On Saturday, Oct. 21, at a ceremony at the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge, the Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Center was recognized and awarded a plaque distinguishing the center as an important entity within the newly designated "Lower James River Important Bird Area." The Lower James is part of a global network of places recognized for their Outstanding Value to Bird Conservation and this particular designation culminates many years of dedication by hundreds of concerned citizens to preserve the legacy and beauty of this area of Virginia. Two scientists were specifically recognized for their scientific contributions and leadership in this area effort. One was Dr. Mitchell Byrd, from the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary, centering on his work with eagles and the other was Dr. Charles Blem from VCU, whose long-term work on the migratory patterns and breeding habits of the Prothonotary Warbler is a major on-going research focus for the VCU Rice Center.

Posted by at 9:34 AM | Permalink

Virginia Commonwealth University's medical and academic campuses are squeezed into a narrow urban corridor of downtown Richmond. But to find one of its most unexpected possessions, you need to drive east on scenic state Route 5. At the top of a bluff off a gravel road, the James River unfolds spectacularly across the horizon.

Read more from the Richmond-Times Dispatch »

Posted by at 9:40 AM | Permalink

More than 70 participants attended the Symposium on the State of the James River held at Virginia Commonwealth University on Oct. 19. The purpose of the Symposium was to bring together individuals, agencies and institutions involved in research, monitoring and advocacy issues concerning the James River. The Symposium was organized by Dr. Paul Bukaveckas (Department of Biology and Center for Environmental Studies) in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the James River Association. Funding was provided by a National Science Foundation grant in support of VCU’s Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences.

Opening remarks by Virginia's Secretary for Natural Resources, The Honorable L. Preston Bryant Jr., stressed the need for cooperation among state agencies, universities and citizen groups to maximize the effectiveness of river management efforts. Morning presentations described land use changes in the James River basin and their effects on water quality. The afternoon session was introduced by Rebecca Wodder (American Rivers) and focused on the living resources of the river, with speakers describing the current state of macroinvertebrate, fish and bird communities. David Bolgrien, the keynote speaker from the USEPA, described the agency’s efforts to develop indicators of ecosystem health for large rivers in preparation for the first national assessment of river condition. As a follow-up to the Symposium, the James River Association will prepare a State of the James report.

Posted by at 9:43 AM | Permalink

The Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences has opened its metaphorical front door with the dedication of a new, 5,100-square-foot research pier that gives scientists direct access to the environmentally and historically significant tidal James River.

• Read more about the pier dedication
• View photos from the pier dedication

Posted by at 3:15 PM | Permalink