Last week’s program was presented by Rotarian Marty Clay.  Marty’s guest speaker was Dr. Pete Sleszynski.  Dr. Sleszynski spoke to us about the Hillsborough Community College Environmental Science Technology Program.  Dr. Sleszynski has been involved in the Environmental Science program at HCC for the past 2 years but has been involved in the Environmental Sciences for several decades.  As the Program Director at HCC he is responsible for teaching and developing the program curriculum.  This curriculum includes wetland ecology, hydrology, GIS applications, resource management, water and soil sampling and analysis, plant identification, and sustainable agriculture.  His goal for the HCC program is to use his work experience to give students the practical skills necessary to get hired and be successful in the environmental science field.  He is also working to develop a networking system with environmental professionals to help find job opportunities for graduates.  Dr. Sleszynski believes in practical experience for students so they are ready for a job.  There are many “field” course curriculum that gives “hands-on” experience.  “Ecology” is the study of how does the natural world work, “Environmental Science” is the study of how WE interact with the ecology of the natural world.  Environmental science has a wide variety of impacts on our world, from the latest “algae bloom” on the east coast of Florida, Lake Okeechobee levels and run off, to the bear hunts in Florida to help maintain the proper level of nature.  Course objectives are to conduct environmental assessments, conduct wetland delineations, local hydrology, applying resource management practices and sampling and analyzing water and soil.  Other important areas of study include; habitat restoration, invasive species management and trail design.  -provided by Mike Arndt

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