SMASH THE CRASH
ending bird-window collisions at the University of Rochester
Smash the Crash is an interdisciplinary community initiative that combines scientific research, artistic production, and political advocacy. We are led and supported by students, faculty, staff, and other members of the University of Rochester. Our core team is made up of undergraduate and graduate students and a faculty advisory committee the spans the Humanities Center and the Departments of Art and Art History, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Biology. We have also partnered with several local organizations across the greater Rochester metropolitan and Central New York State area who are helping our efforts to end bird-window collisions.
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
NATTHAVEE KUNATHAI
Natthavee Kunathai is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology. Natthavee has had an interest in ecology and birds since he was little. He is also an avid photographer. Wildlife photos are his favorite. Natthavee is excited to volunteer for Smash the Crash and learn more about bird-window collisions! You can check out his photography on Instagram @nattk_photo.
WILLIAM JIANG
William Jiang is a freshman majoring in Chemical Engineering. He has always been interested in environmental conservation and exploring nature. He interned at the Alley Pond Environmental Center, where he learned about the ecosystems around New York City.
ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
Elizabeth Lawrence is the Business Manager of the Birding Club and a senior majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies. She has loved birds since she was a child and would love to work in conservation and environmental policy after she graduates. She’s excited to be a part of Smash the Crash and hopes it will bring attention to bird-window collisions and inspire more bird-friendly architectural design.
QIKE LI
Qike Li is a senior international student majoring in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. His interest in nature began in childhood, and he is passionate about taking photos of birds and other beautiful creatures. He established a WeChat Official Account to share his encounters and observations of birds in the Rochester area. He is excited to join Smash the Crash to help protect them!
MARÍA FERNANDA LIZARAZO
María Fernanda Lizarazo is a fourth-year graduate student in Chemistry. Born in Colombia, she recognizes the importance of the thousands of species that inhabit the ecosystems in her country and is fascinated by their beauty. She looks forward to advocating for preserving our planet and promoting social justice. She is interested in learning and exploring new places, photography, and the arts.
DANIEL MCDERMOTT
Daniel McDermott is a PhD candidate in the History Department at the University of Rochester. His dissertation explores the history of nature conservation and forestry in Germany. Before when working as a Park Ranger at Acadia National Park, Daniel participated in bird ecology projects like Hawk Watch and Breeding Bird Surveys. He is eager to advocate for a bird-friendly campus.
BRANDON MOLINA
Brandon Molina is the President of the Birding Club and a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology with a minor in Statistics. His interests in bird-window collisions include working with GIS geolocation techniques to pinpoint specific buildings on campus that birds collide with most. He’s very excited to volunteer for this project and save bird species campus-wide, especially in this bird migration season!
JOHANNA MURPHY
Johanna Murphy is a senior majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Johanna developed a fondness for birds during her childhood, inspired and encouraged by her dad’s appreciation for nature and wildlife. She is interested in conservation efforts for any species in need, and became involved with Birding Club after working with shorebirds in MA. Johanna hopes Smash the Crash will raise awareness of the environmental disruption architecture can cause – not just in terms of sustainability but in also concerning species behavior once their environment has changed.
ALICIA PERSAUD
Alicia Persaud is a second-year undergraduate majoring in psychology and minoring in biology. Alicia is currently a content editor for the Journal of Undergraduate Research. Ever since she was a child, she has been fascinated with birds and environmental science and has worked with several organizations on invasive species removal, in addition to raising awareness about keeping our waterways clean. Alicia is eager to work with Smash the Crash and continue to contribute to keeping our wildlife safe!
BRIAN SCULLY
Brian Scully is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. He inherited his love of birds from his grandmother and father, and has loved watching them since he was a child. He wants to incorporate his computer science knowledge in helping birds campus-wide, and to spread awareness in the local community of the dangers of window collisions. Brian is hoping that Smash the Crash will inspire other college students across the country to start their own programs.
WOOCHAN SEO
Woochan Seo is a freshman majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His passion for nature has driven him to explore the living world around us, including research on bird migration in Asia. He is also leading a citizen science project in Korea focused on the nesting behavior of potter wasps, recognizing the power of community-driven research. Through volunteering with Smash the Crash, Woochan hopes to raise awareness about bird collisions and contribute to conservation efforts at the University of Rochester.
