Embracing philosophy and a proactive attitude in environmental conservation research
Depending on their discipline, researchers have different ways of addressing environmental problems. Biologists might focus on halting species loss, while economists investigate what people are willing to pay for renewable energy.
Professor Evelyn Brister believes that having a philosopher on research teams can help balance differing viewpoints and priorities, while also addressing ethical questions that tend to get lost in the mix.
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Pete Schuck
While Brister holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University, she chose to obtain a master’s degree in environmental science at RIT in 2012 to better inform her current research specialty.
“Philosophers play lots of roles, and one is helping other specialists step back from their immediate projects to look at the bigger picture. When we’re talking about environmental conservation, the big picture is important,” said Brister, director of the College of Liberal Arts’ philosophy program. “We should think about global implications, as well as how these efforts make an impact over time.”
Brister’s expertise lies at the intersection of science, business, policy, and the humanities. She works with other experts to identify and evaluate conservation priorities, helping collaborators come together and maintain focus on that bigger picture. One example is her work toward reviving the functionally extinct American chestnut tree.
Brister and her collaborator Andrew Newhouse, a researcher at SUNY-ESF, argued in a 2020 publication that the wild release of genetically modified organisms can be justified as a way of preserving species and ecosystems. They use the American chestnut as a case study to support a “reorientation of conservation values” away from restoration and toward an alternative framework known as “rewilding.”
Intervening in nature is a fraught topic even among experts. Most often, if nature can recover on its own, then scientists prefer not to intervene. However, Brister explained, when the environment is rapidly changing due to climate change and other factors, the conservative approach to intervention can cause more harm than good.
“We’re in a high-risk situation when it comes to certain kinds of biodiversity loss. If we do nothing, we may risk extinction of some species, and you can’t come back from that,” said Brister. “We can all agree certain actions are too risky, but there are some interventions that warrant further thought and consideration."
Brister argued against the current “ethos of restraint” upheld by conservationists in a 2021 journal publication. Instead, she advocates for replacing this ethos with a new approach: an “ethos of responsible conservation action.” She likens this new approach, which strikes a balance between precaution and proaction, to the “do no harm” principle in healthcare.
“Doctors don’t want to do more harm than good, but sometimes you have to give a patient anesthetic, which is inherently risky, or you may have to cut off a limb to save a person’s life,” she said. “Similarly, scientists are thinking about how we balance the risks of intervention with the potential benefits as we pursue a shared goal of environmental conservation.”
While these issues can seem insurmountable, informed decision making and embracing scientific innovation can be the first step toward global environmental change. Brister is working with scientists and engineers who are exploring the use of advanced cryopreservation technologies and biobanking to help with coral reef restoration.
“The most promising way of helping coral is controlling pollution, but as we work toward that goal, cryopreservation has the potential to give nature a hand when it comes to bringing back healthy reefs,” she said.
In a new book, A Watershed Moment: The American West in the Age of Limits, Brister and her co-editors highlight issues of sustainability in the American West. The collection of essays reveals tensions between a culture of economic growth and personal freedoms, and the ecological, economic, and social constraints set by community values and the land itself. It also presents practical approaches to addressing these issues that are motivated by philosophical views on justice, quality of life, and sustainability in the American West.
“There’s a common assumption that humans are either separate from or using nature for our own purposes, but this leaves out another option—being in a caring relationship with our environment,” Brister said. “We need to fulfill our responsibilities by finding a balance and doing what we can to preserve nature.”
