When you walk into Dr. Derek Rosenberger’s office, you are greeted by close to a hundred environmental books, plants of all kinds and tactfully placed pieces of driftwood. This checks out since he is a professor of biological science. Rosenberger joined full-time faculty at Olivet in 2016 and has been working to conserve the environment for longer than that. This, however, is more than a job or passion; environmental conservation is his calling. He sees teaching as a way to inspire college students to take an active role in changing the world.
When he was an undergraduate, he started studying pre-dental. He knew he wanted to help people and saw medicine as a way to do that. But when he took some plant and zoology classes, God started changing his heart. He was confused about this calling because he wasn’t sure how he could help people through nature.
“Then I started learning about how the poor are the most impacted [by environmental decline]; I started learning how we are called to be stewards and caretakers of creation, protecting biodiversity. God wants us to be caring for his garden.”
Derek Rosenberger
Since then, Rosenberger has been working to impact not only his students, but the world around him.
A Major with an Impact
Students studying environmental science get the chance to address some of the biggest issues impacting our world today. They’ll learn how the world impacts us and how we impact it. The field provides an understanding of how life works, through learning about biology, geology and chemistry. When students learn about these things, they can take them with them and help the environment in a real, impactful way. Whether they choose to become a park ranger, perform biological research or become a teacher, they can have an impact on the world and the lives around them.
Ethan Geisler, an environmental science major at Illinois State University, speaks further into this. He chose his major because he wants to fight against climate change. Geisler has noticed that people either don’t know how to help or don’t care, but as the climate crisis worsens, he sees the importance and urgency of becoming part of the solution to help fight against this situation. He is working to help sustain the health of the planet and hopes others will join him on this journey.
Changing the World, One Prairie at a Time
One of Rosenberger’s bigger projects while being at Olivet is the prairie restoration project. This is one of the many projects the biology department has taken on. According to the National Geographic magazine, the prairies are natural habitats for all sorts of species and the destruction of them threatens the lives of the beings that live there. In January of 2019, he and around 40 students went out to a part of campus, near the ROTC building, and dropped seeds in the snow. There were over 90 species of native, prairie plants sowed over a 2 ½ acre area.
The ONU prairie has been through three summers, and it is thriving. Maintenance is pretty simple as the prairie only needs a once-a-year mow or burn. This prairie allows students to have real-world experience, giving them a chance to learn about pollinators and prairie community. You can watch a video explaining the project here.
When we work to restore nature, we restore the blessing God has given to us through the joy of being outside.
“How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things both large and small.”
Psalm 104:24-2
