Crucial Research at HBS

Written By: Winter Gary | Issue: August - 2022

Exciting things are happening at the HighlandsBiological Station this summer, and the onset ofAugust means the excitement continues – as theyprepare for one of their most impactful annual programs –the Highlands Field Site program through UNC Chapel Hill’sInstitute for the Environment.This program began at HBS in 2001 as an immersive,semester-long opportunity for students to explore real-worldenvironmental issues through a combination of course work,field trips, group research projects, and internships.This month, HBS will be welcoming their largest ever cohortof HFS students as 15 individuals, ranging from collegesophomores to seniors, are scheduled to arrive and explore theways humans affect the natural environment and build on theresearch that past students have conducted.HFS Director Dr. Rada Petric noted that this year’s group haseven more diversity than in the past with 73 percent of thestudents identifying as female.“Our goal is to make sure this program is literally available toeveryone – that no matter what your background is or whereyou’re coming from, that you would want to participate in thisprogram, and that you can gain all the amazing experiencesthat we provide which will help you in whatever career paththat you choose.”You don’t need to look far to see the impact of this program.Three of last year’s HFS students – Chloe Hall, Grace Kinder,and Noa Meiri – returned to the Station this summer asResearch Assistants to collect additional data and expandon their fall 2021 microplastics study (the lead PrincipalInvestigators are Dr. Jerry Miller and Jason Love) with thehopes of publishing their findings.In addition to this, they are assisting with HBS’s MAPS birdbanding in partnership with Blue Ridge Bird Observatoryand will soon be contributing to a pilot citizen science projectled by Petric, who is working to collect bat data along theAppalachian Trail.The HFS program is made possible through UNC ChapelHill’s Institute for the Environment, HBS, Western CarolinaUniversity, and the Highlands Biological Foundation.Earlier this year, the Foundation awarded $100,000 of grantfunding to support this program for the second consecutiveyear – their largest investment towards education to date.The Foundation’s Executive Director Charlotte Muir noted howpassionate the organization is about the program, stating that“HBF is thrilled to support the Institute for the Environmentprogram at HBS. This program is creating the next generationof scientists, and we think Highlands is the perfect place toimmerse these students in the natural world.”For more information about the HFS program and to learn howyou can contribute to its impact, visit highlandsbiological.org.

by Winter Gary, Communications & Events Coordinator, Highlands Biological Foundation