Environmental Change Initiative (University of Notre Dame)

10/14/2026

Moved indoors due to rain! Registration required: https://forms.gle/zzwAFyDSyrbgmmZr5

Join us this tomorrow, October 15 at The Brown Barn at St. Patrick's County for Science at Sunset with Alison Zachritz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Alison will share what decades of research can tell us about PFAS in the Great Lakes, including how these persistent chemicals move through the food web and what their presence means for the future of these ecosystems.

When: October 15th from 6:30-7:30pm
Where: Brown Barn at St. Patrick's County Park
This event is geared towards adults.
Light snacks provided! Bring your own beverage (no glass).

St. Joseph County Parks (IN) | Notre Dame Science

10/08/2026

10/07/2026

Join us next Thursday, October 15 at ND-LEEF for Science at Sunset with Alison Zachritz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Alison will share what decades of research can tell us about PFAS in the Great Lakes, including how these persistent chemicals move through the food web and what their presence means for the future of these ecosystems.

When: October 15th from 6:30-7:30pm
Where: ND-LEEF at St. Patrick's County Park

This event is geared towards adults. Register by October 13. Light snacks provided! Bring your own beverage (no glass).

St. Joseph County Parks (IN) | Notre Dame Science

Learn more:
https://environmentalchange.nd.edu/news-events/events/2026/10/15/science-at-sunset-1/

09/30/2026

What makes PFAS “forever chemicals,” and what can decades of research tell us about their impact on the Great Lakes?

Join us at ND-LEEF on Thursday, October 15 for an evening with Alison Zachritz, an ND-ECI postdoctoral researcher in the University of Notre Dame's Department of Biological Sciences. She’ll explore how PFAS moves through the Great Lakes food web, what we’ve learned from long-term data, and what their persistence means for the future of these ecosystems.

When: October 15th from 6:30-7:30pm
Where: ND-LEEF at St. Patrick's County Park

This event is geared toward adults. Register by October 13. Light snacks provided! Bring your own beverage (no glass).

St. Joseph County Parks (IN) | Notre Dame Science

Learn more:
https://environmentalchange.nd.edu/news-events/events/2026/10/15/science-at-sunset-1

09/28/2026

ND-LEEF’s Science Sunday was a success! Thank you to everyone who joined us at St. Patrick's County Park this past weekend! 🐟🌿

Your enthusiasm for the environment and eagerness to learn truly brought the day to life. A huge thank you to our presenters for sharing their passion and knowledge with the community!

We look forward to another day of discovery with you next year!

St. Joseph County Parks (IN)

05/14/2026

05/01/2026

Last weekend, ND-ECI director Jennifer Tank and students from Notre Dame Science welcomed 26 5-8th graders to the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF)!

From scooping aquatic insects to catching frogs, students got hands-on experience exploring freshwater ecosystems. They encountered turtles, worms, leeches, snails, and more, while practicing identification and gaining a better understanding of each organism’s role in the environment. They also discovered how aquatic insects can be used to assess water quality, an exciting way to connect biology to real-world environmental challenges.

Huge shoutout to Emma, Caroline, Gracie, and Allison for sparking curiosity and inspiring the next generation of scientists!

St. Joseph County Parks (IN) | St. Patrick's County Park

04/30/2026

Spring has come early at ND-LEEF this year — and fire is the reason why 🔥

Last November, a thin line of fire moved steadily across the prairie at the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF), marking the site’s first prescribed burn. For many watching, it was their first time witnessing controlled fire used as an ecological tool.

Setting fire to a landscape can feel counterintuitive. But step into a burned prairie in spring and the purpose becomes clearer. At ND-LEEF, the burn serves four goals: managing prairie health, advancing ecological research, educating students, and engaging the broader community.

Prescribed burns clear built-up plant material and suppress invasive and cool-season species, making space for native grasses and forbs like little bluestem and switchgrass that support biodiversity and store carbon through deep root systems. Below the surface, darkened soil and the ash left behind warms the ground more quickly, giving warm-season grasses a head start over competing species. As a result, spring arrives earlier in burned areas!

Since prairie restoration began in 2012, mowing has been the primary management tool at ND-LEEF, the University’s field ecology site embedded in St. Patrick's County Park. The facility has worked to balance research and education, with fire now playing a critical role in that mission. Prescribed burns offer a more ecologically aligned approach and provide new opportunities for research and teaching at ND-LEEF.

04/29/2026

A special shoutout to ND-ECI’s Brett Peters, who presented at last week's Coffee with the Eagles hosted by St. Joseph County Parks Foundation. Thank you to everyone who came out to learn more about the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF). Even without an eagle sighting, it was a great opportunity to connect with the local community!

04/27/2026

ND-ECI is excited to welcome Dr. Carlos Calvo-Hernandez, a postdoctoral researcher, to our community!

Carlos specializes in socio-environmental systems, climate risk, and data analysis. Since joining ND-ECI in February, he has been conducting a Global Synthesis of the socioecological contexts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) under the mentorship of Richard (Drew) Marcantonio and Arun Agrawal. This project aims to build a comprehensive database to support research and policy decisions across the ASM sector.

We are thrilled to have Carlos join ND-ECI and look forward to the research and collaboration ahead.