Benjamin Shelly participates in exploratory summer research program at Goshen College

2014 Jul 16

This summer, 14 Goshen College students are participating in the Maple Scholars Summer Research Program.

Benjamin Shelly, a junior interdisciplinary major from Goshen, will research ecological restoration at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center with Dave Ostergen, professor of environmental education. Ecological restoration is the practice of renewing damaged ecosystems through human intervention and restoring a healthy relationship between culture and environment. Shelly will conduct research on how ecological restoration and environmental education can foster peacemaking and spirituality. Benjamin attends Assembly Mennonite Church.

Started in 1998, Maple Scholars is an eight-week program of research, experimentation, analysis and archiving data. It provides an opportunity for students to work closely with faculty advisers to conduct hands-on research throughout the summer. The program welcomes students from all academic majors and areas of study, and projects range from analyzing the pheromones of bees to digging into centuries-old Mennonite World Conference archives.

Students present their findings to one another at a Friday colloquium each week. At the end of the summer, students celebrate their discoveries with a public presentation, reception and banquet.