IES RESOURCES AND
FACILITIES
The Institute, located
in Boyd Hall, includes offices
for the Directorate, staff, and students, as well as classrooms, conference room, computer laboratory, seminar rooms, and Public Service Project meeting rooms. Graduate student mail
boxes are located in the lounge area of room 35.
The IES has equipment for use by both students and staff.
Available are a scanner, drafting equipment, surveying instruments, water sampling and analysis kits, air samplers, solar
radiation monitors, a boat, aquatic biology sampling equipment, and digital
cameras. The IES also shares a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer with the
Western College Program.
In the IES Computer Lab there are ten networked PC computers, a scanner, and two
printers. Other computer equipment, including a second scanner, slide scanner,
photo editing software, and a digitizer are
available in the IES office. Universal disk space is available for students and
staff and can be accessed through the PCs in the computer lab. With this disk space,
students can create and maintain their
own websites.
One objective of the
M.En. program is to insure that all graduates
will leave with a working knowledge of computers and their applications.
Many go beyond this level to include sophisticated database applications,
hydrologic modeling, and computer cartography. All students work with the
widely used Minitab statistical package.
The IES has 35mm cameras, digital cameras, and a digital video camera. In the past IES
has produced environmental media programs. One set of filmstrips
is in national distribution to secondary schools and has received both
favorable reviews and an international award for creative excellence. Three
tape-slide programs are in national distribution for lay adult audiences.
One 1990 production is in statewide distribution. Several funded projects
have involved the production of tape-slide shows and videotapes.
MIAMI
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
The University library system, which allocates
an annual book budget for the use of IES, is a federal government depository
housing substantial, well-balanced collections of books, reports, periodicals, and
reference indexes related to the environment. Especially noteworthy are
resources in Brill Science Library (Hughes Hall) which include Envirofiche,
a full-text source of environmentally-related materials, ranging from conferences
to journal articles and The Environment Reporter, a weekly summary of environmental
news and a source of federal and state laws and regulations. The
library's catalog and other indices are available on line both from
on-campus and off-campus. Carrel space and/or book carts in the Science
Library are usually available for advanced students. King Library, the
main campus library, houses all government documents.
A well-equipped geographic information systems laboratory is housed
in Shideler Hall as part of the Department of Geography. A wide range
of software, high capacity microcomputers, digitizers and output devices are
available. Instruction is available at several levels, and a large number
of data bases are also available.
The Natural Areas is composed of over 1000 acres and 15 miles of trails. It is within walking distance of Oxford and the main campus of Miami University. Four of these natural areas near campus are used extensively by IES faculty and
students for studies regarding ecosystem analysis, resource management
and environmental education.
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Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve.
This reserve contains more than 400 acres of diverse habitats including
streams, a flood plain, two ponds, forests, a pine plantation, and grasslands.
The reserve is available to University faculty and students for education
and research. A two-mile nature trail is located on the reserve and on the adjacent Brown Tract.
It is the result of a plan for extended use of the facility as an environmental
education center.
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Ecology
Research Center.
Teaching and research programs evaluating the effects of stresses (radiation,
pesticides, and sludge) on experimental ecosystems take place at the ERC. Facilities include small mammal enclosures, ponds, a well-equipped
ecology research building with a solar observation platform, a number of
stations to monitor data on climate conditions, precipitation chemistry, and
dioxin levels, and equipment
storage buildings.
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Hueston
Woods State Park
With 3,596 acres of park land and 625-acre Acton Lake, Hueston Woods
an excellent facility for environmental research
and teaching purposes and for associated conference activities. Miami University
uses this area for studies related to land-use planning, resource management,
environmental education, and the structure and function of both terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems. Hueston Woods is one of the most popular state parks
in Ohio.
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Peffer Park and Silvoor Nature Preserve.
This 90-acre tract of land is used as an environmental educational facility.
With the aid of undergraduate naturalists, the diverse habitats and a picnic
facility make Peffer Park an excellent site for field trips by area school
children. It is a focal point for students with a specialization in environmental
education and has been developed with the cooperation of the Office of
Development and Alumni Affairs.
OTHER RESOURCES
RESEARCH FACILITIES
The Institute of Environmental Sciences is a subcontractor
to Shaw Environmental, Inc. in the operation of the U.S. EPA Test
& Evaluation (T&E) Facility in Cincinnati. The T&E is located
on the site of the Cincinnati Mill Creek sewage treatment plant, which
treats more than 100 million gallons of sewage per day. The T&E contains a 25,000
sq. ft. main experiment area and houses additional laboratories, offices,
a machine shop, and a greenhouse. Projects at the facility evaluate treatment
methods for hazardous wastes and for municipal and industrial sewage. Faculty
and students of the IES, as well as other units at the University, participate
in the research and other operations at the T&E.
FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES
A student may spend up to $100 for expendable items (chemicals, glassware,
etc.) needed for research with prior approval of the Director of the research
effort. Requests for larger amounts shall be submitted for the approval
of the Director and/or the Executive Committee of the IES.
A student may be reimbursed for travel expenses for one trip to interview
or complete arrangements for an internship or practicum to a maximum of
1400 miles round trip at a rate of 20 cents per mile. When personal cars
are used for field trips or to attend appropriate workshops, seminars,
etc., in other cities, reimbursement may be made at the same rate with
prior approval. If a student is seeking support beyond mileage to attend
a meeting, workshop, etc., the request must be submitted in writing before
the trip, with costs broken down (travel, housing, registration fee, etc.).
Such requests are subject to approval by the Directorate and/or the Executive
Committee.
All financial assistance requested must be justifiable as an "educational
expense." Approval is dependent upon the availability of funds.
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