ESP alumnus motivates high school students

Albert Kirk Smith (PhD, 2011) is a Department of Environmental Science and Policy graduate and current Affiliate Faculty member. Since his graduation, he has been applying methods developed during his doctoral research to working with high school students.

This work entails involving highly motivated high school students in environmental monitoring and natural resource management. His approach is somewhat unique considering that the students actually produce quality controlled data utilized by natural resource agencies.  Their efforts were recorded in an environmental documentary (see video below). The students have also presented at Virginia’s American Fisheries Society annual meeting last year – the first time high school students have presented at the meeting.

Dr. Smith is also highly involved as a volunteer resource manager for the local Trout Unlimited (TU) chapter.  The National TU organization has been interested in his procedures and are considering piloting the approach over a larger geographic region.