October 17, 2024 

Each summer, the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center supports a Tribal Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Hosted by the College of Menominee Nation’s Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) as part of their summer internship program, the REU is intended to help develop the next generation of Tribal climate change science professionals. 

This year, a cohort of 12 students participated in SDI’s summer internship program, with two interns specifically focusing on climate adaptation research projects with the MW CASC. By collecting data through plot and weather station monitoring, the interns helped build a foundation for a long-term research project on the reintroduction of buffalo to Menominee lands. 

MW CASC Tribal Resilience Liaisons Sara Smith and Ally Scott served as mentors to the interns, as did Jennifer Gauthier, Director of SDI and member of the MW CASC Consortium Leadership Team. 

During the 10-week program, the students also exchanged visits with members of the Sustainable Land and Water Resources Research Experience for Undergraduates, a program co-hosted by Salish Kootenai College and the University of Minnesota. 

Meet the Interns 

Sonny Pamonicutt 

“My summer internship was a collaborative effort to develop a baseline dataset of environmental and climate-related data on the Menominee Reservation. I engaged in a variety of activities and opportunities aimed to advance my understanding of data collection, connect and network with community members and experts.”  

Sonny is a student at the College of Menominee Nation majoring in Biological and Physical Sciences.  

Justice Paiser 

“This summer, I concentrated on studying various research projects related to buffalo grazing habitats and grassland restoration, aiming to gain insights from their methodologies and results. Additionally, I focused on establishing baseline data to identify the species coexisting with bison during our first year of data collection. Our objective is to enhance regional biodiversity, promoting the restoration of native species alongside the buffalo.” 

Justice is a student at the College of Menominee Nation majoring in Natural Resources.