Ohio University graduate students receive honors, build connections and gain insight at national environmental conference
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Ohio University graduate students receive honors, build connections and gain insight at national environmental conference
Dupe Oluwasesan and Emily Fox represented Ohio University at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Reclamation Sciences (ASRS) Their work received widespread recognition at the conference, earning them two awards each: one for excellence in presentation and another in the form of a competitive travel grant supporting student research dissemination. They are already looking ahead to ASRS2026, set in Laramie, Wyoming, where they hope to return with even more contributions from the front lines of restoration science. They described the atmosphere as “welcoming and intellectually vibrant,” noting how the openness of attendees to dialogue made the experience especially meaningful for early-career researchers.
This internationally recognized conference convened a dynamic network of professionals, researchers and policymakers committed to the restoration and reclamation of historically disturbed lands and aquatic ecosystems. With its blend of rigorous science, policy dialogue and practical solutions, ASRS 2025 provided a premier platform for environmental outreach and innovation.
Oluwasesan and Fox co-presented findings from a collaborative research initiative titled “Hydrologic Controls on Nutrient Retention in a Restored Wetland,” which included discussion of findings from a broader research effort in partnership with Ohio’s Stream and Wetlands Foundation. They also shared insights from their own respective thesis research, with Oluwasesan presenting her proposed project “Ecosystem Services of Restored Wetlands,” which explores how restored wetland systems contribute to climate resilience.
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Fox showcased her research, titled “Restored And Preserved Wetlands As Habitat For Pollinating Insects Across Land Use Transects In Central Ohio,” which aims to explore how pollinators recruit from across wetlands to surrounding land uses, focusing on agricultural, mixed-use and forested land cover.
“Emily and Dupe are connecting wetland restoration with important ecosystem services including supporting pollinators and accumulating carbon. They are conducting extensive field work to examine the complex landscape scale interactions that let us understand the role of restored wetlands in the environment and how to restore wetlands to maximize the benefits,” Kruse Daniels said.
Emily Fox
Their work received widespread recognition at the conference, earning them two awards each: one for excellence in presentation and another in the form of a competitive travel grant supporting student research dissemination.
One of the most memorable moments for both was attending the “Wild Women of Reclamation” breakfast session, where leading women in the field of reclamation science shared their stories of perseverance, mentorship and career growth. The event underscored the importance of visibility and support in advancing gender equity in environmental careers.
Beyond technical presentations and poster sessions, participants took part in immersive field tours showcasing innovative strategies for reclaiming ecological function across mined and degraded landscapes. They both described the atmosphere as “welcoming and intellectually vibrant,” noting how the openness of attendees to dialogue made the experience especially meaningful for early-career researchers.
Dupe Oluwasesan
“We are sincerely thankful to the organizers and sponsors of the ASRS conference for making this opportunity possible and we extend special gratitude to Professor Natalie Kruse Daniels for her steadfast mentorship,” Oluwasesan said.
They are also grateful to their department, their school, the Stream and Wetlands Foundation, and everyone who encouraged them throughout this journey.
With new knowledge, lasting connections and reinforced purpose, they are already looking ahead to ASRS2026, set in Laramie, Wyoming, where they hope to return with even more contributions from the front lines of restoration science.
Ohio University graduate students receive honors, build connections and gain insight at national environmental conference
Dupe Oluwasesan and Emily Fox represented Ohio University at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Reclamation Sciences (ASRS) Their work received widespread recognition at the conference, earning them two awards each: one for excellence in presentation and another in the form of a competitive travel grant supporting student research dissemination. They are already looking ahead to ASRS2026, set in Laramie, Wyoming, where they hope to return with even more contributions from the front lines of restoration science. They described the atmosphere as “welcoming and intellectually vibrant,” noting how the openness of attendees to dialogue made the experience especially meaningful for early-career researchers.
This internationally recognized conference convened a dynamic network of professionals, researchers and policymakers committed to the restoration and reclamation of historically disturbed lands and aquatic ecosystems. With its blend of rigorous science, policy dialogue and practical solutions, ASRS 2025 provided a premier platform for environmental outreach and innovation.
Oluwasesan and Fox co-presented findings from a collaborative research initiative titled “Hydrologic Controls on Nutrient Retention in a Restored Wetland,” which included discussion of findings from a broader research effort in partnership with Ohio’s Stream and Wetlands Foundation. They also shared insights from their own respective thesis research, with Oluwasesan presenting her proposed project “Ecosystem Services of Restored Wetlands,” which explores how restored wetland systems contribute to climate resilience.
Image
Fox showcased her research, titled “Restored And Preserved Wetlands As Habitat For Pollinating Insects Across Land Use Transects In Central Ohio,” which aims to explore how pollinators recruit from across wetlands to surrounding land uses, focusing on agricultural, mixed-use and forested land cover.
“Emily and Dupe are connecting wetland restoration with important ecosystem services including supporting pollinators and accumulating carbon. They are conducting extensive field work to examine the complex landscape scale interactions that let us understand the role of restored wetlands in the environment and how to restore wetlands to maximize the benefits,” Kruse Daniels said.
Emily Fox
Their work received widespread recognition at the conference, earning them two awards each: one for excellence in presentation and another in the form of a competitive travel grant supporting student research dissemination.
One of the most memorable moments for both was attending the “Wild Women of Reclamation” breakfast session, where leading women in the field of reclamation science shared their stories of perseverance, mentorship and career growth. The event underscored the importance of visibility and support in advancing gender equity in environmental careers.
Beyond technical presentations and poster sessions, participants took part in immersive field tours showcasing innovative strategies for reclaiming ecological function across mined and degraded landscapes. They both described the atmosphere as “welcoming and intellectually vibrant,” noting how the openness of attendees to dialogue made the experience especially meaningful for early-career researchers.
Dupe Oluwasesan
“We are sincerely thankful to the organizers and sponsors of the ASRS conference for making this opportunity possible and we extend special gratitude to Professor Natalie Kruse Daniels for her steadfast mentorship,” Oluwasesan said.
They are also grateful to their department, their school, the Stream and Wetlands Foundation, and everyone who encouraged them throughout this journey.
With new knowledge, lasting connections and reinforced purpose, they are already looking ahead to ASRS2026, set in Laramie, Wyoming, where they hope to return with even more contributions from the front lines of restoration science.