College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment

Mass Timber Now, a seminar hosted by the Sustainable Biomaterials & Packaging Society
2020-02-26 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Professor David Kennedy of Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction will be giving his talk titled, Mass Timber Now, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. Kennedy is a Harvard-educated registered architect teaching undergraduate courses in architecture, with expertise in wood and mass timber construction. He will be discussing the various types of mass timber and their unique properties, as well as several real-world mass timber projects.
The talk will be hosted by the Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging Society in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building, Room 2217. Lunch with beverages will be provided for all attendees. All students, faculty, and guests are welcome.
More information can be found at www.aub.ie/biomaterials

Trends & Implications for the Future of Packaging: A Panel Discussion & Reception
2020-02-27 14:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
The Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences invites Auburn faculty, staff and students to join industry stakeholders for a reception
and panel discussion to explore the future of the packaging industry and its implications for research and academic programs.
Packaging is a trillion-dollar market and currently the third-largest industry in the world. This growth, coupled with the rising consumer demand for eco-friendly
packaging, is inspiring many traditional forest product companies to expand their operations to include sustainable biomaterial and packaging. In this discussion,
we will discover how partnerships between academia and industry have the potential to propel innovation forward through education, research and development.
Panelists for the discussion are Dr. Dana Breed, global research and development director of packaging and sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company, and
Dr. Laurent Matuana, associate director and professor of biomaterials and composites in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Dr. Yucheng Peng,
assistant professor of sustainable packaging systems in the Auburn School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ Forest Products Development Center, will serve as moderator.
The reception and panel discussion will be held at the SFWS Building located at 602 Duncan Drive in Conference Hall, room 1101, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
on Thursday, Feb. 27. The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available on the third and fourth levels of the South Quad Parking Deck. For more details,
please contact Dr. Peng at yzp0027@auburn.edu.

Expert Panelists:
Dr. Dana Breed, Global R&D Director of Packaging and Sustainability, The Coca-Cola Company
Dana Breed is currently the Global R& D Director of Packaging and Sustainability for The Coca-Cola Company. A self-described “Master of Technology,” Breed is responsible for driving new-to-industry packaging technology introductions, new materials and formats across beverage categories, monitoring macro trends, and assessing technologies related to sustainability and packaging for potential fit in The Coca-Cola System. Prior to her current position, Breed has led research and business development for Materials Science, The Dow Chemical Company, and Eastman Chemical Company. Breed earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, a M.E. Res. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dr. Laurent Matuana, Associate Director and Professor of Biomaterials & Composites, School of Packaging, Michigan State University
Professor Matuana is a Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers (FSPE). His research focuses on processing of bio-based materials, with emphasis on the use of natural resources for the development of innovative, sustainable, and high-performance materials for packaging, building, and other applications. Emphasis is specifically placed on fundamental studies to understand, model and control the important factors affecting the manufacturing process and material performance. He earned his Ph.D. degree at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He also holds a B.S. and M.S. degrees from Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
Moderator:
Dr. Yucheng Peng, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Packaging Systems, Forest Products Development Center, Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences
Yucheng Peng has extensive experience in sustainable biomaterials, natural fiber (cellulose) based polymer composites, and packaging design, manufacturing, and innovation. Prior to joining the Forest Products Development Center in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Peng was a postdoctoral fellow at Clemson University and later held research and development positions with Berry Global, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. Peng earned B.S. in Wood Science and Engineering from Northwest A&F University, China, a M.S. in Sustainable Bioproducts from Mississippi State University, and a Ph.D. in Forest Resources from University of Maine.

SFWS Seminar Series - Parrish Bergquist
2020-03-03 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Parrish Bergquist, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
“Public Opinion, Partisan Politics, & Environmental Policy in the U.S.”

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
Complimentary refreshments will be served.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.
Parking is available on the 3rd and 4th floors of the South Quad parking deck on Duncan Drive, directly across from the SFWS Building. See Parking Services on Level 2 to obtain a visitor pass.

