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» Have You Hugged A Giant Tree Today? Simmons Students Have!


No matter what career Simmons students enter, an understanding of how the natural resources they use are harvested, managed, restored, and protected is crucial. That's why Simmons College Assistant Biology Professor Vlad Douhovnikoff is passionate about instilling an understanding of the impact they have on the planet.

"A person is a better manager, teacher, doctor, or service provider if they know where the resources they use come from, and how those resources are influenced by their decisions," said Douhovnikoff, who specializes in ecology - the study of interactions between organisms and with their physical environment.

Douhovnikoff recently led students on an exploration of the natural ecosystems of California, the most ecologically diverse state in the U.S., and the surrounding region. Students visited sites such as the redwoods of Muir Woods National Park - home of the tallest tree species in the world - the vast Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and the glacier-carved valleys of Yosemite National Park.

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Topics of study included wildlife, plant taxonomy, forestry, grazing, biodiversity, fire management, and soils.

Alanna Kassarjian, a junior environmental science major, said her favorite aspect of the trip was spending a week at the University of California at Berkeley Forestry Camp in Northeastern Sierra, Nevada.

"We worked on plant identification, and discussed fire and restoration and the effects of microclimate and elevation on vegetation," said Kassarjian. "It was a great experience to be exposed to so many issues that we have talked about before, like logging. This class put us there."

Sadie Broadley, a sophomore physical therapy major, said she was intrigued by the mystery of the Mono Lake, a hyper-saline lake located in southeastern California.  At first glance, the lake looks like an ordinary freshwater lake, but it actually hosts a thriving community of alkali flies, brine shrimp, and California gulls - all of which play a role in the dynamic ecosystem.

"I concluded that things are not always what they seem," Broadley said. "I am sure that will happen quite frequently in my career as a physical therapist, and I will have to dig deeper to find clues to help me figure out what is actually going on."

Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service participated in many of the students' field trips, demonstrating commonly used natural resource management techniques and highlighting societal demands, constraints, and environmental risks involved.