A research paper written by Janelle Sylvester ’14, Environmental Science and Policy major, titled “Impact of White-Tailed Deer Browsing on Plant Species Composition in the Central Texas Hill Country Preserves,” won the best undergraduate paper award for the 19th Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference on the Environment that was held in Portland, Oregon in June, 2013. The award entitles Janelle to a free registration for the 20th Annual conference to be held in Denver, Colorado June 13-15, 2014.
This year’s conference will center around “the increasing need to combine ideas and research findings from different disciplines to enhance our understanding of the interactions between the natural environment and human institutions.” It brings together environmental academics, practitioners, and interested colleagues regardless of discipline or country of origin. Janelle will be able to sit in on panel discussions, attend poster sessions, chair sessions, roundtable discussions, and more.
Besides her commendable academic pursuits such as winning the prestigious graduate scholarship Tropimundo and a $1,500 scholarship from the National Recycling Coalition, Janelle was the President of St. Edward’s University Students for Sustainability for two years.