Abstract:
Speaker Bio:

SFWS Seminar Series - Dr. John Willis
2020-03-17 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Room 1101 (Conference Hall), SFWS Bldg., 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Dr. John Willis
USFS – Southern Research Station

“Persistent Legacy Effects of Forest Management Create Complex Challenges for Restoration”

Abstract:
Coarse structural targets have historically been used to guide forest restoration. Oftentimes these targets are gleaned from studies conducted in stands where forest management has largely been absent or completely excluded. As such, the recommendations guiding many contemporary restoration efforts are not accounting for functional changes that have occurred following decades of forest management. Consequently, efforts to restore forest ecosystems may not achieve the desired response. This seminar provides several examples of how legacy effects of forest management are impacting efforts to restore degraded stands in a variety of ecosystems.
Speaker Bio:
John Willis graduated with a PhD in Forestry and Evolutionary Ecology from Michigan State University. John previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology at Mississippi State University for four years. Currently, John works as a Research Forester with the United States Forest Service in Auburn, Alabama.

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
Complimentary refreshments will be served.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.
Parking is available on the 3rd and 4th floors of the South Quad parking deck on Duncan Drive, directly across from the SFWS Building. See Parking Services on Level 2 to obtain a visitor pass.

SFWS Seminar Series - Dr. Chan Park
2020-03-24 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Room 1101 (Conference Hall), SFWS Bldg., 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Dr. Chan Park, Professor Emeritus, Auburn University
“Applying Economics to Engineering Curriculum as Relevant to Biomaterials and Packing”

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
Complimentary refreshments will be served.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.
Parking is available on the 3rd and 4th floors of the South Quad parking deck on Duncan Drive, directly across from the SFWS Building. See Parking Services on Level 2 to obtain a visitor pass.

Abstract:
Speaker Bio:

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 1
2020-05-18 - 2020-05-21 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States
Camp War Eagle Sessions
There are 8 sessions for Camp War Eagle which are scheduled during the months of May, June, and July. These sessions will be held online over a 4-day period and will incorporate pre-orientation modules as well as virtual meetings with academic advisors, campus resources, and current CWE Counselors. More specific details about your session including how much time to expect each portion to take will be available online prior to your session.

Session 1: May 18-21, Monday-Thursday
Session 2: May 26-29, Tuesday-Friday (AU is closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day)
Session 3: June 1-4, Monday-Thursday
Session 4: June 8-11, Monday-Thursday
Session 5: June 15-18, Monday-Thursday
Session 6: June 22-25, Monday-Thursday
Session 7: June 29-July 2, Monday-Thursday (AU is closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day)
Session 8: July 6-9, Monday-Thursday

Parents and future students, this short video will give you a glimpse of how SFWS students are experiencing campus life and the greater world while gaining valuable skills and knowledge to sustainably manage forests, wildlife, and other natural resources!
Welcome to the family! War Eagle!

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 2
2020-05-26 - 2020-05-29 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 3
2020-06-01 - 2020-06-04 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 4
2020-06-08 - 2020-06-11 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 5
2020-06-15 - 2020-06-18 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 6
2020-06-22 08:00 - 2020-06-25 17:00 (America/New_York) | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 7
2020-06-29 - 2020-07-02 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States
Camp War Eagle Sessions

There are 8 sessions for Camp War Eagle which are scheduled during the months of May, June, and July. These sessions will be held online over a 4-day period and will incorporate pre-orientation modules as well as virtual meetings with academic advisors, campus resources, and current CWE Counselors. More specific details about your session including how much time to expect each portion to take will be available online prior to your session. Visit http://fye.auburn.edu/cwe/ or email fyedesk@auburn.edu for details.