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- Student spotlight: Researching health care for Deaf and hard-of-hearing peopleEmma Kane, a third-year public policy major from Brighton, N.Y., has spent the past year working at the Deaf Health Laboratory, led by the mentors at the Deaf Health Care and Biomedical Sciences Hub (Deaf Hub) at RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. The Deaf Hub was established in 2022 to promote representation of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in healthcare and biomedical science careers. It offers supporting pathways to healthcare careers, a network for Deaf scientists and mentors, and research related to the Deaf community and their health. Kane has been involved with the Deaf Hub since 2023 as a Summer Healthcare Academic Research Program scholar, a Deaf Health Laboratory research assistant, and is now one of the chief research assistants. She has presented at national conferences and local research symposiums about her work. What kind of research are you doing? I’ve been working to find barriers in sex education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing young adults. The goal is to improve access to sexual health resources by gamification and create policy solutions. I also do research on reproductive health experiences of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with uteruses to collect data on reproductive health access and experiences of receiving reproductive health resources. Would you like a career in the medical field? I never thought about doing research until I participated in the SHARP program. It gave me the full autonomy to figure out what type of research I liked, which was public health research. That led me to develop a research proposal on sex education in the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I don’t envision myself working in the medical field, however. I have a huge passion for changing Deaf education through policy work. I aspire to continue researching on the access to education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing kids and provide policy solutions, especially education as a public health issue. I hope to pursue an MBA and possibly a Ph.D. in education policy. My dream is to live in a big metropolitan area, like Washington, D.C. or Boston. What attracted you to become a public policy major? Public policy offers a unique intersection of policy, actions, and regulations, but they are not necessarily about making laws. It’s about creating the big picture–this is what attracted me. I love solving problems and offer out-of-the-box solutions. Public policy requires you to think outside of the box. It’s about creating innovative solutions and practices that can have a huge impact. For me personally, it offers a perfect balance of advocacy and creating innovative solutions and policies that can change the lives of deaf children. What other activities are you involved with? The balance between academic and social life, the research opportunities, and the networking opportunities at RIT are amazing. I’m involved with Alpha Sigma Alpha and Student Government. I’m also the newest e-board member for the College Panhellenic Council. Outside of these activities, I enjoy trying new coffee shops around Rochester and across the country as well!
- ACLU President Deborah Archer headlines 43rd annual Expressions of King’s LegacyRIT will welcome Deborah Archer, eighth president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), to campus on Wednesday, Jan. 29, for the 43rd annual Expressions of King’s Legacy event. Programming will start with a performance by Rochester’s own Garth Fagan Dance. The event will begin at noon and end at 2 p.m. at RIT’s Gordon Field House. Registration is free and open to the public. All attendees are asked to register in order for proper planning and to receive up-to-date event information. Archer was named president of the ACLU in 2021, making her the first person of color to lead the organization in its more than 100-year history. She also is a professor of clinical law at the New York University School of Law and faculty director of the school’s Community Equity Initiative. As a young child of Jamaican immigrants, Archer experienced racism and discrimination firsthand, leading her down a lifelong path to fight racism, classism, and anti-immigrant sentiment. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continuously fought for legislation to promote civil rights, so having Dr. Archer on campus to speak on these issues is a great way to honor his legacy,” said Keith Jenkins, vice president and associate provost for the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. “Many of the things Dr. King fought for are things Dr. Archer and the ACLU are still advocating for today. I encourage all across our campus and community to take advantage in joining us for this event.” Prior to her time at NYU, Archer worked as an attorney with the ACLU and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. She litigated in the areas of voting rights, employment discrimination, and school desegregation. Her list of honors from community organizations and legal institutions is vast, and she is toted as a leading expert in civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice. Archer is a graduate of Yale Law School and Smith College. Garth Fagan Dance is an internationally recognized contemporary American dance company founded in Rochester in the 1970’s. For decades, the school invites young people regardless of race, gender, or financial resources to fulfill their potential, while the company provides performances and activities that enrich the community. The company’s namesake came to America from Jamaica in 1960 and was inspired by the raw talent and perseverance of students from inner-city Rochester, leading to the formation of Garth Fagan Dance. Fagan is perhaps best known as the Tony-award winning choreographer of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. In May 2024, he received an honorary doctorate from RIT. Expressions of King’s Legacy is a decades-old celebration at RIT. Beginning in 1982, the Committee for Promoting Pluralism and the Black Awareness Coordinating Committee held the Conference on Racism, which in 2002 was renamed the Expressions of Diversity Conference. In 2010, an annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was combined into a week-long event called Expressions of King’s Legacy. The program moved under the Division of Diversity and Inclusion in 2012 and continues as the longest-standing diversity program at the university. For more information on the event and to register, visit the Expressions of King’s Legacy website.
