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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
2006-2007 HERO Fellows |
Graduate Students |
Faculty |
HERO Alumni
Alina Taus
Sam Blanchard
Joe Fortier
Nick Bumbarger
Niluka Gunawardena
Dawn Gedenberg
James Wilson
Nagraj Rao
Sara Nelson
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
Class of:
2009
Faculty Member Working With:
John Rogan
Joe Fortier
Major:
Geography (undergraduate); GIS (graduate)
Favorite Super Hero:
Trevor Jones and Muhammed al-Idrisi
Class of:
2007 (undergraduate); 2008 GIS (graduate)
Email Address: jofortier@clarku.edu
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: 1st
Place Graduate/Undergraduate Research Poster Competition
Nick Bumbarger

Major:
Geography
Hometown:
Pottstown, PA
Class Of: 2008
Faculty Member Working With:
John Rogan
Niluka Gunawardena

Major: Geography
Minor: Economics
Hometown:
Dehiwela, Sri Lanka
Class of:
2007
Faculty Member Working with: Colin Polsky
Dawn Gedenberg
Major:
Mathematics
Favorite Super Hero:
Does Jimmy Neutron count? He rocks!
Class of:
2007
Email Address:
dgedenberg@clarku.edu
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 5th 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.
James Wilson

Major:
Mathematics
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
Graduate Students
Christopher City
Risk/Hazards, Legal Geography, Urban Geography
ccity@clarku.edu
Summer 2006
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
Dr. Colin Polsky
Vulnerability Analysis, Human Dimensions of Climate Change, Spatial Statistics
(508) 793-3828
cpolsky@clarku.edu
View
Dr. Polsky's HERO Web page.
View
Dr. Polsky's School of Geography Web page.
Dr. R. Gil Pontius
GIS, Quantitative Modeling, International Development, Spatial Statistics
(508) 793-7761
rpontius@clarku.edu
View Dr.
Pontius's HERO Web page.
View
Dr. Pontius's School of Geography Web page.
Dr. John Rogan
Landscape Ecology, Fire Ecology, Remote Sensing, GIS
(508) 793-7562
jrogan@clarku.edu
View Dr.
Rogan's HERO Web page.
View Dr.
Rogan's School of Geography Web page.
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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