Introduction People Program History Accomplishments		The HERO Program The Human-Environment Regional Observatory-Central Massachusetts (HERO-CM) research program provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to analyze the causes and consequences of global environmental changes at local scales in faculty-led research projects. This program permits students to conduct research in interdisciplinary and inter-institutional projects. Current HERO research is funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Thoreau Foundation, and the O’Connor ‘78 Fund.

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People

2007-2008 HERO Fellows

Alina Taus

Major: Geography and Mathematics

Favorite Super Hero: hmm... Cosmo Kramer

Class of: 2008

Email Address: ataus@clarku.edu

Faculty Member Working With: John Rogan on forest change monitoring

Thoughts About the HERO Program: I’m really excited to learn about remote sensing and one of its applications. This will be a great opportunity to experience GIS through hands-on learning. Participating in the HERO Program would also help me in future if I decide to embark on a GIS oriented career.   

Sam Blanchard

Major: Geography
Minor: Sociology
Concentration: Urban Development and Social Change 

Hometown: Albany, NY

Faculty Member Working With: John Rogan

Major: Geography (undergraduate); GIS (graduate)

Favorite Super Hero: Trevor Jones and Muhammed al-Idrisi

Class of: 2007 (undergraduate); 2008 GIS (graduate)

Phone Number: Call my assistant Ryan Frazier

Thoughts About Being in the HERO Program:
I haven’t had this much fun getting paid for my work since I pulled out my last baby tooth and stuck it under my pillow for the tooth-fairy. Seriously, HERO is by far the best summer job I’ve ever had… And the people are groovy too.

HERO has been a huge learning experience for me. Remote Sensing projects and problems; physical geography and forest ecology; the history of the Massachusetts countryside… It’s like the fun is never ending, man. Working on the Massachusetts Forest Monitoring Project has certainly helped to solidify my interest in the natural process of the world as well as direct me on a course of learning that will produce a well intentioned Honors thesis, and a bit further down the line, a master’s thesis.

Awards and Such:
Massachusetts Forest Monitoring Program, HERO-CM Fellowship 2006-2007
John O’Connors Environmental Research Award, 2005
Gamma Theta Upsilon
NESTVAL 2005: 1^st
Place Graduate/Undergraduate Research Poster Competition

Major: Geography

Hometown: Pottstown, PA

Class Of: 2008

Faculty Member Working With: John Rogan

Major: Geography
Minor: Economics

Hometown: Dehiwela, Sri Lanka

Dawn Gedenberg

Major: Mathematics

Favorite Super Hero: Does Jimmy Neutron count? He rocks!

Class of: 2007

Faculty Member Working With: Colin Polsky

Thoughts About Being in the HERO Program: As a math major, I have not had any formal education in the geography/environmental science area. I plan on doing the 5^th year program in ES&P, so my hope is that HERO can ease me into this new field. I hope to take with me the experience of working 40 hours a week toward a good cause as preparation for my future career.

Hometown: Wallingford, PA 

Faculty Member Working With: Colin Polsky

Nagraj Rao

Major: Mathematics and Economics

Favorite Super Hero: Nagraj (believe me, there actually is a super-hero with the same name as me!)

Class of: 2008

Email Address: nrao@clarku.edu

Faculty Member Working With: Professor Colin Polsky on Local Vulnerability to the effects of hydroclimatic variation.

Thoughts About the HERO Program:
My aim through the HERO program is to study the changes in land usage and its effects on the environment. Prior experience in studying human-environment relationships (both in Kenya and India) has provided me with the ability to focus on finding solutions to several problems. A strong background in Economics and Mathematics has sharpened my abilities to analyze data and interpret reports. As a part of a dynamic group of researchers, I hope to “Challenge Convention and Change the World” in my own little way by integrating my prior knowledge to the field of Geography.

Personal Statements:
I’m currently in my sophomore year, majoring in Economics and Mathematics. I was born in Bangalore (India) and raised in New Delhi (India). I enjoy music, badminton, traveling, movies. At Clark, I’m involved in several activities and jobs – Ambassador (International Students Association), Treasurer (Desi Hungama), Member (Global Scholars Program), Operations Building Manager (Higgins University Center) and Scarlet Key Tour Guide (Admissions Office).

Sara Nelson

Major: Geography

Hometown: Reading, MA

Class of: 2008

Faculty Member Working with: Colin Polsky

Kevin Keenan
Urban Geography, Terrorism, Gender Studies
Office: Geography Building, TA Alley, 105A
kkeenan@clarku.edu

Mahesh Ramachandran
Natural Resources Economics, Spatial Environmental Analysis, Urban Economics
mramachandran@clarku.edu
Summer 2006

Faculty
 

Dr. Colin Polsky
Vulnerability Analysis, Human Dimensions of Climate Change, Spatial Statistics
(508) 793-3828

Dr. R. Gil Pontius

Dr. John Rogan

Dr. B.L. Turner, II
Director, School of Geography
Human-Environment Relationships, Global Change, Third World Agriculture
(508) 793-7325
bturner@clarku.edu

View Dr. Turner's School of Geography Web page.

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Additional Resources

HERO Network

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