- Faculty exhibit in Venice earns a European Cultural Centre AwardA group of six faculty members in RIT’s College of Art and Design have earned the University & Research Projects Award from the European Cultural Centre (ECC) for their collection of works, titled “Cultural Disruptors.” “Cultural Disruptors” was displayed at the ECC Palazzo Mora, located in Venice, Italy, as part of the “Personal Structures” exhibition, which ran from April 20 through Nov. 24, 2024, and was a featured exhibition during the 2024 Venice Art Biennial. The faculty who received the award, and their works, include: Vashti Anderson, assistant professor, School of Film and Animation — “Moko Jumbie” (film) Christine Banna, assistant professor, School of Film and Animation — “Pink Pottery” (experimental animation) Elizabeth Kronfield, director, Schools of Art and American Crafts — “Chasing Tail” (sculpture) Joshua Rashaad McFadden, assistant professor, School of Photographic Arts and Sciences — “Love Without Justice” (photography) Juan Noguera, assistant professor, School of Design — “PastFastForward” (design, artificial intelligence) Shanti Thakur, director, School of Film and Animation — “Terrible Children” (film) The jury of the ECC Awards celebrated the excellence displayed by participants in the “Personal Structures” exhibition. The international jury was composed of a group of professionals working in the arts, including: Amit Gupta, Founder & Editor in Chief at STIRworld; Steve Bisson, Head of the Photography Department at Paris College of Art, Founder of Penisola Edizioni, and Editor in Chief at Urbanautica; Alexandra Laqueur, Managing Director and Maria Nekrassova, Co-founder of the European Cultural Academy; and Saskia Fernando, Director of Saskia Fernando Gallery, Paradise Road Group and Founder of KALĀ platform. The winners received a limited-edition artwork by the Dutch artist René Rietmeyer, founder of the ECC. Visit the “Personal Structures” website for more details about the award. Explore the artworks ECC/Federico Vespignani “Moko Jumbie,” written and directed by Vashti Anderson, explores themes of race, class and post-colonialism through a fictional story set in rural Trinidad. The film leans into magical realism, where taboo attraction lives amongst spirits in the natural world. Provided “Pink Pottery” is an independent, experimental animation created by Christine Banna that juxtaposes vibrant imagery of the earliest artmaking with modern destructive technology. It is an exploration of our relationship with material culture, and includes art objects such as cave paintings, fertility figures, and pottery contrasted against destructive objects like arrows to modern missiles. Provided “Chasing Tail,” created by Elizabeth Kronfield is a sculpture composed of cast iron and horsehair that explores the complexities of gender identity and connection as forced onto materials and forms. Provided “Love without Justice” is a series of photos by Joshua Rashaad McFadden that delves into an autobiographical archive where intimate connections, the Black church, and vulnerability in family interconnect. Provided “PastFastForward” is an industrial design experiment created by Juan Noguera. The project disrupts artificial intelligence tools of the global north by pairing them with traditional sand-casting techniques of Antigua, Guatemala, and prompts viewers to consider the unique relationships to capitalistic colonization. Provided “Terrible Children” poses the universal question, “must we betray our family to grow up?” Written, directed, and edited by Shanti Thakur, the feature documentary film reveals the rich and complex interior lives of boys fighting to become men through personal narrative, reimagined history, and chronicles of racial nationalism.
