Outdoor Classroom

From zebrafish experiments to studying field sparrows in the Chesapeake region to hiking through Ecuador, Sarah Polo’s experiences in the environmental studies department go far beyond the classroom.

 

What started as an interest in marine conservation quickly became a passion for all things environmental conservation, especially birds. After a trip to Eastern Neck Island Wildlife Refuge with her ornithology class, Sarah realized that she was fascinated with the study of birds. Following her passion, she interned with the Center for Environment & Society (CES) during the summer following her junior year, studying field sparrow nests in the grasslands of the College’s River and Field Campus.

Now a senior, Sarah’s passion is coming full circle as she plans to study declining seabird populations for her Senior Capstone Experience. As an anthropology minor, “I am really interested in how humans interact with the environment,” she explained, and as humans continue to interfere with seabirds’ diets, “I want to understand why these populations are declining.”

Sarah’s research experience extends beyond wildlife too, as she’s spent more than two years working as an intern for CES doing carbon accounting. Backtracking through four years of data, Sarah’s calculated the school’s carbon footprint and compared it to similar institutions.

Sarah’s years on the Eastern Shore have been busy, but breathtaking. “This is a really pretty place to go to school,” Sarah says, “and the Chesapeake Bay is the best classroom you can find.”