Erika Koontz '17
Major: Environmental Studies
I work at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center as a research technician studying marsh farts, or greenhouse gas emissions from tidal wetlands. I am responsible for the monthly sampling of marsh porewater, fluxes (gas emissions over time), and measuring plant growth. I also lead an annual summer campaign using mail-in sampling kits to 17 of the 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs), which are managed by NOAA.
Favorite Class
Wetland Ecology with Dr. Van Meter—obviously because I do wetland stuff now! I also really do enjoy the science that happens in the land-water interface, and that class taught me a lot about the diverse environments that occur in that space.
Fondest WC Memory
Going on Spring Break in 2014 to Columbus, Georgia, with the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Habitat for Humanity club.
Let’s Hear It for the Liberal Arts
My internship with the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Geospatial Innovation Program lab gave me real, on the job experience that I have been able to apply in every single position I have had since (and before!) I graduated.
Advice
Take a GIS class or basics of computing! You may not be directly interested in it, but the cognitive skills you gain from learning about maps and/or coding are valuable in ALL industries.
