Our Own Living Lab
For Jason Luscier, Ph.D., the Le Moyne Woods is not just a “fragment of forest within a sea of urbanization.” It is also an incredible teaching tool, home to a vast array of wildlife, including foxes, opossums, coyotes, racoons, deer and, of course, a number of migratory birds. An associate professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Luscier says that his passion for non-human animals took root at an early age, when he and his older brother would explore the area around their home in Lanesborough, Mass. Now he regularly shares his curiosity and concern for different habitats with his students using the woods as a living lab.
It is in the Le Moyne woods that these Dolphins study the effects of noise pollution on birds who live in the area, examine how snakes are distributed in the woods, and analyze the diversity of wildlife that use the trails in the woods. At the heart of this work is their concern for the planet as it faces a biodiversity crisis brought on by what scientists call “the sixth mass extinction.” According to an article in the journal Science, this extinction could lead to the loss of three-quarters of today’s animal species within the next 300 years, making it “comparable to the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.”
The potential of such a devastating loss has inspired Luscier to investigate the impact anthropogenic factors like urbanization, land use and climate change have on wildlife, and what conservation strategies can be put in place for affected ecosystems. He has studied urban conservation not just in Syracuse, but also in Cork City, Ireland. Among the recommendations he has made to leaders in both of those communities have been to: improve and expand urban green spaces; plant native plants; and reduce light pollution by using LED bulbs, timers and motion sensors, and cutting down on the amount of time street lights are lit (without compromising safety, of course).
It makes sense for Luscier to undertake this work at a Jesuit institution. After all, he notes,
“a core pillar of Ignatian pedagogy is caring for others.” His research also aligns with the College’s strategic plan, Tomorrow Together, which includes a commitment to the promotion of environmental sustainability and justice. That can be seen in multiple ways across campus, whether it is through recycling or composting to limit waste, inviting neighbors to enjoy the Le Moyne Woods during guided walks or on their own, or by encouraging faculty members from across campus, such as the Department of English, to have their students use the woods as a source of inspiration. For Luscier, the importance of each of these initiatives comes down to this:
“If we don’t address the challenge of caring for the earth, none of the other challenges we face, from food insecurity to poverty to crime, can ever be addressed.”
