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January 2, 2025
Environmental Projects Intern, Alex DuBuclet, from Bowie State University, has concluded another semester with the Alliance! The fall 2024 term brought some very special times, including networking relationships, professional development opportunities, and another exciting new project. Alex will also be joining us again for a third consecutive semester in 2025! Read on, as Alex tells us about their Capstone Project from this semester.
Alex uses a prism to measure basal area during a forest inventory at Uhler Tract, adjacent to the BSU campus.
My project centered around taking a survey of trees around campus to ultimately inform landscapers and planners at Bowie State University of the quality of tree care, as well as recommended actions to improve the local ecosystem. This assessment required a great deal of fieldwork, in the sense that I was outside a lot this summer, but it expanded my definition of the term, considering most of my work took place on sidewalks and in between buildings. Given the time constraints, I was only able to survey between 75-80% of the campus, but the results implied that the vast majority of campus is filled with beautiful and healthy native trees, despite many of the plantings being done in an ad hoc nature over the years. And that’s good news!
The number of native trees on the BSU campus is impressive.
I attended my second Chesapeake Watershed Forum this year, which was lots of fun! I got to judge posters and I had such a good time talking to everyone and picking their brains about their work. I kept my energy and enthusiasm super high so the presenters would get just as excited, and I could see how passionate they were about their work— it was wonderful. Back on campus, I always had fun doing fieldwork for my capstone, another highlight of the past semester. It was fun to look a bit strange poking and prodding at trees for a few hours a day.
A bee found on a flower in full bloom captured during the Farm Tour at the 2024 Watershed Forum
I’m looking forward to continuing my internship next semester! There are a couple of exciting events I started working on late this semester that I’m excited to see come to fruition. I was a bit disappointed early on because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to continue to work on them, but now I don’t have to worry about that! I’m not the kind of person who likes leaving something unfinished, so I look forward to hosting the seminar I’ve been planning, which will focus on sustainable fashion, among other opportunities for the BSU community. Next semester won’t be my last though, in terms of school at least; I’ll still have another semester at BSU to finish out my degree.
Over the last semester I learned the value in pacing myself and reflecting on my workloads in order to better manage my energy and capacity. I’m the kind of person who tends to overwork myself, so I made the decision to slow down a bit; it’s not a race and I’d much rather finish happy than burnt out. In terms of “new” projects, I’m not really sure what’s next! I’d like to continue my work with my capstone, but the spring will bring many new opportunities, so if something new catches my eye I’ll look forward to exploring that.
The internship wasn’t all about trees. Alex and Emma Gregory, Capacity Building Projects Manager, conduct water quality monitoring at Patuxent Research Refuge.
I’d like to personally close out this semester by expressing my gratitude at this opportunity. I never really thought I’d be able to continue exploring my passions in kind of work but it’s been such a rewarding experience. I’m really proud of how much I’ve learned and grown throughout my time at the Alliance. I’m hoping as we close this year and I enter my next semester as an intern, that I can be even better— not just for the work I put out but for the people around me. And most of all, for myself.
See Alex’s Full Plan Here
Learn about last fall’s capstone project
By Alex DuBuclet, Environmental Projects Intern
Staff Blog
