The First-Year Research in Earth Sciences (FYRES) project provides research experiences to first-year students in a course setting and to more-experienced students as paid internships for Earth sciences majors. Both groups of students learn about science by doing science, and their research results contribute valuable knowledge to managers, scientists and members of the public interested in Michigan coastal dunes.
Quick Facts
15
FYRES Fall courses (2011-2025)
320
first-year students
83
paid undergraduate research experiences (e.g., FYRES Research Mentors)
24:6
typical student: mentor ratio
78
dune research projects
75
conference presentations (45 posters, 30 oral presentations)
Funding and Other Support
The FYRES Project gratefully acknowledges the following funding sources which have enabled FYRES project activities by:
- Funding the creation and implementation of FYRES: the National Science Foundation.
- Funding public outreach activities of FYRES: the Michigan Space Grant Consortium.
- Sustaining the FYRES project after the early years: ذكذكتسئµ and the ذكذكتسئµ University department of geology, geography, and environment.
- Funding FYRES Research Mentors: ذكذكتسئµ (2014-2025), Michigan STEAM Ahead program (2023-2024), Geology Enhancement Fund (2025-2027), Vermeer Fund (2025-2027), Michigan Space Grant Consortium Student Fellowships (2026).
The FYRES project further acknowledges the following people and organizations who have supported FYRES by:
- Granting permission to do research in Hoffmaster State Park: the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- Providing information about Hoffmaster State Park environments and activities: Hoffmaster State Park personnel including Elizabeth Brockwell-Tillman (Park Naturalist), Patrick Whalen and Melissa VanderVelde (Park Supervisors) and many other park personnel.
- Granting permission to do research in various Ottawa County Parks: the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Providing information about Ottawa County Parks environments and activities: Melanie Manion and Nealy Molhoek (Natural Resources Managers) and many other park personnel.
- Granting permission to do research on several conservancy properties: the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.
- Providing information about Land Conservancy dune environments and management activities: Jacqueline Bilello and Justin Heslinga (Stewardship Coordinators).
- Granting permission to do research on several preserve dunes: the Kitchel-Linquist Dune Preserve Board.