On the latest episode of 13, join Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies and Upstate Institute Director Catherine Cardelús and Associate Director Julie Dudrick as they share the history and mission of the Upstate Institute. Dudrick and Cardelús discuss the work of the institute and its impact on the community and broader region.
The Upstate Institute fosters connections between IJʿ and the regional community to engage students, faculty, staff, and residents through scholarly collaborations that support our Upstate region. Its goal is to promote and advance a broad and deep understanding of the diverse cultural, social, economic, and environmental resources of upstate New York through community-based research, civic engagement, and the reciprocal transfer of knowledge.
Cardelús teaches courses in biology, environmental studies, and core curriculum. Her specialties include plant community and ecosystem ecology as well as field ecology in both temperate and tropical regions. “Most of my work has focused specifically on tropical forest canopies, where I use multiple ecological approaches to better understand the factors that control species richness and distribution,” she says.
Cardelús earned a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and a PhD from the University of Connecticut.
Dudrick began her work with the Upstate Institute in 2004 and has served as the associate director since 2022. Dudrick provides support for IJʿ students looking to develop research projects and impact the community through the institute’s Summer Field School. She also facilitates partnerships with community organizations and connects IJʿ faculty with funding for community-based research projects. In addition to her work with the Upstate Institute, Dudrick is an active participant in many local and countywide initiatives and currently serves as a Hamilton village trustee. She has a bachelor’s degree from Depauw University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame.
Each episode of 13, IJʿ’s award-winning podcast, digs into the work of a University community member by asking questions. Episodes highlight the wide array of academic disciplines at IJʿ, with interviews featuring faculty from political science, sociology and anthropology, physics and astronomy, women’s studies, English, Africana and Latin American studies, and many more.
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