Session 1: May 18-21, Monday-Thursday
Session 2: May 26-29, Tuesday-Friday (AU is closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day)
Session 3: June 1-4, Monday-Thursday
Session 4: June 8-11, Monday-Thursday
Session 5: June 15-18, Monday-Thursday
Session 6: June 22-25, Monday-Thursday
Session 7: June 29-July 2, Monday-Thursday (AU is closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day)
Session 8: July 6-9, Monday-Thursday

Parents and future students, this short video will give you a glimpse of how SFWS students are experiencing campus life and the greater world while gaining valuable skills and knowledge to sustainably manage forests, wildlife, and other natural resources!
Welcome to the family! War Eagle!

Camp War Eagle Virtual Session 8
2020-07-06 - 2020-07-09 | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States

2020 Spring and Summer Graduation Open House
2020-08-08 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
In celebration of its 2020 Spring and Summer graduates, the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will host an open house on Saturday, August 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building and Jeff Butler Patio will be open for all graduates and their families for self-guided tours, photo opportunities, and refreshments.
Dean Janaki Alavalapati and Associate Deans of Academic Affairs and Research, Drs. Scott Enebak and Graeme Lockaby, as well as some faculty, will be present to safely greet visitors and distribute School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences graduation pins and other commemorative items.
All safety protocols will be followed, per Auburn University guidelines. Please remember that face coverings and appropriate physical distancing is required within campus buildings.
Please contact Wendy Franklin, SFWS student recruitment and events coordinator, at wzf0003@auburn.edu, with any questions.

SFWS Student Welcome to Auburn
2020-08-19 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
SFWS Welcomes New Students to Auburn!
New students are invited to a meet and greet with the deans and faculty on Wednesday, August 19, from 4 – 6 p.m.! They will be distributing Camp War Eagle backpacks, SFWS Student Ambassador T-shirts, as well as snacks and water. Masks and social distance rules will apply.
The Forestry and Wildlife Building is located at 602 Duncan Drive.

SFWS Seminar Series - Ms. Nancy Hand
2020-10-13 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Ms. Nancy Hand, Tilton/Independent Consultant
“Communication Tips for Successful Professional Relationships”

https://auburn.zoom.us/j/82304906921

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.

SFWS Virtual Career Fair
2020-10-15 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences 2020 Virtual Career Fair will be held Thursday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The career fair is open to all Auburn University students interested in pursuing internships, current positions, and future job opportunities within government, business, and industry, including fields such as forestry, land management, forest investments, forest products, wildlife management, wildlife enterprise, ecotourism, sustainability, natural resources policy and law, and geospatial technologies.

The career fair event benefits all students regardless of their anticipated graduation! Students will have the opportunity to:

Meet potential employers and learn about their organizations
Explore careers in wildlife ecology and management, forestry, and natural resources
Apply for jobs and internships

Previous attending employers have included: Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Nature Center, Bartlett Tree Experts, Canfor Scotch Gulf, Georgia-Pacific, Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc., Hancock Forest Management Group, High Adventure Company, International Paper, Jasper Lumber Company, Inc., Larson & McGowin, Inc., Regions Bank, Resource Management Service LLC, Scotch Land Management LLC, St. Marks NWR, The Westervelt Company, Timber Products Inspection, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, USDA Forest Service, USDA-National Resources Conservation Service, West Fraser, WestRock Company, Phenix City, AL, WestRock Company, Richmond, VA, and Weyerhaeuser.

To learn more about attending or registering for a booth, visit https://aub.ie/sfws2020careerfair or contact Wendy Franklin at wendy.franklin@auburn.edu.

SFWS Seminar Series - Dr. Qiusheng Wu
2020-10-20 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Dr. Qiusheng Wu/University of Tennessee, Knoxville
“Fine-resolution Mapping of Wetland Inundation Dynamics Using Google Earth Engine”

https://auburn.zoom.us/j/82304906921

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.

SFWS Seminar Series - Dr. Courtney Siegert
2020-10-27 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Dr. Courtney Siegert, Mississippi State University
“A Tale of Tree Bark: How Morphology and Structure Influence Hydrology”

https://auburn.zoom.us/j/82304906921

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.