MARK SHIH
Mark Shih is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology and potentially minoring in Environmental Science. Mark has loved nature and animals ever since he was young, and he would spend hours in his backyard observing the birds and squirrels that inhabit his crabapple tree. His hobbies include biking, hiking, painting, and fishing. In recent years, Mark has enjoyed doing volunteer work for many environmental conservation projects, such as organizing local beach clean-ups and helping with invasive species removals. He is exited to continue helping the environment and bird species by volunteering with Smash the Crash!
DREW WANG
Drew Wang is a first-year student majoring in Biology. They really enjoy birdwatching and learning about animals in our environments. Drew has previously contributed to public awareness of the ecosystems around us by forming a high school club centered around birdwatching. Drew is excited to extend their efforts towards making an even bigger difference with Smash the Crash!
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Richard Fadok is a postdoctoral fellow in the Humanities Center at the University of Rochester. An anthropologist of design, he investigates the environmental politics of architecture in the United States. Over the past year, he has conducted ethnographic fieldwork with ornithologists, architects, glass manufacturers, and activists to study how national anxieties about biodiversity loss have crystallized novel cultural understandings of the ecology of buildings. You can read more about his research on bird-window collisions on his website www.richardfadok.com.
Nancy Chen is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Rochester. Nancy is an evolutionary biologist interested in the genomic basis of contemporary evolution in natural populations. Her research integrates genomics and long-term demographic studies to characterize the evolutionary processes shaping patterns of variation across the genome through space and time. To learn about her work on the population genomics of birds, check out the Chen Lab website.
Takao Sasaki is an associate professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester. Takao is cognitive scientist interested in the ability of groups to achieve higher problem-solving abilities than individuals. Observing acorn ants and homing pigeons with GPS devices and video cameras, his research asks how animals achieve cognitive capacities by pooling information. To learn more about collective cognition in birds and other animals, visit the website of the Collective Cognition Lab.
Mizin Shin is an assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Rochester. Mizin is a visual artist whose work addresses interdependency throughout societal systems. Mizin focuses on both traditional and contemporary printmaking practices while promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the medium. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions across the United States, Belgium, Spain, the UK, India, and South Korea. She is a co-founder of Mirabo Press and the creator of TeachPrint.com. You can see her portfolio on her website.
Albert Uy is the chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Rochester. Al is an evolutionary biologist interested in the origin and maintenance of biological diversity in the tropics, the cradle of our planet’s diversity. His research program explores the origin of biological species in tropical birds in order to learn how to effectively conserve biodiversity. He uses a combination of observational, experimental and molecular approaches to study populations that are on the verge of becoming new species. To learn about his work on evolutionary ecology, check out the Uy Lab website.
LOCAL PARTNERS
Braddock Bay Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization dedicated to ornithological research, education, and conservation. Located on the south shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York, this avian research facility bands thousands of songbirds each spring and fall in an effort to better understand their migratory behavior and ecology.
Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) is a 501(c)-3 non profit, volunteer based organization. Founded in 1986, BBRR has been continuously working towards preserving the area’s natural resources by focusing research and education activities on the spectacular spring raptor migration, and summer natal dispersal. Research at Braddock Bay focuses on a range of topics important to conservation efforts, including the daily and seasonal distribution of raptors according to species, age and sex, and the behavior of raptors in migration. Educational programs are offered throughout the year and aim to expose people to the wonderful world of raptors through field experiences as well as off site visits.
GENESEE VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY
Genesee Valley Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit organization serving the communities of Western New York State in Monroe County and parts of Genesee, Livingston and Ontario Counties. The Vision of Genesee Valley Audubon Society (GVAS) is to promote environmental conservation. Their mission is to educate and advocate for protection of the environment, focusing on birds, wildlife and habitat.
Lights Out Central New York was created in October 2024 by the Onondaga Audubon Society in response to the urgent need to protect millions of migratory birds that rest and nest in Central New York during peak migration. They work across the region to reduce the danger of unnecessary artificial nighttime lighting for migratory birds through advocacy and public education. Lights Out Central New York envisions a world where nocturnally migratory birds can safely migrate through our region, under star-filled skies.
