Congratulations to the 2026 Environmental Studies Senior Essay Prize Winners

Auston Collings, BS Environmental Studies, Climate Solutions Certificate, & Advanced Spanish Language Certificate

Auston’s essay, “Tracing Cation Dynamics in Southern Virginia Soils: Evaluating Enhanced Rock Weathering through Elemental and Agronomic Analysis,” investigates the potential of Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) as a dual-purpose climate and agricultural strategy. By applying finely ground basalt to a no-till farm in Clarksville, Virginia, Auston evaluated how accelerating natural silicate dissolution can actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while simultaneously improving soil fertility. Advised by Professor Noah Planavsky, this fourteen-month field study provided convergent geochemical evidence of successful weathering, including significant increases in soil pH and cation concentrations. This research estimated a carbon dioxide removal rate of approximately 4.25–4.27 tons of CO2 per hectare within the first ten months. Faculty reviewer Catherine Pomposi recommended this paper for the Donnelley Prize for its “outstanding interdisciplinary research bridging aspects of earth science, geochemistry, agriculture and agronomy, and policy.”

Lucía Cores Harg, BA Environmental Studies & Intensive Education Studies Certificate

In her essay, “Bloody Potential in a Cup! In ” An Eco-Feminist Analysis of Menstrual Cups and Imaginaries,” Lucía draws on the environmental humanities to explore menstrual technologies as tools for gender justice and sustainability. By contrasting reusable menstrual cups with disposable products designed for disposal, Lucía argues that the cup’s material design encourages a direct engagement with the body that can foster both feminist empowerment and a deepened ecological sensibility. Advised by Professor John Durham Peters, this research identifies specific “affordances” of the menstrual cup, such as increased bodily literacy and the disruption of wasteful consumption patterns, to demonstrate how shifting our relationship with these objects can challenge broader cultures of shame. Faculty reviewer Professor Michael Fotos described this research as “an excellent representation of the contributions that ‘making knowledge’ in the style of the environmental humanities can make to the study of environmental dilemmas and society.”

Emma Taylor, BS Environmental Studies

Emma’s essay, “Craniodental Variation and Taxonomic Boundaries in African Guenons,” provides a re-evaluation of the endangered Dryas Monkeys’ genetic traits and taxonomic identification. Advised by Professor Eric Sargis, this research builds on the team’s 2021 paper evaluating the species’ taxonomy. While traditionally grouped within the genus Cercopithecus, recent genomic data suggest a closer relationship with Chlorocebus; however, Emma’s analysis of craniodental measurements and skeletal specimens revealed a unique combination of traits that distinguishes the species from both groups. By comparing these morphological traits, Emma’s research supports recognizing the Dryas monkey as a distinct genus, a taxonomic revision with significant implications for primate evolution and conservation efforts. Faculty reviewer Eric Sargis notes the department’s plans to publish these results in a peer-reviewed journal. 

Sadie Turner, BA Environmental Studies

Sadie’s essay, “Assessing Flood Vulnerability in Ten Mile Historic Settlement Community: A Critical Geographies Study,” examines the environmental and social challenges facing a historic Gullah Geechee community in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Utilizing a Critical Geography framework, Sadie argues that the community faces a “double dispossession” driven by the simultaneous pressures of market-driven gentrification and climate-induced sea-level rise. Advised by Professor Crystal Feimster, Sadie’s research traces how Reconstruction-era land allocation intentionally placed emancipated Black residents on marginal, flood-prone tracts, a vulnerability now exacerbated by contemporary zoning laws that prioritize architectural preservation over systemic climate risk. Faculty reviewers Paul Sabin and Crystal Feimster praised the project as an “impressively researched” and “deeply thoughtful” essay that bridges history, geography, and environmental policy with intellectual rigor and a clear sense of ethical commitment.