” said Sherrie Steiner, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at IPFW.  “I am hoping that this experience will strengthen a sense of civic responsibility and personal efficacy within students and among members of the community as pertains to environmental engagement.”