What's New?
New ERM T-Shirts Available for Sale, Only $10!
We have a brand new design and 5 different colors of t-shirts for sale. There are three mens colors: Sage, Pine and Heather Blue, and two women's colors, Light Blue and Chestnut. Shirts have Penn State ERM on the front, and a hiking backpacker on the back. The shirts are available in the ERM office. Please see Tarrah in 206 or send an e-mail (thg110@psu.edu) to schedule a time to pick one up. Cash or Check accepted. First come first serve!
Men's --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Women's
ERM Plants a Tree to Commemorate Students, Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day 2007, the Environmental Resource Management (ERM) major participated in a campus-wide green initiative to beautify the campus 
by planting a Taxodium distichum (L.), or Bald Cypress tree to commemorate ERM students and alumni. Located behind the Bryce Jordan Center, the ERM tree will be viewable on the Office of the Physical Plant’s (OPP) Commemorative Tree website once all of the trees have been mapped and added to the OPP database (http://lorax.opp.psu.edu/homepage.asp).
Dr. Robert Shannon, Associate Professor and ERM Program Coordinator, explains “The Environmental Resource Management (ERM) program wanted to support the Tree Planting Initiative for several reasons: We wanted to honor our ERM students, who are committed to environmental protection and conservation. Planting a tree seemed like a natural way to do this, because trees cool the planet and reduce the urban “heat island” effect, assimilate carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and serve as a carbon sink as they grow. We also wanted to be a part of community-wide effort to beautify the campus for others to enjoy for years to come, and we wanted to commemorate Earth Day and the efforts of campus organizations to draw awareness to environmental issues.”
For the complete story and more pictures from the event, please visit http://live.psu.edu/index.php?sec=vs&story=24095&pf=1
Rachel Evans Wins 2007 Schreyer Honors College Paul Axt Prize
Graduating with Highest Distinction and Honors in Environmental Resource Management, with Highest Distinction in Comparative Literature, and with a minor in French, Rachel Evans was awarded the Paul Axt Prize at the Schreyer Honors College Spring 2007 Commencement Ceremony. The Paul Axt Prize is the most prestigious individual award that the Honors College presents, and is awarded to the student that "best exemplifies the passionate commitment to inquiry that promotes high scholarly achievement and the intellectual curiosity and daring that leads to the development and pursuit of wide-ranging interests."
While dual majoring at Penn State, Rachel participated in an internship with the EPA in Washington D.C. where she was involved with determining the impact of carbamate pesticide on endangered species. She also had a horticultural internship with Penn State's Cooperative Extension Office in Montgomery County. Rachel was also involved in an independent research project with the Ecology Laboratory on the University Park Campus where she researched international environmental legislation by comparing several countries' policy approaches to managing invasive plant species. In addition to her academic endeavors, Rachel volunteered with the Pennsylvania Literacy Corps, Habitat for Humanity, and at a local food bank. More notably, Rachel will be attending Harvard Law School in the fall to study environmental law. Congratulations Rachel!
Environmental Resource Management Major Moves to New Home
The Environmental Resource Management major in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has been joined with the college’s newly created Environment and Natural Resources Institute to expose students to the cutting-edge interdisciplinary education, research, and outreach focus of the institute.
Formed more than three decades ago, the Environmental Resource Management major was one of the first dedicated environmental science programs offered in Pennsylvania. Since then, it has been preparing students to successfully and creatively analyze, manage, and protect the environmental resources of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. 
An interdisciplinary, science-based curriculum designed for students who want to use prob lem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills to address environmental and resource management issues, the major has evolved into one of the nation’s leading environmental science programs.
“We are extremely pleased that the Environmental Resource Management program will be merged with the Environment and Natural Resources Institute,” says institute director James Shortle, Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Economics. “A primary goal in the creation of the institute was to provide a leadership and management structure to increase the visibility, stature, and impact of environmental science education in the college. The merger is a major step in realizing this goal.”
Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, believes the merger will pay big dividends for students. “The college’s Environment and Natural Resources Institute is involved with a broad range of environmental issues, such as new nutrient management and renewable fuels initiatives,” he says. “Our Environmental Resource Management students will benefit from exposure to the outreach focus of the institute.”
Rob Shannon, associate professor of agricultural engineering and coordinator of the major, is pleased that for the first time in the program’s long history, it is now aligned with a collegewide institute dedicated to environmental issues.
“As an alumnus and coordinator of the Environmental Resource Management program, I know that our students graduate to great environmental positions in private, public, and nonprofit organizations,” he says. “This new affiliation lays the groundwork for ERM students to have access to an even wider scope of environmental research, internship, and career opportunities.”
The Environmental Resource Management curriculum is three-tiered, beginning with foundation courses in biology, chemistry, math, and physics. Students then take a series of supporting environmental courses such as environmental law, natural resource economics, and pollution impacts on ecosystems. The third tier of courses provides students with the opportunity to specialize by choosing an approved minor or an 18-credit specialization specific to one area of the environment.
Minors and specializations include watersheds and water resources, soil resources, geographic information systems, energy and air pollution, ecology, hazardous waste management, environmental engineering, and others.
According to Shannon, the major is great for students who want to experience hands-on learning through field- and lab-based resource-management courses. “They develop and apply science-based solutions to issues regarding environmental protection and resolve conflicting issues concerning sustainable management of natural resources,” he says. “If a student wants a career in conservation, restoration, or pollution prevention and remediation, he or she should consider majoring in Environmental Resource Management.”
—Jeff Mulhollem
