University of Mary Washington student Maggie Magliato recently received Marstel-Day’s Innovation in Environmental Stewardship Award.
Marstel-Day, an international environmental consulting firm, presented Magliato with a $2,500 cash award at the firm’s annual Green Gala. Magliato will work on her environmental project with the guidance of an advisor from Marstel-Day and will present her findings at the culmination of the work.
Magliato, a junior and double major in biology and environmental science, will create a “pollinator walk” on the university’s Fredericksburg campus with UMW Landscape Director Joni Wilson. The walk will allow students, faculty, staff and the community to learn about plants that are important to the region’s pollinators, including bees, birds, butterflies and other insects.
“We are trying to teach people how important and easy it is to incorporate pollinators into their own landscaping,” said Magliato. “There are many plants at UMW that support pollinators so the tour will help people understand how and which pollinators interact with each type of plant.”
According to Marstel-Day, the judges selected Magliato’s project because of the topic’s importance and impact. With pollinator populations declining, the walk will raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and how people can help reserve the trend.
“Maggie’s work will draw attention to the need for further research in this area,” said Richard Finkelstein, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Scientists are concerned about the widespread collapse of bee colonies and threats to other insect species. Her project will explore the cause of the crisis and the impact of the problem on our ecosystem.”