- Student spotlight: Fulbright student's research applies AI to real-world problemsDiana Velychko, a Fulbright master’s student in artificial intelligence, is paving the way for more intuitive artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Originally from Ternopil, Ukraine, Velychko’s academic journey has taken her to exchange programs across Europe and now to RIT. Her work focuses on the intersection of human perception and AI, aiming to bridge the gap between how people see the world and how machines interpret it. Through her classes and research, she works to apply AI to real-world problems. What made you want to study AI? While in Ukraine, I took an AI machine learning course where we did a project in computer vision. Even though ChatGPT wasn’t around yet, I thought AI might be good for the future. I found it to be really challenging and really exciting. I like that we can create something that we can’t really predict what it’s going to do. How did you become a Fulbright student? I’ve had a diverse educational experience owing to studying at Ternopil Ivan Pul’uj National Technical University which allowed me to do a few exchange programs in Europe, including a semester abroad in Spain and Lithuania. I was excited to see what university life is like in U.S., so I applied for the Fulbright Ukraine program. RIT was my first choice because it offered a specialized master’s in AI—something that is rare and not typically offered as a standalone degree. I’m really grateful for the helpful professors at RIT and for the Fulbright program that allowed me to gain new perspectives. What projects are you working on in AI? I just published a paper in satellite imagery. As a machine learning intern in the Adaptive Human-Robot Teaming Lab last summer, with Assistant Professor Jamison Heard, improved a model that detects cars, ships, planes, trains and other small moving objects in satellite imagery. We trained the model to be more robust toward perturbations, or noise in the training data. In RIT’s Brain Lab, I’m collaborating with computer engineering researcher Associate Professor Cory Merkel and psychology researcher Professor Andrew Herbert to understand how humans learn to classify synthetic images they’ve never seen before. Using eye-tracking technology, we analyze which parts of an image people pay attention to when learning about new objects. The goal is to apply these patterns to enhance AI architecture, so AI models classify objects more robustly, similarly to humans. What are some ways that AI can help people? Right now, Ukraine has electricity shortages due to the ongoing war and bombarding that has destroyed electrical stations. So, officials schedule when electricity can be available to different populations. Just the other day, my family only had two hours of electricity for the day. However, it can take officials days—even weeks—to manually create these schedules and remake them after each attack. In my Introduction to AI class with Professor Cecilia Alm at RIT, we learned about genetic algorithms—optimization techniques based on evolutionary principles. I was able to use those algorithms in a project to quickly create schedules, saving time and allowing people to plan when they will get access to electricity. I published a paper on this topic in Ukraine. Recently, an AI-based algorithm was introduced to accelerate the process of energy redistribution and the creation of electricity schedules.
- Researchers discover solutions to build stronger bridgesAging infrastructure is a major issue in the U.S. with nearly 50 percent of bridges considered in poor condition—nearly 12 percent are over 80 years old; 42 percent are over 50. Many have high volumes of traffic. Investments are often for immediate repairs, but today engineering researchers are exploring how structural changes might improve longevity, safety, and construction costs. One structural study done by researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology found that reorienting piles, the legs or foundation, of bridge structures, nearer to the main abutments can increase the service life of a bridge. The optimized design can better withstand seismic forces and temperature variations, said Amanda Bao, professor and interim department chair of RIT’s Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety in the College of Engineering Technology. “We found that reorientation reduces load demands that degrade the materials,” said Bao, who worked with civil engineering technology undergraduate students Albert Petry and James Warren this fall and co-authored the paper, “Optimizing steel pile design in integral abutment bridges.” Results were published in the Proceedings of Geo-Structures 2024 and presented at the recent ASCE Geo-Structures Conference in late November in Pittsburgh. Conventional bridges consist of a bridge deck (surface), girders (deck supporting components), and abutments with expansion joints at the girder ends. Abutments, the attachments at each end of a bridge, connect the main structure with the ground and bear the structural load. Due to the location of the expansion joints, girders have the most deterioration because of gaps where moisture and de-icing chemicals seep in and erode both the girder ends and the abutments. Newer integral abutment bridges have the girder ends fully encased into the concrete abutment walls at the ends of the bridge and have been found to significantly decrease erosion by eliminating the expansion joints. “The pile orientation is the main focus of our study because we found that each state has a different practice, and it is very inconsistent across the U.S.,” said Petry, a fourth-year student from Merrimac, Mass. “We wanted to know if there is a preference that should be established? Is there a more economical orientation for different areas?” To explore those questions, the researchers built a computer model representing a bridge 130 feet in length, 57 feet wide and fully integral abutments with 40-foot-deep piles. Different forces that impact the structure were applied to the digital model. Model results focused on several critical factors in bridge design—displacement, or movement, at the top of the piles, comparisons between the year-long temperature changes, and seismic zones, then overlaying the assessments along the two different bridge pile orientations. “There are two ways to orient the steel H-piles with the first web of the H-pile being parallel to the flow of traffic, a longitudinal direction. The second orientation is a rotation of 90 degrees, the web perpendicular to traffic flow. That rotates the strong axis of the pile, and it changes the load it can accommodate,” said Warren, a fourth-year student from Montgomery Village, Md. “We then tested which orientation would be best for certain areas where temperature changes and seismic forces control the design.” They found in zones where temperature changes dominate, the longitudinal direction (parallel to the flow of traffic) reduces displacement and load. This indicates the structure is stronger. For zones where seismic forces are prominent, the opposite orientation, the web of the H-pile perpendicular to the flow of traffic, has the lower displacement and load. This data can provide guidelines and refine the best practices used by engineers and bridge designers to form consensus across the U.S., said Bao. The undergraduate research experience that Albert and James gained significantly enhanced their critical thinking skills. They were able to apply what learned in class to investigate something new and contribute to the cutting-edge knowledge in the civil engineering field.” she said.
