Presenter: Dr. Amanda Brymer
Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)
The Silvoor Biological Sanctuary is a 2.5-acre tract of land donated in 1978 to the University by Dr. Robert A. Hefner. Dr. Hefner and his wife, Ilo, spent many years converting this former town dump into a beautiful sanctuary.
Dr. Brymer will discuss the establishment of the Silvoor Biological Sanctuary and the management challenges that it presents . She will also discuss recent projects that are driving the compilation of comprehensive Silvoor dataset. Dr. Brymer will also highlight restoration opportunities, including new wildflower plantings with help from Campus Compact EnviroCorps.
Amanda Bentley Brymer is an interdisciplinary collaborator working to improve natural resource management, food system stewardship, and rural community well-being amidst rapid environmental and landscape change.
As Assistant Director of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability at Miami University, Amanda recruits clients and advises graduate student teams for their Master's level Professional Service Projects; she coordinates activities to support student engagement at the Miami University Farm; and she connects with a diverse range of departments and offices across Miami's campus to design interdisciplinary programs that solve environmental problems and promote a more sustainable society. To this role Amanda brings relationships built through a decade of work on environmental problems in southwest Ohio, plus a decade of experience in academic research across the United States.
At home, Amanda volunteers with Miami University Natural Areas as Curator for Silvoor Biological Sanctuary. This five-acre wildflower preserve comprises a mosaic of university and privately-owned properties that require a unique approach to collaborative management, including partnerships with local organizations like Three Valley Conservation Trust and Butler County Soil & Water Conservation District. Amanda enjoys working with local landowners and communities to conserve and sustain healthy waterways, woodland habitat, and working landscapes.