Environmental Science Prof. Manuel Lerdau was recently appointed director of Blandy Experimental Farm, a biological research station operated by the University, according to Blandy Public Relations Coordinator Tim Farmer.
The 700-acre property, located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, was named after Graham Blandy who donated the land to the University upon his death.
According to Farmer, researchers are able to study plant and animal interactions, plant ecology, pollination systems and a variety of ecology studies at Blandy. Blandy's mission statement is "to increase understanding of the natural environment through research and education," Farmer said.
A nationwide search was conducted to find a director for the facility, according to Farmer.
Lerdau said he was interviewed by representatives of Blandy Experimental Farm and of the Foundation of the State Arboretum, an organization closely affiliated with the University.
Lerdau completed his doctorate in biology at Stanford University in 1993.
Before joining the University's environmental science department in January, he taught at Stony Brook University in New York.
When asked about his vision for the facility, Lerdau said he looks forward to helping Blandy grow and develop.
"My overall goal is to at the same time help develop the research, education and outreach activities at Blandy," Lerdau said. "I also want to make those activities better integrated with each other."
Lerdau pointed out that Blandy also has the added asset of being home to the State Arboretum of Virginia.
"We function as a very good regional arboretum," Lerdau said. "We have a living collection of trees that sample Virginia and cover groups internationally."
Lerdau said he believes Blandy provides a service to Virginians.
"We see at Blandy every day that we work for the people of the state of Virginia," Lerdau said. "I think that's a great thing, the fact that we're a public institution"
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