Research & media

A decade of recognition, research, and storytelling.

From a peer-reviewed paper on Detroit's vacant lots to national recognition to the faith communities greening their blocks — research interests spanning aerobiology, allergenic pollen and fungal spores, urban ecology, and how people relate to the environmental systems around them.

Two volunteers planting native grasses together at a community rain garden build

Recognized nationally for this work

Peer-reviewed research

  • Heterogeneity in Ragweed Pollen Exposure Is Determined by Plant Composition at Small Spatial Scales

    Katz, D.S. & Carey, T.S. Science of the Total Environment, 2014. Vol. 485–486, pp. 435–440.

    View on ResearchGate View on ScienceDirect
  • Urban Ragweed Populations in Vacant Lots: An Ecological Perspective on Management

    Katz, D.S.W., Connor Barrie, B.T. & Carey, T.S. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2014.

    View via DOI

When the ragweed research made news

Undergraduate research on urban ragweed and Detroit's vacant lots drew national coverage in 2013–2014.

  • How Detroit's Vacant Lots Could Help Allergy Sufferers

    CityLab, 2014 — John Metcalfe

    Read the feature →
  • Controlling Ragweed Pollen in Detroit: A No-Mow Solution for Motown?

    University of Michigan News, 2014 — Jim Erickson

    Read the feature →
  • Just Let Detroit's Vacant Lots Run

    Smithsonian, 2014 — Rachel Nuwer

  • To Control Ragweed Pollen, Detroit Should Mow More Often

    Detroit Free Press, 2014 — Keith Matheny

  • Beyond Blight

    University of Michigan LSA Magazine, 2013 — Lara Zielin

  • SNRE Pite and EEB Students Part of Bio-Blitz on Detroit's Belle Isle

    University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, 2013

Presenting the research

  • Baltimore Harlem Park: Experimental Research in the Inner Blocks

    Oral presentation with Alex Felson — 101st Ecological Society of America Annual Conference, Fort Lauderdale, 2016

  • Impact of Ragweed Pollen Exposure Is Determined by Plant Composition at Small Spatial Scales

    Oral presentation with Daniel S.W. Katz — 99th Ecological Society of America Annual Conference, Sacramento, and the Detroit Public Schools Science Champion/Lead Teacher Series, 2014

  • Developing Estimators of Ragweed Production from Inflorescence Size

    Poster with Courtney Maloney and Dr. Kristina Stinson — 98th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, 2013

  • Ragweed Inflorescence Length Is Correlated with Pollen Output per Inflorescence

    Poster with Courtney Maloney and Kristina Stinson — 96th Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM, 2013

  • Examining the Influence of Ragweed Regional Ecotypes on Pollen Output Under Increasing Atmospheric CO2 Conditions

    Oral presentation with Courtney Maloney — Harvard Forest Summer Student Symposium, 2012

  • Pollen and Public Health: A Citizen Science Project

    Poster with Daniel S.W. Katz and Ines Ibáñez — presented at the 2011 and 2012 Ecological Society of America Annual Meetings and the 2011 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Spring Symposium

Featured coverage

  • Science That Empowers

    University of Michigan EEB Blog

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  • Our EcoGenius: Tiffany Carey, Engaging Young People in Solutions-Based Science Projects

    Planeta Vital

    Read the feature →
  • Courtyard and Sanctuary

    Climate Cafe, via Pastor Richenda's Substack

    Read the feature →
  • Why Biodiversity Matters in Urban Areas Like Detroit

    Outlier Media

    Read the feature →
  • Sacred Grounds

    The Slowdown, featuring the National Wildlife Federation

    Read the feature →
  • Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom

    National Wildlife Federation Blog

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  • Detroit Houses of Worship Join Hands in Addressing Stormwater Runoff

    National Wildlife Federation Blog

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  • Building Detroit's Green Future, One Faith Community at a Time

    National Wildlife Federation Blog

    Read the feature →

Presentations & features on screen

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