#makingadifference

February 17, 2023

Women in Science Panel Discussion

As a woman-owned business, and a science-driven organization, it is important to us to celebrate the accomplishments of our staff, as well as the accomplishments of other women. This year, in honor of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11), we hosted our first panel discussion at the Westerville Community Center. The event was organized and run by the “Women of MAD,”  and featured 11 AMAZING women from across the state in the fields of environmental and sustainability sciences. The event was held in-person and broadcast on Zoom. Recordings and transcripts will be made available to schools and educators across the state that want to share career options and help expose kids to the fact that there are women and minorities […]
January 11, 2022

Burntwood-Langenkamp H2Ohio “Treatment Train” Wetland Constructed

Grand Lake St. Mary’s (GLSM) is located in northwest Ohio, in a heavily agricultural watershed that produces a significant portion of our state’s grains and livestock. Runoff from row crop agriculture and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has resulted in excessive nutrient loading to the lake, resulting in an increased frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs). The proliferation of HABs can make the lake unsafe for swimming and adversely affects tourism, and this causes a damaging ripple effect on the local economy. Significant efforts by farmers and local officials have been ongoing since the HABs first appeared, and the lake conditions have been improving as a result of these efforts. Catalyzing these efforts, the State of Ohio has created the H2Ohio grant program to assist […]
January 7, 2022
wetland workshop

Wetland Weekend in Westerville

Every May, we celebrate National Wetlands Month with what we’ve come to call, Wetland Weekend. We kick things off with a Frog Friday event in the evening were community members can explore the wetland after dark and hopefully see some amphibian activity. The next morning, we host the Wetland Workshop, which is another free event for the public. We teach attendees about the process of wetland restoration and the role we played in restoring the Highlands Park Wetland. We also lead hands-on exploration throughout the wetland and provide stations showcasing wetland wildlife, plants, hydric soils, and water quality improvement capabilities of wetlands. If you’re in the Westerville area come May, we’d love to see you for one of these programs!
January 6, 2022

Welcome Interns!

The interns have arrived! AND cicadas! We’re excited to start this year’s busy field season with three fantastic interns- Mackenzie Brown, Corbin Binkley (returning for a third season), and John Eshem.
May 28, 2021

Welcome new MAD Team Members!

We recently celebrated Endangered Species Day and would like to highlight two of our new staff members that will help create and restore Ohio’s native habitat and study-monitor state and federally listed species. Nicholas Smeenk Ph.D., AWB, joins us with a background in wildlife and environmental studies and research in wetland assessment methods. He specializes in herpetology and is Ohio Division of Wildlife Approved Herpetologist for the Eastern Hellbender, Blanding’s Turtle, and Eastern Massasauga in addition to holding a federal recovery permit for the Eastern Massasauga. Jonathan Stechschulte joins us with a background in biology and landscape design. He will lead design efforts for restoration sites and help our clients visualize site goals with his fantastic digital renderings and artwork. Visit our Team and Blog (MAD […]