Erin Socha

Lawrence

Student and Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Non-trad student and freelance journalist. Hockey player, dog lover, plant enthusiast, tired lesbian. 🌱 🏒🏳️‍🌈

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Articles

Monarch Watch to host spring fundraiser and anniversary celebration this Saturday

1 month ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

Monarch Watch is hosting their annual spring fundraiser this Saturday, coinciding with the 20-year anniversary of its Monarch Waystation program. The outdoor event will feature a plant sale, garden tour, activities and a food truck, taking place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Monarch Watch headquarters on west campus.
Wells Farm to host celebration of land nature walk

1 month ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

Ken Lassman’s family has deep roots in Douglas County, and now, with the help of the Kansas Land Trust, he’s ensured those roots will continue to thrive for future generations. One hundred thirty acres of his family’s land, known as Wells Farm, have been protected in perpetuity through a land conservation easement. A celebration of the land will be held at Wells Overlook Park this Saturday at 2 p.m. featuring speakers, ecologists and a nature walk on the property.
New database tracks canceled N.S.F. research grants

1 month ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

A crowdsourced database is helping researchers at the University of Kansas and other institutions in the U.S. make sense of contradictory information put out by news agencies and the National Science Foundation after the federal government began canceling N.S.F. research grants last week.
Celebrate Earth Day with local ecologist at Prairie Park

1 month ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

Many people in Lawrence didn’t know what a treasure the town had, until it was almost lost. Prairie Park, in east Lawrence, is home to an incredibly rare parcel of remnant prairie. A remnant praire, or virgin prairie, is a parcel of grassland that has remained undeveloped by humans throughout its history—never tilled, farmed or put into service for human needs.
Kansas restoration ecologists work to improve Kansas River ecosystems

1 month ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

A yearslong project to restore riverbank ecosystems along the Kansas river in north Lawrence concluded on Tuesday, and restoration ecologists expressed hope that the work they’ve done will be carried into the future.
Reconnect with the outdoors: Best nature spots on campus

2 months ago | kansan.com | Janine Antoni |Erin Socha

As the weather warms up, students itching to experience a bit of the great outdoors can find a surprising amount right here on campus if they know where to look. From quiet study spots enhanced with native flowers to hiking trails and birdwatching opportunities, KU’s campus offers a wide variety of natural respites. “There’s a lot that people just don’t know about,” said Avery Johnsmeyer, president of the KU Botany Club and a sophomore studying microbiology and environmental studies.
Celebration of women in science event to be held at Dyche Hall this weekend

2 months ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

KU is celebrating Women’s History Month with the fourth annual Celebration of Women in Science on Saturday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dyche Hall Natural History Museum. Featuring hands-on experiments and presentations from the women’s science community at KU, the event is focused on learning opportunities for all ages. “It’s a really great opportunity,” said Kelly Matsunaga, a paleobotanist and presenter at the event.
Local volunteer opportunities to explore this spring that help the environment

2 months ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

Students interested in learning about local ecology and volunteering their time for a good cause will find ample opportunities to get outside this spring with local conservation organizations. Grasslands Heritage Foundation (GHF) and Native Lands Restoration Collaborative (NLRC) are two nonprofits that offer hands-on learning experiences and are always in need of volunteers.
Green New Deal calls for divestment in fossil fuel energy, KU endowment says no plans to do so

2 months ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

Five months after the KU Student Senate passed the Green New Deal, one of its primary goals is facing a setback after the KU Endowment stated that it has no plans to divest from fossil fuel energy. The Green New Deal, a nonbinding resolution, articulates policy goals in eight areas, one of which is university funding and its reliance on fossil fuels. A nonbinding resolution is a statement by a political body that expresses an opinion but does not establish an action that must be legally followed.
Exploring the environmental cost of AI: AI's impact on water and energy

2 months ago | kansan.com | Erin Socha

Two and half years since the release of ChatGPT, the AI gold rush shows no sign of slowing. For many, AI has made life easier. Students, researchers and professors have come to rely on the technology for tasks as complex as coding and as simple as schedule-making. Since its inception, much of the discussion in academia has centered on the ethics of using AI to complete a student’s work. Less well known is the impact these technologies have on the environment.