Safeguarding the Environment

William & Mary officially launched the Year of the Environment during the Charter Day Ceremony on Feb. 7, building on momentum from the university’s Vision 2026 strategic plan and two major gifts. Last July, Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 provided a $100 million gift to establish the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. In February, W&M announced a $50 million gift from Dr. R. Todd Stravitz ’82 and the Brunckhorst Foundations that will provide full tuition support for students pursuing the new bachelor’s degree in coastal & marine sciences.

“Our goal will be to highlight, emphasize and expand the influence that we have on environmental issues,” Derek Aday, dean of the Batten School, director of VIMS and chair of the Year of the Environment committee, told the Charter Day audience. “We’ll do so through the innovative and creative, scientific and artistic endeavors we engage in, and that enable us to better understand the world around us and tackle the challenges we face.”

For a firsthand look at how William & Mary researchers are working to advance solutions to conservation problems, we asked two students who participated in programs through the Institute for Integrative Conservation to talk about their experiences. Established with a $19.3 million gift in 2019, the institute prepares future leaders to drive policy and inspire action at local, national and international levels.

UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF NIGHTTIME LIGHTING ON MIGRATING BIRDS

When you envision the ocean at night, you probably picture complete darkness. You might not imagine the bright lights of a 1,200-foot-long cruise ship or the intense LED glow of an offshore oil and gas platform. Unfortunately, that is the reality for many marine organisms, especially migratory birds. Millions of migratory birds fly over offshore environments and are susceptible to severe injury and death caused by disorientation and confusion from artificial light at night. Birds are vital to ecosystems across the globe, and their migration is critical to the health of their populations, which is why action must be taken to protect them.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of working alongside the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to understand the geographical overlap between offshore artificial light at night and migratory bird patterns. Last summer, we mapped the routes of major offshore activities, specifically cruise routes and offshore oil and gas platforms, and compared them with migratory bird patterns. We found that there was a significant overlap, predominately in the Gulf Coast region and around Florida. Our written report summarizing the results of this project was then given to the USFWS in the hopes that the information could serve as a foundation for migratory bird conservation efforts. Additionally, I have been working on the development of an informational tool kit with the Fish & Wildlife Service to provide offshore companies with suggestions for reducing their artificial light at night.

Working on this project with the Conservation Research Program through the Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC) has allowed me to develop meaningful relationships with professionals in my field of interest, improve my skills, contribute meaningfully to current conservation efforts and explore a career in conservation. I was able to confirm that a career in conservation is within reach — I just have to keep working hard and taking every opportunity that might come my way. The ability to gain such important professional development skills early in my college career has also proven to be invaluable outside the scope of the project. I know how to send meeting summaries, create project timelines and write scientific reports.

If you had told me as an incoming W&M student that at the end of 2024 I would be leading meetings and presenting research in front of national conservation leaders in the USFWS, I would have laughed. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Conservation Research Program and look forward to how it will shape the rest of my time at William & Mary, as well as my career in conservation.

Alexandra “Ali” Otto ’27, from Waynesboro, Virginia, is a biology major, a Monroe Scholar, a member of the Marine Science Society and a participant in the IIC’s Conservation Research Program.

REDUCING VEHICLE-WILDLIFE CRASHES ON BUSY ROADS

Have you ever read a research article so captivating that its findings left you reeling? I have experienced this many times at William & Mary. While I thoroughly enjoy learning new information, I often find myself returning to one persistent question: then what? What do we do with this knowledge to make an impact?

Last year, I had the opportunity to explore that question through a multiyear, collaborative project with an amazing team composed of William & Mary students, faculty and wildlife biologists from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. For the first time, I had the chance to step into the social science side of research and investigate the “then what” question in a real-world context. The project focuses on mitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions in Northern Virginia, with Loudoun County as our primary study area.

Wildlife-vehicle conflicts are increasing, especially in developing areas where roads intersect with wildlife habitats. This causes harm to animals, endangers drivers and results in substantial damage. While my partners investigated what’s causing these collisions and where they’re most frequent, I focused on how to mitigate them, who needs to be involved and how to get decision-makers to support implementation efforts.

Our broader research project used scientific data to identify hot spots where mitigation strategies are most urgently needed. Our research highlights places where these efforts should be prioritized, considering the limited resources available. My role involved engaging with decision-makers and organizations such as the Virginia Department of Transportation to understand what needs to happen in order to implement a mitigation strategy such as roadside fencing or road signs. It’s a complex process requiring collaboration, but we now have a report detailing the key factors influencing implementation.

Although a mitigation strategy has not yet been put into place, we have a better understanding of the process and how it can move forward with sufficient support. This research experience at William & Mary has allowed me to explore the lingering “then what” question and appreciate the interdisciplinary approach required for a research project to effect real change. Conducting a study that produces meaningful findings is an incredible feeling — and seeing real change happening in the world because of those findings would be even more rewarding.

Cayley Santella ’25 from North Prince George, Virginia, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in integrative conservation and environmental policy.