CGIES Lab Students at the 2026 Kentucky Water Research (KWRI) Symposium.

Students from our lab participated in the KWRI Symposium, where they presented research addressing key environmental challenges in Eastern Kentucky. Their work explored soil health and its variation with depth in recently reclaimed mine lands, the occurrence and distribution of rare earth elements associated with acid mine drainage across different treatment and reclamation conditions, and landslide susceptibility in the region. The presentations highlighted the use of field observations, statistical methods, and geospatial analysis to better understand environmental conditions and support effective land and watershed management.

CGIES Lab Graduate Researcher Attends 2026 TMCF Faculty Research Seminar in Washington, D.C.

This September, CGIES Lab graduate research assistant Asmita Satyal attended the 2026 Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Faculty Research Seminar, held September 9–10, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Her participation was fully funded by TMCF's Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center for her participation.

Asmita earned a spot at the seminar through a competitive selection process, first as Kentucky State University's graduate student nominee and then through final selection by TMCF. She attended alongside two Kentucky State University faculty members. 

Hosted by TMCF's Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, this year's seminar focused on turning research collaboration into institutional action at HBCUs. Participants heard from national leaders in research and innovation, including a featured panel on the future of HBCU research with speakers from the National Science Foundation, the Department of War, the QEM Network, and the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.

Asmita says the seminar showed her how federal agencies and national organizations are creating new research and funding opportunities for HBCUs and how students and faculty can position their work to compete for them. "The sessions helped me understand how collaboration across institutions can strengthen research capacity," she said. "I also had the chance to connect with researchers, program leaders, and graduate students from HBCUs across the country."

Asmita's research in the CGIES Lab focuses on studying floods in Eastern Kentucky, a region that has faced repeated and devastating flood events in recent years. Attending the seminar gave her new perspectives on building research partnerships and pursuing funding opportunities. We are glad to see her represent our lab and Kentucky State University at the national level, and we look forward to the ideas and connections she brings back.

Congratulations, Ayobami!!!

Wishing you the very best on the journey ahead.

CGIES is proud to announce that Ayobami, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Environmental Studies, has successfully completed his degree requirements and is now a proud graduate of our program. He participated in the Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony. As you step into this exciting new chapter, we wish you nothing but continued success, growth, and fulfillment in all your future endeavors.

Congratulations to our award winners. 

CGIES is happy to announce that we have three award winners. 

Shristi Adhikari wins first position in the Research Paper competition at the Annual Expree Research Day organized by Kentucky State University. Her paper title is Perceived Impacts of Extreme Weather and Changing Weather Patterns in Kentucky.

Amos Akwemoh wins third place in the oral presentation category at the ARD Annual Meeting and Annual Expree Research Day. His presentation topic is Investigating Vegetation Recovery and Surface Temperature Dynamics on Reclaimed Mine Lands in Martin County, Eastern Kentucky Using Sentinel-2 NDVI and Land Surface Temperature (LST). 

Sienna Stewart, an undergraduate URA, has been selected as the recipient of the KentuckyView Undergraduate Fellowship Award.