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Release Date: 
Monday, November 25, 2019

A better future for the Detroit River and western Lake Erie

HFC biology professor Dr. Mary Parekunnel (left) and her former doctoral advisor, Dr. Jan Ciborowski (right), attended the 2019 State of the Strait Conference at the University of Windsor.
HFC biology professor Dr. Mary Parekunnel (left) and her former doctoral advisor, Dr. Jan Ciborowski (right), attended the 2019 State of the Strait Conference at the University of Windsor.

On Nov. 19, HFC biology faculty Dr. Mary Parekunnel and Zac Polzin attended the 2019 State of the Strait Conference at the University of Windsor. Parekunnel is a member of the steering committee that plans this biennial conference. Parekunnel’s doctoral advisor, Dr. Jan Ciborowski, has been the co-chair for this event since its inception in 2004.

The State of the Strait is a bi-national (United States and Canada) collaboration that hosts a meeting every two years to bring together government managers, researchers, students, environmental and conservation organizations, and concerned citizens. Participants work to understand historical ecosystem conditions and assess current ecosystem status in order to achieve a better future for the Detroit River and western Lake Erie.

This year’s focus was a wide variety of environmental indicators. Parekunnel and Polzin plan to use the knowledge and connections made at this conference to support environmental courses, outreach, stewardship, and future partnerships at HFC. For related content at HFC, please visit the College’s sustainability website.