Environmental Studies research is also collaborative with other institutions such as Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. Research results are published and/or reported to the community through different venues such as the Pine River Superfund Citizens Task Force, churches, community philanthropic organizations, industry conferences and public presentations.
Research is also presented at national and international conferences hosted by the following organizations: American Geophysical Union, Michigan Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Chemical Society and National Association for Research in Science Teaching. In addition, many reports have been written for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Environmental Studies Program focuses on community-based research involving undergraduate students and faculty. many research projects are interdisciplinary and collaborative projects involving different Alma College departments and programs such as biology, chemistry, geology, political science, communications, business, English and public affairs.
Some student/faculty research projects are listed below:
- Developing a Community-Based Response to a Pending Consent Judgment between US DOJ, USEPA and Total Petroleum, Inc.
- Katherine Beam, Steve Crider, Amy Jo Craig, Sarah Fossati, Miranda Kurncz, Heather Moon and Murray C. Borrello
- Modeling River Response to Proposed Drawdown of Pine River by U.S. EPA at Velsicol Superfund Site, St. Louis, Michigan.
- Brian Crum, Nate Stevens, Stacey Burdette, Terra Blanford, Matt Anderson, Cathy Arnold, Marcus Evans, Karla Greening, Kim Sheerer, Lindsay Dahm and Murray C. Borrello.
- Petroleum Contamination in the Pine River between Alma and St. Louis, Michigan and its Possible Origin.
- Murray C. Borrello, Melissa M. Strait, Brad Fuzak, Scott Baker, Julie Franck, Amy Taylor and Edward Lorenz
- Geomorphologically Controlled Depositional Zones for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Horse Creek.
- Murray C. Borrello, Andrew Scanlan and Richard Buszek
- Legal Obstacles for Developing a Citizens' Lawsuit Regarding Natural Resource Damages, Alma/St. Louis Region, Michigan.
- Brent Warner
- Brownfield Redevelopment Possibilities for the Total Petroleum Refinery Site, Alma, Michigan: A Comparison of Business-Based Examples Nation-Wide
- Emily Brookhouse
- Summary of Data Supporting a Comprehensive Health Study of the Impact of Environmental Contamination on Human Health in the Gratiot County Region, Michigan.
- Colleen Petterson
- Recovering Pine River
- A historical work documenting the legacy of the Pine River in central, lower Michigan by: The Watershed Writing Collective, under the direction of Laird Christensen, Department of English, Alma College
