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Bridging Academia and Real-World Challenges
Batten Honors College student applies classroom learning to summer research in Belize
University News | November 28, 2023
From climate change to water pollution, humans are altering natural systems in complex and unexpected ways. Understanding human impacts to these natural systems requires interdisciplinary analysis of complex problems. That is a prime focus at Virginia Wesleyan University’s (VWU) Batten Honors College, and scholars like VWU senior Erika Eichelberger are getting real-world learning opportunities through the University’s national and global partners. 
This past summer, Erika traveled to Belize as part of a National Science Foundation Research for Undergraduates (REU) program. An REU site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where they work closely with the faculty and other researchers.
Erika’s team was assigned to conduct research in a village that’s been historically plagued by flooding. “It has become so common for these people,” says Erika. “It’s not unusual to see up to 15 inches of standing water in some yards which often attracts crocodiles.”
Collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, team members studied every inch of the village to determine how its infrastructure – or the lack thereof – impacts the community. “We visited every street, culvert, and building in the village which included 18 miles of roads, 5,000 structures, and 35 culverts,” adds Erika.
As part of the research process, the team flew drones over the area to develop what’s called an orthomosaic which is like Google Earth, but much sharper. Essentially, it’s a large, map-quality image with high detail and resolution made by combining many smaller images called orthophotos. Building off that map, they overlay features to measure vulnerabilities in flood zones and then make recommendations to mitigate future flooding events.
Erika was well prepared for this part of the research since she had already taken VWU’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course. In fact, the skills gained in this class are becoming highly sought after.
"We have had several of our EES graduates go on to jobs in the environmental field, where they regularly use what they learned in GIS every week as part of their job requirements,” says Dr. Maynard Schaus, VWU Professor of Biology and Environmental Science and Director of Accreditation and Coordinator of Sustainability Management. “Taking the GIS course gives them the skills to jump right into a variety of environmental jobs, and gives them a leg up over other applicants that have not had this type of preparation."
Applying these newly-acquired skills in Belize not only helped the people who live in the village, but it also helped Erika place her career path into greater focus. “It was just a really insightful experience. Now, I know that I want to focus on research.” And that means heading to graduate school, first to earn her master’s, then a Ph.D.
Erika’s summer research project exemplifies the transformative educational experience offered by Virginia Wesleyan University. Her hands-on involvement in addressing real-world environmental challenges not only serves as a testament to VWU’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning, but also underscores the vital role of academic institutions in preparing the next generation of environmental scientists.