- Designers leave nothing on the table during the Beyond Fashion showcaseDecked out with technicolor lights and vibrant animated displays, RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios soundstage became a runway last week during Beyond Fashion. The rainbow runway featured a diverse collection of garments and wearables crafted by local designers and RIT students across multiple disciplines. The Exhibition An exhibition about Beyond Fashion, curated by Gabrielle Payne in collaboration with the Beyond Fashion team, will open in RIT’s University Gallery in early 2025. Details coming soon on the University Gallery’s website. The theme for the fashion show was “On the Table,” which paid tribute to Lella and Massimo Vignelli’s designs that exist on the tabletop. Some designers opted for literal interpretations—with models wearing outfits adorned with silver cutlery or, in one case, a dress that emulated a round dining table—while others channeled the elegant simplicity found in many of Vignelli designs. All the designers drew inspiration from the Vignelli Center for Design Studies Archives when crafting their pieces. “The Vignelli’s did extensive work on product design and graphic design for objects that live on a table, like books, dishes, perfume bottles, and all kinds of things,” explained Maddy Schoenfeld ’20 (metals and jewelry design) ’23 (MBA), producer of Beyond Fashion. “There is a lot of very cool source material for designers to work from with this theme.” Schoenfeld has helped lead and organize Beyond Fashion since its inception in 2021. Born from conversations between Josh Owen, director of the Vignelli Center, and Wendy Marks, director of F&A Galleries, Schoenfeld was recruited to bring the idea for the event to life. “Beyond Fashion offers a new way for people who are interested in fashion design to show their work,” she said. “The original idea was to form a connection with fashion at RIT and to forge a connection with the Rochester community by working with local designers.” Over 150 RIT students participated in Beyond Fashion this year—the largest group Beyond Fashion has ever seen—and more than 200 community members attended the event. This event marked Brandon Riley’s third year participating in Beyond Fashion, having walked as a model the past two years. This year, they had a hand in organizing the event. Along with Schoenfeld and team, Riley helped with outreach to different designers, planning the runway, and coordinating with the various teams that helped bring the show to life. “I've always been into fashion. Since RIT doesn't have many fashion-oriented programs, this event is a really cool chance to showcase all of the people who are into fashion design here on campus,” said Riley, a fourth-year new media design student from Westminster, Md. Riley explains that part of the appeal for participating students is the opportunity to showcase one’s artwork in—or have a direct hand in organizing—a professional, polished production. “It’s been one of my highlights in the fall semester every year since I got involved,” they said. To extend the excitement beyond the day of the event, organizers are working with museum studies student Gabrielle Payne to create an exhibition about the show. The exhibition is set to open in the University Gallery in early 2025. Payne, a third-year student, has walked as a model for Beyond Fashion every year since she came to RIT from West Orange, N.J. When she transferred into the museum studies program, she thought creating an exhibition about the event could be a unique way to get hands-on curation experience. “I plan to have the exhibition be quite literal with the theme of the show. We’ll have tables with mannequins around them, and the layout will be like a dinner party,” said Payne. “I think having this experience will be really useful for after I graduate, especially if I end up pursuing my master’s degree.” The team that led the charge in running this year’s Beyond Fashion showcase includes:Executive Producer Maddy Schoenfeld Content Producer Stacy Nethery, a fourth-year fine art photography student Production Assistant Valentina Scottini, a fourth-year industrial design student Production Coordinator Yohemery Kpodo, a fourth-year new media design student Producer Brandon Riley In addition to this core team, new media design students came together, led by Jason Arena, director of the undergraduate new media design program, to create stunning visuals that were displayed on LED screens around the venue to enhance the look of the fashion show. Music was also curated and composed by Lucas Cleary, a third-year accelerated BS/MS computer science student. Beyond Fashion is hosted and sponsored by the Vignelli Center for Design Studies and RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios. Immerse yourself in the colorful designs showcased during the event by going to the Beyond Fashion Instagram or the Beyond Fashion website.