SFWS Seminar Series - Dr. Charlotte Roy
2020-11-17 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Dr. Charlotte Roy, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
“Wildlife Consumption of Neonicotinoid-treated Seeds”

https://auburn.zoom.us/j/82304906921

Faculty, students, and the public are invited to attend this free program.
CFEs are available by request.
Advanced registration is not required.

SFWS Seminar Series - Nicole Conner
2021-02-02 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States
Nicole Conner, M.S., “Adapting New Technologies for Evaluating the Ecology and Distribution of the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) in Alabama”
Join the seminar via Zoom at: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/4334742503
The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), an emydid turtle that plays an important ecological role in salt marsh ecosystems, has declined over the last century and is listed as a Priority One Species (highest conservation concern) in Alabama. Traditional surveying techniques have been employed to monitor diamondback terrapins on the coast of Alabama throughout the last decade; yet these techniques can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and disruptive to terrapins and their habitats. This study evaluated the potential for UAS technology and eDNA methodologies to effectively monitor diamondback terrapin presence, abundance, and/or distribution in salt marsh habitats. UAS-based surveys were conducted in 2017 and 2020 and the observational results indicated that UASs can provide an efficient and cost-effective means of evaluating both the spatial and seasonal abundance of terrapins in the tidal channels of salt marsh habitats. To develop an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for diamondback terrapins, primer-pairs were designed to target a sequence of terrapin mtDNA. Then, a protocol was developed for the efficient collection of water samples and isolation of eDNA. The assay was first tested in the laboratory and was then tested with water samples collected from salt marsh habitats in Alabama. Additionally, a control eDNA assay for striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), an abundant species in Alabama salt marshes, was developed. Striped mullet eDNA was present in most environmental samples, but detection ability appears to vary seasonally. The diamondback terrapin eDNA assay can accurately detect terrapin eDNA from the water of captive terrapins in the laboratory, but the present methodology does not appear sufficient for the detection of the levels of terrapin eDNA in the habitats examined. With improvements to primer specificity and assay sensitivity, this eDNA methodology may be able to detect diamondback terrapins in their natural habitat. The results of this study suggest that UAS and eDNA technologies both present promising means for the detection of diamondback terrapins in salt marsh ecosystems. These studies provide a foundation for the potential use of these technologies in diamondback terrapin conservation or research, which could significantly complement and enhance ongoing diamondback terrapin research throughout its range.
Speaker Biography:
​Nicole Conner, M.S., is a researcher and teaching assistant at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her passion for marine conservation and management led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology at the University of Alabama. Before beginning graduate school, she completed an REU internship through the Duke University Marine Lab and an internship at the Georgia Aquarium. In the summer, Nicole received her Master’s of Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham for her research evaluating the use of drones and environmental DNA for monitoring the diamondback terrapin in Alabama, a species of high conservation concern. Her hope is that her research can help inform future studies focused on monitoring a variety of threatened and endangered species with sparse and/or poorly understood distributions.

SFWS Seminar Series - Catherine Haase
2021-02-09 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States
Catherine Haase, Ph. D., “The energetic costs of disease: a case study on the bioenergetics of white-nose syndrome”
Join the seminar via Zoom at: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/89065627233?pwd=[REDACTED]
In multihost disease systems, differences in mortality between species may reflect variation in host physiology, morphology, and behavior. In systems where the pathogen can persist in the environment, microclimate conditions, and the adaptation of the host to these conditions, may also impact mortality. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging disease of hibernating bats caused by an environmentally persistent fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. We assessed the effects of body mass, torpid metabolic rate, evaporative water loss, and hibernaculum temperature and water vapor deficit on predicted overwinter survival of bats infected by P. destructans. We used a hibernation energetics model in an individual-based model framework to predict the probability of survival of nine bat species at eight sampling sites across North America. The model predicts time until fat exhaustion as a function of species-specific host characteristics, hibernaculum microclimate, and fungal growth. We found host body mass and hibernaculum water vapor deficit explained over half of the variation in survival with WNS across species. As previous work on the interplay between host and pathogen physiology and the environment has focused on species with narrow microclimate preferences, our view on this relationship is limited. Our results highlight some key predictors of interspecific survival among western bat species and provide a framework to assess impacts of WNS as the fungus continues to spread into western North America.
Speaker Biography: Dr. Haase received her B.S. in Wildlife from Unity College in Maine, her M.S. in Conservation Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida (GO GATORS!). Dr. Haase did her post-doctoral research at Montana State University studying the energetics of white-nose syndrome in western bat species. Outside of research and teaching, Dr. Haase enjoys hiking, kayaking, ice cream, R code, and awkward mammals.

