Going Up: Incorporating the Local Ecology of New York City Green Roof Infrastructure into Biology Laboratory Courses

Abstract Current urban development practices are predicted to be largely unsustainable, placing an increasing burden on surrounding ecological systems. One mitigation effort involves expanding green infrastructure and alleviating challenges by building in cooperation with processes. Cities investing large-scale projects such as parks, bioswales (roadside plantings), roofs. Recently, scientists have begun explore the principles that govern assembly long-term performance of rooftop communities. In Fall 2013 Spring 2017, students Microbiology Molecular Biology laboratory courses at Barnard College engaged surveys soil microbial communities from different types installations evaluate factors structure community assembly. These enabled witness contribute developing sustainability measures. The results contributed a successful grant application, Master’s thesis, several peer-reviewed publications lead or co-authors. Two students, inspired their exposure infrastructure, demonstrated negative impacts nitrogen deposition sensitive roadside installations. Students expressed increased feeling ownership pride due authenticity novelty work engagement both course project sustainability.