We welcome Michael Bekken, who has recently joined LATICE as a postdoctoral fellow funded by a US Fulbright Grant. His research activities within LATICE focus on estimating the carbon balance of the restored mire in Hisåsen.
Michael’s talk will be about his PhD work on quantifying the efficiency of golf course resource use. Here is a summary:
What is your first thought when you think of a golf course? A pesticide-ridden landscape that degrades environmental quality? Or perhaps, a playground for the wealthy that uses millions of gallons of water irresponsibly? Many of us have strong preconceived notions regarding golf’s social and environmental impact. Golfers and the golf industry tell a different story—one that highlights golf’s environmental and recreational benefits. Which story aligns most closely with reality? This research develops a modeling based method by which the efficiency of golf course water, energy, fertilizer, and pesticide use can be quantified. Join us in thinking through this challenging and multifaceted question.