SFWS Seminar Series - Andrew Durso
2021-02-23 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States
Andrew Durso, Ph.D., “Crowd-sourcing and artificial intelligence for snake identification”
Join the seminar via Zoom at: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/89065627233?pwd=[REDACTED]
Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease, annually responsible for >100,000 human deaths & >400,000 victims of disability globally. It disproportionately affects poor & rural communities in developing countries, which also have high snake diversity & limited access to antivenom. Antivenom can be life-saving when correctly administered but administration often depends on the correct identification of the biting snake. Snake identification is challenging due to snake diversity & potentially incomplete or misleading information provided to clinicians by snakebite victims or bystanders. Clinicians do not necessarily have enough knowledge or resources in herpetology to identify a snake from a carcass or photo. We collected a massive global repository of photos of snakes from various sources, which is used in the above experiments, and used the images to measure the accuracy of crowd-sourcing and computer vision at identifying snakes, with the goal of building the first medical decision-support mobile app for snake identification based on artificial intelligence (AI) & remote collaborative expertise. We anticipate that this tool can reduce potentially erroneous or delayed healthcare actions, as well as increase knowledge about snake identification and help collect basic information about snake distribution and activity patterns and promote snake conservation.
Speaker Biography:
Andrew Durso was born in New York and grew up in North Carolina. He is a snake biologist with a focus on population and community ecology of snakes, who earned a B.S. from University of Georgia, M.S. from Eastern Illinois University, and Ph.D. from Utah State University. He was based in Jena, Germany, and Geneva, Switzerland from 2016-2019, where he helped develop crowd-sourced and artificial intelligence approaches to snake identification with a goal of improving snake identification tools for doctors and patients in snakebite cases worldwide. Andrew joined the faculty at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida, in January 2020.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park chief ranger and Auburn alumna Lisa Hendy '94, giving virtual talk March 25
2021-03-25 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Auburn University will host a virtual talk with Auburn alumna Lisa Hendy ’94, chief ranger of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on March 25 as part of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ 75th Anniversary Celebration.
Hendy is the first speaker in the virtual “7 for 75 Speaker Series” as part of the school’s yearlong celebration, which began March 1. She will talk about her time at Auburn and her roles as chief ranger and lead supervisor of the Appalachian/Piedmont Zone Wildlife and Land Fire Program, which serves 22 parks in the Southeast.
The talk is open to the public via Zoom from 2-3 p.m. CDT at https://auburn.zoom.us/j/86046413902, and live-streamed via the school’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ausfws/live/.
The “7 for 75 Speaker Series” is designed to feature distinguished alumni and industry leaders representing an array of forestry, wildlife and natural resource fields and enterprises. Speakers will cover a wide range of topics, from land management to current and future technology to stakeholder engagement.
The next speaker will be Adam Howard ’97, director of farm operations at the Arbor Day Farm of the Arbor Day Foundation, on April 29 from 2-3 p.m. CT.

