On Nov. 24, The School for Field Studies, headquartered in Salem, Mass., has presented the Distinguished Student Researcher Award to Justin Dohn, a senior at St. Mary¹s College of Maryland.

Dohn, of Wilton, Conn. was presented the award in recognition of his exceptional environmental research skills during the spring semester at the SFS Center for Rainforest Studies in Queensland, Australia.  The award is given to outstanding SFS college students who have made an important contribution to an environmental field or discipline and to their respective SFS Center¹s Five Year Research Plan.

“This news is wonderful,” said Terry Leonard, SMCM librarian and Dohn¹s academic advisor.  “Justin exemplifies how … students can combine their interests into a self-designed major. He arrived with an advanced placement course in environmental science and during the spring semester of his first year took an environmental independent study course.”

Leonard went on to state that Dohn understood the value of experiences beyond the classroom. “His interests have morphed into his student-designed environmental studies major with minors in philosophy and biology.”

School for Field Studies President, Bonnie Clendenning, and Program Dean, Dr. Robin Sears, presented the award with a nomination from Dohn¹s directed research advisor, Dr. Tim Curran.

Dohn's project is entitled, The Effectiveness of Three Weed Control Methods on the Removal of Lantana Camara in Forty Mile Scrub National Park.

This plant species threatens the biodiversity of the semi-evergreen vine thicket at the National Park.  By testing and evaluating three removal methods, Dohn was able to produce data and a management plan which will be of direct use to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, which manages the National Park.

“Justin's directed research project exemplifies the SFS model of applying field-based research to an environmental problem to provide sound guidelines to natural resource management managers,” said Curran.

SFS centers have developed long-term research plans to help identify, address, and resolve critical environmental problems, providing information to assist local, regional, and national agencies in resource management decision-making.  Since 1980, SFS, America¹s oldest and largest environmental study abroad program for college undergraduates, has combined hands-on environmental studies with scientific research to develop sustainable solutions to critical environmental problems.