It was a brisk Saturday morning in November, yet car after car continued down the narrow road towards the forest, the passengers eager to bundle up and head into the woods. Donned in winter jackets, orange hats, and hiking boots, the group steadily grew as the clock approached 10 a.m.
They had gathered for the second installment of Talks and Walks on UVM’s Water Side, a Water Resources Institute series designed to connect the public with the latest advances and real-world applications of water research.
The series highlights water research conducted across Vermont, ranging from snowy mountain terrains to lake ecosystems. UVM scientists present their research during a Saturday seminar, covering diverse topics such maple sugaring and snowmelt monitoring. Paired with each seminar, UVM faculty and graduate students lead a field walk where their research is conducted, ranging from rural Vermont communities like Lyndonville and Waitsfield.
At the first event in October, the inaugural Talks and Walks on UVM’s Water Side kicked off at Shelburne Farms, with a “deep dive” into Lake Champlain.
Held at the Coach Barn, Dr. Jason Stockwell discussed how research on the lake connects to international efforts, highlighting the ways this unique system offers an experimental gradient and serves as a living laboratory for understanding ecological evolution.
After his talk, graduate student Anna Schmidt and professor Dr. Walt Poleman led concurrent walks that explored ongoing water research and UVM’s role in the global biological landscape.
Now, only a few weeks later, the temperatures had dropped, and a thin layer of snow coated the forest floor in Morristown, Vermont. There, Emily DeAlto, a graduate student in the Field Naturalist Program, prepared to lead November’s walk. After welcoming the growing group, she guided them into the trails of Joe’s Pond – Morristown, UVM’s newest natural area.
As they wound along the pond’s edge and through the surrounding wetlands, Emily introduced the participants to the world of peat and fen – an area in which her graduate research is focused. Using a shovel, she pulled out mineral-rich soils to display, demonstrating the peat’s unique characteristics.
After an hour of engaging discussion and questions, the group returned to their cars and headed to the Morristown Centennial Library for the second part of the afternoon: the talk.
Once everyone had warmed up with coffee and cookies, Rubenstein School professor, Dr. Brendan Fisher, delivered a lively presentation on the remarkable history of beavers, stretching all the way back to the Giant Beaver. He explained how beavers provide a wide range of ecosystem services, from firefighting support to vegetation management. He also provided examples for how beavers can provide unique learning and research opportunities for the UVM community across many of the UVM Natural Areas.
The talk and walk brought over 30 people out into UVM’s newest natural area and provided an avenue for people to learn firsthand how the university conducts innovative research across the state that can have a beneficial impact on rural communities.
Join us beginning in January 2026 for more Talks and Walks on UVM’s Water Side. Connect with experts, ask questions, and see UVM science in action! See the lineup here.