M.S. Seminar: Hannah Leeper
2021-03-26 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
M.S. Seminar: Hannah Leeper, Maj. Prof, Dr. Todd Steury
Title: Resource selection at different spatial scales by Black Bears in Alabama
Location: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/86262870465
Date: Friday, March 26, 2021
Time: 2 p.m.
Abstract:
Black bears are native throughout Alabama; however, historic populations have diminished, in part from decreased connectivity and habitat degradation. At present, only two small populations of black bears occur in Alabama. One population is growing quickly in number, while the other is genetically isolated from other black bear populations in the southeastern U.S. Neither population exhibits the spatial growth patterns characteristic of what small populations could achieve. The observed limited spatial growth and genetic isolation could be explained by a lack of corridors, resulting in decreased connectivity, or limited population expansion could be caused by human development and a lack of suitable habitat. Therefore, we created first- and second-order habitat selection models using a Geographic Information System (GIS) for black bears in Alabama in order to understand resource selection at these two spatial scales. The objective of the first-order selection model was to identify potential spatial barriers and areas of population connectivity in Alabama. Models indicated that a lack of available corridors in south Alabama may be limiting gene flow with black bear populations in Florida. Conversely, potential corridors in north Alabama may be facilitating population connectivity and expansion. The objectives of the second-order selection model were to understand how black bears use human dominated landscapes in Alabama and to understand more about the potential for population range expansion despite widespread human presence. We found that much of Alabama has a relatively low potential for population expansion; however, there are areas that could provide opportunities for population growth, allowing bear populations to approach their historic distribution. Understanding potential spatial barriers and population expansion in Alabama could help to inform wildlife managers who are seeking to enhance bear populations and prepare for potential bear population growth in the state and elsewhere in the U.S.

Ph.D. Seminar: Diego Gomez Maldonado
2021-03-31 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Chicago) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
Ph.D. Seminar: Diego Gomez Maldonado, Maj. Prof, Dr. Maria Soledad Peresin
Title: Development of bio-based systems as pollutants removal for water remediation
Location: Dixon Executive Conference Room, 3315
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Time: 8 a.m.
Abstract:
Cellulose nanofibril were used as scaffolds for the development of adsorbents for pollutants; in particular, the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR. The adsorbents were modified to capture the toxin with the inclusion of β-cyclodextrin. The first approach tested was the direct adsorption onto the surface of the fibrils and evaluated on thin films by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring and in bulk by the generation aerogels from the modified fibrils which adsorption was followed by High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography. The adsorption occurred in both levels, with better results in surface level; interestingly the adsorption was limited by the density of crosslinking of the cyclodextrin and the salinity of the media carrying the microcystin.
The second approach was the generation of an active coating with oriented β-cyclodextrin immobilized on chitosan. The coating of nanocellulose fibers was done by the passive method of immersion of the material to coat into a solution with a strong ion presence. Moreover, the adsorption of the cyanotoxin was achieved on thin films as followed on the Quartz Crystal Microbalance. The coating was also tested on 3D structures generated by both typical approaches for nanostructured materials: nanocellulose beads from a bottom-up technique and delignified wood (nanowood) from a top-down. On the tested systems the successful coating was confirmed by different spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Furthermore, the adsorption of the toxin was successful only on the coated materials, demonstrating that the coating not only modified the surface area but also added the aimed activity to remove pollutants such as microcystin-LR.

Summer Practicum Orientation
2021-04-05 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
The Office of Student Services will conduct a summer practicum student orientation on Monday, April 5, 2021 at 5 p.m. Attendance is mandatory for applicable students. More information will be provided in advance of the orientation by Dr. Jodie Kenney.

