April brings us to the busy home stretch of the spring semester, with finals and graduation less than a month away.

One of the most exciting and welcome events this year will be the Odum School’s Spring Fling awards celebration on April 29, when Ecology returns to an in-person gathering after two years of virtual events. This year’s theme is “Earth Day 1970,” in honor of the first Earth Day observed in the United States (4/221970), which marked the start of the modern environmental movement. Visit this link to hear an audio recording of Eugene P. Odum talking about the first Earth Day one year after the inaugural event. For historical perspective, Earth Day 1970 catalyzed broad support for legislative actions to protect the environment, including the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the passage of the Clean Air Act, followed closely by the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, all within a few years’ time. Over the past five decades, Earth Day has grown into the largest non-religious global observance, to continue the push for a thriving healthy planet. This year, in celebrating the many accomplishments of Odum School faculty, staff and students during Ecology’s Spring Fling event, we will reflect on past progress and the challenges that lie ahead in securing a brighter future for the planet and its people.

During March and April, the Odum School hosted a number of events, including the annual Odum Lecture, presented on April 12 by Dr. JoAnn Burkholder of NC State University. Burkholder discussed her long-term research on the impacts of excess nitrogen from sewage and animal waste on aquatic ecosystems. This was the first in-person Odum Lecture since the start of the pandemic, and was followed by a reception in the Ecology main lobby.

On March 17, Odum School Professor Emeritus Jim Porter participated in a virtual panel discussion “Understanding Ukraine” to provide the environmental perspective on the ongoing conflict. Organized by the UGA School of Law, this panel included faculty from seven different schools and colleges across UGA and reached an audience of 400+ virtual participants.

The annual CURO Symposium took place April 4-5 at the Classic Center, with 26 posters and presentations by Ecology students.

On April 11, UGA’s Charter Lecture was presented by newly-awarded Regents’ Professor John Drake, who discussed collaborative work in smallpox in early America together with historian Claudio Saunt.

Ecology’s weekly Friday Coffee Hours continued throughout the spring semester, with the March 4 coffee hour catered by Java Joy, and the April 8 coffee hour recognizing graduate and professional student appreciation week. April 15 marked the return of the Great Odum Bake-Off, where students, faculty and staff competed for prizes across seven categories, including “something with a swirl” and “savory pies.”

The spring semester also featured an exciting array of scientific presentations and visits by seminar speakers, including a non-academic careers panel, and by faculty job candidates for positions in the River Basin Center and the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases.

Georgia Giving Day 2022 was a huge success, across the University of Georgia and here in the Odum School of Ecology. On March 31, UGA alumni, faculty, friends, students, staff, and families gave over 9,300 gifts in excess of $5.3 million towards UGA scholarships, student programs, and more. To align with Giving Day, the Odum School launched our new Undergraduate Student Support Fund to support study away, research, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities for Ecology majors. Support from this fund will reduce financial barriers and allow more students to participate in the full range of experiences offered through the Odum School and beyond. On Giving Day 2022, the Odum School set up a giving day station in the front lobby to give away promotional items and accept donations and pledges. Ecology received a total of 77 gifts totaling just over $5,000, which will benefit our students in the coming academic year. If you missed Giving Day, you can make a difference for Ecology students by providing a gift today!

During March and April, the Odum School of Ecology launched our Alumni Board Working Group! We are delighted that 16 distinguished Ecology alums agreed to contribute their time and energy to participate in this group, including: Liz Blood (PhD ‘81), Matt Bonds (PhD ‘08), David Bowne (MS CESD ‘97), Tim Carter (PhD ‘06), Andrew Durso (BS ‘09), Shafkat Khan (PhD ‘16), Jack Liu (PhD ‘92), Calley Mersmann (BS ‘11), Marirosa Molina (PhD ‘01), Mike Paul (PhD ‘99), Emma Rosi (PhD ‘02), Diane Sanzone (PhD ‘01), Hayley Schroeder (BS ‘18), Buck Trible (BS ‘13), and Irene Wright (AB ‘21). The working group will meet monthly throughout the year, with a focus on defining the future Alumni Board’s goals and leadership structure. Priorities for Ecology’s Board will include supporting networking and communications, advising on strategic development in the Odum School, and supporting philanthropy and events. With over 1,400 graduate and undergraduate alums of the Odum School living across the country and around the world, we look forward to building new connections with Ecology alumni, celebrating alumni accomplishments, and involving alumni in our future events and goals. Please join me in thanking the Alumni Board Working Group for their efforts, and let us know if you would like to get involved with Ecology’s alumni board.

It’s been said many times during the past two years: We are living in extraordinary times. Nearly every day, we are reminded of the ongoing global pandemic, the increasingly dire projections on climate change, the escalating crisis in Ukraine, economic stressors, mental health pressures, and other concerns. Against this backdrop, the Odum School community has pressed on with our core mission: to study ecological processes that shape the world, to inspire and train future leaders, and to identify science-based solutions to environmental problems. This mission has never been more important than it is today. As I look around our school, I’m reminded of the profound research discoveries by Odum School ecologists, our commitment to learning and student engagement, and our focus on making the world a better place. I’m also reminded that we are working as a collaborative community, using our diverse skills, knowledge and approaches, towards this common good.