Lauren Banina Examines Region's Creek Habitats, Environmental Sites

VALPARAISO, IN (09/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Lauren Banina is one of two Valparaiso University students gaining a better understanding of environmental issues in Northwest Indiana this summer as part of an international effort to promote stewardship of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The environmental work, taking place at more than a half dozen sites across Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, is being conducted with support and leadership from GLISTEN (Great Lakes Innovative Stewardship Through Education Network), a three-year project harnessing the expertise and innovation of college faculty and undergraduate students in eight states and two Canadian provinces.

Banina, a junior biochemistry major from Peru, Ind., also has spent much of her summer working on a project involving the restoration to their original state of Northwest Indiana sites damaged by pollution and other destructive forces. Banina and her research partners, with the support of the Northwest Indiana Restoration Monitoring Inventory, are traveling to many of these sites in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

"We lay out plots and use an inventory method involving different sized nesting modules for which we record every kind of plant life found on these different levels," said Banina. "This data will be made available to other researchers and restorers so they can track the progress of the restorations and the effects of different restoration methods."

As she begins her junior year, Spera, the daughter of Daniel and Helene Banina of Peru, Ind., said the research is helping her make decisions about pursuing a meaningful career path.

"I now know that I want to go to graduate school for environmental science and eventually work with wildlife, possibly even in a desert," said Spera. "This work, and the support of my professors at Valpo, has helped me decide what I want to do because it's shaping my ideas about what my larger goals in life are."

Laurie Eberhardt, an associate professor of biology who is supervising the students' work this summer, said research gives each student an opportunity to personalize their educational experience.

"These students are working with environmental organizations in the region and with students from other schools as a way to build close relationships between these organizations and local universities, to gain valuable skills for future environmental careers, and to help develop future service learning projects for Valpo courses," Eberhardt said.

More information about Valpo's Department of Biology and Environmental Science Program can be found online at www.valpo.edu/biology or www.valpo.edu/environmentalscience.

About Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University is a comprehensive university that enrolls more than 4,000 students on its campus southeast of downtown Chicago. A community of purpose-driven, empowered, service-minded and ethical individuals who embrace the pursuit of truth with freedom, humility and compassion, Valpo has been identified as one of the top master's-level institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report magazine for the past 22 years.

More than 110 undergraduate academic programs are offered through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering and Nursing. Valpo also has a distinguished honors college-Christ College, a School of Law and more than 40 degree and certificate programs in its Graduate School and Continuing Education Division. Valpo has been recognized for its commitment to outstanding teaching, preparing thoughtful leaders with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness, and dedication to serving others.