News and Events

Hold the Salt: Salinity Influences Structure and Function of Streams Across North America

Most inland waters are defined by their low salinity relative to the oceans. However, both geological and anthropogenic processes can lead to freshwater salinization. This talk will summarize work done by Eric Moody and his research students at Middlebury College using ecological stoichiometry as a framework to study the causes and consequences of freshwater salinization in streams and rivers across North America.

Living in a toxic world: Mechanisms of internal salt-sensing in C. elegans

Animals are exquisitely sensitive to salt concentrations in both their external and internal environments. While we now have a good understanding of how we taste salt, the mechanisms by which internal salt levels are sensed remain poorly described. This talk will describe recent work from the lab on the identification of a new pathway by which a single gut neuron in C. elegans detects ingested salts and protects the animal against high salt stress.

Alexa Duchesneau will give the second talk in the annual Anthro & Friends Winter Speaker Series, titled “Simians and the Story of Us: What Biological Anthropology Brings to STEM.” In an increasingly divided world, Biological Anthropology and Primatology are a bridge between divided academic disciplines: the social sciences and the hard sciences. The combination of observational studies and hypothesis testing places these fields in the unique position of being truly interdisciplinary.

Population Ecology and Diseases of Fishers in the Northeastern USA

Our work currently includes: (1) comparative microbial ecology focusing on the emergence of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance on farms – with plans to expand our focus; (2) emerging infectious disease discovery; and (3) wildlife disease ecology. 

Join the Biology department’s bon voyage celebration for Susan DeSimone, Assoc. Lab Professor. Susan has been with department for over 25 years and we will gather to wish her well as she embarks on new adventures.

Using genomics to reveal the mechanisms of resilience: Studies of global change adaptation and sea star wasting disease.

In this talk, I will discuss how we integrate genomic approaches with the ecology and evolution of interesting, ecologically foundational marine organisms to understand if and how they respond to stressors such as ocean warming, ocean acidification, and pathogens. We use field sampling, common garden studies, and experimental evolution to shed light on the mechanisms of resilience in a rapidly changing world. 

Museum of the Multiverse: Insects! by Middlebury College Entomology Students

When: Dec 6, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Where: The Great Hall in McCardell Bicentennial Hall 

 276 Bicentennial Way Middlebury, VT 05753

 (Parking available in the lot on Bicentennial Way)

In a twist on the successful Pokémon-inspired Pop-Up Museums, get ready to learn about insects or insect-inspired creatures from across many universes like Star Wars, Animal Crossing, Hollow Knight, Alien, Dune, Avatar, and more!

 Level Up! Measuring Science Interest XP Gain at Comic Cons

A common requirement of granting agencies is showing that the work reaches wide audiences and has an impact upon them. However, showing that reach and impact can be difficult. In this seminar Dr. Lundgren will discuss her work with Cosplay for Science, where STEM professionals share their “nerdy” interests and expertise with people in the unconventional learning space of comic conventions.

Have you ever heard the story of the Middlebury River? What about Lake Dunmore? In this informal session, students from BIOL 304: Aquatic Ecology will be sharing the work they’ve done this semester to tell the stories of various aquatic ecosystems in Vermont based on concepts we’ve learned in class over the semester.

TidyTuesday provides an opportunity to learn, practice, and explore coding and data analysis. Whatever your skill level, you are welcome here. This is a judgment free space to try things out, experiment, and play with data.