Student Organization Spotlight: Chatham's Society of Ecological Restoration

Fall is here in all of its glory and we hope you’re enjoying the changing leaves as much as we are. Protecting this beautiful display is Chatham’s newest student organization, the Society of Ecological Restoration. Started this semester by a group of students at Eden Hall Campus, the organization acts as a local chapter of the international society working towards native plant species restoration. We spoke with the club’s President Searrah Bierker, Environmental Science ‘24, Vice President Madeline (Goldie) Seddon, Sustainability ‘22, and Treasurer Frances Hurst Brubaker, Environmental Science ‘24 to discuss what’s in store for this new and exciting club!

Members of SER work to pull out invasive plants at Chatham’s Eden Hall campus

What is the Society for Ecological Restoration?

Searrah Bierker: Basically, the Society for Ecological Restoration’s main goal is to take out invasive species that are taking resources away from native species and replace them with native species to better the landscape and increase the biodiversity of the area. This project was really headed by Frances, Goldie, Larson Scheller (Sustainability ‘22), and myself this summer under the direction of Ryan Utz. We began talking about getting it started this fall and we’re really excited about where we’re headed and the possibilities of it all!

What works are you currently doing with the new chapter here at Chatham?

Goldie Seddon: We’re mostly focusing on pulling out a huge patch of autumn olive at Eden Hall as well as some Japanese barberry, some grapevines that are choking out trees, and some invasive trees as well.

SB: I would add that we’re also focusing on multiflora rose and oriental bittersweet. We’ve had weekly meetings the past three weeks on Thursdays from 2-4 and we’re also trying to get annual meetings on Tuesdays started up as well. We usually have around 5-7 people that come out and help us chop this stuff down. We get to use power tools which is a lot of fun and a good learning opportunity as well.

GS: Yeah, we have a flame weeder. It’s like a giant blowtorch, it’s awesome!

Frances HurstBrubaker: It’s a lot of fun to pull out invasive shrubs for anyone who is interested in doing it. It’s a good change of pace for anyone looking to do something that’s not at all schoolwork.

Are there any plans for the future of this organization yet?

SB: Our main goal for the semester is to clear out the autumn olive path as much as we can. We’re then planning to put native plants in its place. We have some pawpaw trees and oaks we’ve secured. We’re going to try and reach out to some other contacts to get other trees as well. Hopefully, we’ll have a native tree planting day which will be a lot of fun. Dr. Utz has also been talking about cutting down some vines, a less labor-intensive project, as we move into the winter months.

What kind of students should consider joining this organization?

GS: Everyone! Or rather I should say, anyone who wants to do some rewarding labor. It’s really rewarding because you see the results of your work almost instantly.

FHB: You don’t have to know anything about plants or be a sustainability or environmental studies major to join. We’ll teach you!

SB: We also just want to encourage people to come up to Eden Hall’s campus because it’s gorgeous here. We hope that everyone regardless of whether or not they’re a sustainability or environmental science major will get to appreciate and experience it. We’re hoping that our club will help encourage people to come up!

How can interested students get in contact with you?

SB: They can reach out to me via email or fill out our interest form to be added to the mailing list. I also encourage everyone to follow our Instagram @chatham_ser.

You can find information about Chatham’s beautiful and sustainable Eden Hall Campus here. Learn more about the Environmental Science major on our website, and explore our Sustainability program offerings, including an undergraduate major, minor, Integrated Degree Program, and graduate program.