Students interested in Lake Erie science still have time to apply for a life-changing experience this summer by taking a course at Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University’s island campus.

Each summer, Stone Lab offers a wide array of hands-on courses on Gibraltar Island as part of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. A full list of course offerings is available at go.osu.edu/SLcourses.

“When students take a summer class at Stone Lab, they walk away with not only cutting-edge knowledge, but also numerous skills to strengthen their resumes. Skills that can’t be obtained on a mainland college campus,” said Dr. Chris Winslow, director of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab. “In addition to skills building, you will forge lifelong connections with your island peers and build amazing relationships with island faculty, even those not teaching your course.”

Introductory courses are open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken biology or environmental science, and college students. Courses are transferable to many universities for credit. Advanced courses are perfect for science majors from any university looking to advance their studies. Students can take one-week courses for 2 credit hours, four- week courses for 3 credit hours, or six-week courses for 4 credit hours.

One course being offered this summer is Aquatic Ecosystems – Ecology of Inland Waters, taught by Dr. Darren Bade of Kent State University and Dr. Bill Edwards of Niagara University’s Department of Biology. Students will study what factors – whether physical, chemical, or biological — influence the biological productivity of inland waters. They’ll also learn all about the techniques and equipment that researchers use in this area of study, known as limnology.

For those interested in how science is implemented on the policy level, Stone Lab is offering Environmental and Natural Resources Policy, taught by Dr. Harrison Fried of the Environmental Professionals Network at Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR). The course covers topics such as the constitutional foundations of environmental policy, the role of Congress and the executive branch in designing policy and bureaucratic agencies in implementing them, and the courts system as the final arbiter for environmental disputes.

For students who love underwater critters, Taxonomy and Behavior of Aquatic Invertebrates is being offered this summer. Taught by SENR lecturer Zach Steffensmeier, the class will focus on the taxonomy and behavior of the major groups of aquatic invertebrates, with an emphasis on North American freshwater macroinvertebrates.

Another available course is Ecology, taught by Dr. Ryan Layne Gaynor, Assistant Professor and Behavioral Ecologist at the University of Kentucky. Students will learn about essential ecological concepts: the distribution and abundance of species, population dynamics, community ecology, ecosystem dynamics, and applied perspectives.

Thanks to Stone Lab’s generous donors, all students enrolled in for-credit Stone Lab courses this coming summer will receive a 50% discount for room and meal fees.

Stone Lab scholarships are still available for high school and non-Ohio State college students with applications due Tuesday, March 31.

Hardship scholarships are also available if cost is a barrier from participation. This can include application fees, tuition, or textbooks and supplies. Scholarships for specific high schools and visiting students are available as well. Contact Business Coordinator Erin Monaco at monaco.25@osu.edu for more information.

Together with the Friends of Stone Lab, we are committed to fostering new experiences and supporting student success.

Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.