Winter 2026

Dean's Message: A Challenging and Energizing Time

As a new semester begins, I’m reflecting on how energizing and challenging this time of year can be. There have been many serious and scary events happening in the U.S. and internationally, which are impacting members of our community directly. The Rubenstein School is full of caring individuals who are here to support one another – reach out when you need to.

Fall was a busy time and I’m proud of all that our students, faculty, and staff accomplished. One of my favorite highlights from last semester was seeing the partnership between our first-year students and the City of Burlington, here’s a video of their final lab of the semester at Callahan Park during a snowstorm.

This spring is set to be as busy and impactful as ever. This month we welcomed new faculty member Sara LoTemplio to our Parks, Recreation, and Tourism program. And as the UVM Strategic Plan is finalized, we will dive into creating an aligned strategic plan for the Rubenstein School.

On January 29, 2026, the UVM Division of Intercultural Excellence is offering a wonderful opportunity to honor the legacy of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. This event is open to all and has a virtual attendance option, please register for the MLK Keynote address with special guest speaker Rosalyn "Roz" Pelles at go.uvm.edu/mlk.

I hope you enjoy the stories below highlighting some of the incredible people that make the Rubenstein School an inspiring place to learn, teach, and work.

Sincerely,

Peter

Students

Forestry Team Wins National Quiz Bowl Championship

Rubenstein School students won the Society of American Foresters’ (SAF) National Quiz Bowl at the 2025 National Convention. This marks UVM Forestry’s second championship title in three years.

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Learning the Ropes of the Ski Industry

For many winter break is a time for rest, but for Rubenstein School student Leo Dabelstein '26 it was an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the ski industry. Thanks to the generosity of the Crowley family, he gained invaluable experience interning at Wachusett Mountain. 

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Biodiversity Law Course Broadens Student Horizons and Hones Writing Skills

The Sustainability, Ecology, and Policy program’s Biodiversity Law course, now in its second year, gives students the tools they need to interpret regulations that impact biodiversity on local, national, and international levels. 

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UVM Libraries' Map Collection Unlocks Stories of Place and Purpose

When John Patton and a group of fellow Rubenstein School students were paired with Lake Champlain Sea Grant’s BLUE program for a capstone project, they turned to UVM's map collection to learn more about the surficial geology of the Burlington area. 

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Research

Beyond the Usual Suspect: UVM Researchers Find Nitrogen Feeds Algae Blooms

A new UVM study finds that even tiny amounts of nitrogen can fuel cyanobacterial blooms and disrupt lake ecosystems.

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Canadian Wildfire Smoke Worsened Pediatric Asthma in U.S. Northeast

Research from UVM reveals exposure to smoke from Canadian wildfires in the summer of 2023 led to worsening asthma symptoms in children in Vermont and New York. 

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Solar in Alaska? UVM Researchers Aim to Lower Energy Costs in Northern U.S.

UVM researchers have been investigating how to both bring down energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Alaska’s remote Northwest Arctic. 

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Alumni

WFB Alumni Demonstrate Strength and Variability of Program in their Career Outcomes

Just as there are a tremendous number of animal species to learn about, and many ways to focus one's work: toward conservation, management, rehabilitation, and more, alumni of the Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program can (and do) pursue a large variety of career paths upon graduating. Ramsey Anis '25, Caleb May '25, Pierre Beaurang '24, and Grace King '20, have all found opportunities to match their wide ranging interests and skillsets.

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Rubenstein School Experts in the News

• What a US military base lost under Greenland’s ice sheet reveals about the island’s real strategic importance | The Conversation

• In a First, Photos Show Moths Sipping a Moose’s Tears | Scientific American

• UVM researchers represent Vermont at global climate conference | WCAX