SFWS Seminar Series - Beatriz Vega
2021-04-06 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | SFWS Virtual Sessions, United States
The Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Seminar Series continues with Dr. Beatriz Vega, Research Fellow in the Auburn University Forest Products Development Center. Dr. Vega will present a talk titled, “Formaldehyde paper-based device (PAD) for a cost-efficient detection of formaldehyde emissions from wood panels,” on Tuesday, April 6, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Join the seminar via Zoom at https://auburn.zoom.us/j/9398596544.
Short Bio of Beatriz Vega
Beatriz Vega is a Research Fellow in the Forest Products Development Center in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University. She has earned her Ph.D. degree from the Chemical Engineering Department in Åbo Akademi University in Turku, Finland, and her Master’s Degree from the Organic Chemistry Department in the Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de la República (UdelaR) in Montevideo, Uruguay. The research work during her doctoral studies was mainly focused on fiber engineering using polysaccharide derivatives, biomass fractionation, and material characterization using traditional and advanced techniques. The research carried out for her degree from the Organic Chemistry Department in Uruguay focused on biotransformation of the main component in eucalyptus oil using fungi cells under resting cell conditions. As a Research Fellow, Beatriz Vega is trying to contribute to Dr. Via’s group in SFWS with her biomass conversion, biomass characterization, and chemistry background.
Abstract
Formaldehyde paper-based device (PAD) for a cost-efficient detection of formaldehyde emissions from wood panels Alfredo García, Lorena Portilla, Beatriz Vega*, and Brian Via. Forest Products Development Center, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849. The rapid advances in technology and the emerging analytical tools are providing new opportunities for the valorisation of under-utilized biomass and creating the best scenario for the development of innovative solutions. At the same time, these momentous changes are shaping the nature of jobs available, setting unprecedented challenges for the traditional production sectors. The forest products sector is not an exception and is trying to update their production patterns rapidly and address the changes. It is foreseen that the most important changes in the forest processing sector will occur in the construction sector and that the demand for engineering wood products such as pre-cut lumber, and wood panels construction. Just in 2017, the structural panel consumption and housing starts in the US were 20 million m3 and 1.6 million m3 , respectively, and have increased over the past years, with average industry growth of 4.3% in the period 2014-2019, a market size of $28 billion and industry employment of over 86000, according to IBIS World industry research report. The engineered wood manufacturers follow strict protocols and regulations to ensure the optimum performance and certify the safety of their products, either during fabrication or during the long service life of their products, the manufacturers. In particular, low formaldehyde emissions are recommended by different agencies such as the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), California Air Resources Board (CARB), the European Union, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), ASTM D6007-14 and ASTM E1333-14. During this presentation, our research related to a Formaldehyde paper-based device (PAD) for a costefficient detection of formaldehyde emissions from wood panels will be presented. Keywords: forest products, engineered wood, paper-based devices (PAD), formaldehyde emissions, formaldehyde detection *ibv0002@auburn.edu

75th Anniversary Student Awards Celebration Open House
2021-04-14 14:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn, AL, 36849, United States
The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will host the 75th Anniversary Student Awards Celebration on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. to honor students, faculty, and staff chosen for their outstanding academic performance and contributions.
* Events are subject to Auburn University COVID-19 safety protocols and may be offered virtually or canceled depending on university guidelines.

75th Anniversary "7 for 75" Speaker Series Presents Adam Howard '97
2021-04-29 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom, Link to be provided
Auburn University will host a virtual talk with Auburn alumnus Adam Howard ’97, director of farm operations at Arbor Day Farm, on April 29 as part of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ 75th Anniversary Celebration.
Howard is the second speaker of the virtual “7 for 75 Speaker Series” hosted as part of the school’s yearlong celebration, which began March 1. He will give a talk titled, “How the Arbor Day Foundation impacts our world through the power of trees.” Howard will discuss his time at Auburn, his career and current position as director of farm operations, the significance of Arbor Day and the critical role of the Arbor Day Foundation.
The seminar is open to the public via Zoom from 2 – 3 p.m. CDT at https://auburn.zoom.us/j/84987679613 and will be live-streamed via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ausfws/live/.
The “7 for 75 Speaker Series” is designed to feature distinguished alumni and industry leaders representing an array of forestry, wildlife and natural resource fields and enterprises. Speakers will cover a wide range of topics, from land management to current and future technology to stakeholder engagement.
The next speaker will be Dr. Dana Breed, global research and development director of packaging and sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company, who will discuss sustainable packaging trends and innovation on May 27 from 2-3 p.m. CT. For more information about the anniversary celebration, visit https://cfwe.auburn.edu/sfws-75th-anniversary/ .
Read more about Adam Howard online.
