Research Runs Free at the College of Charleston's Stono Preserve

The College of Charleston’s Master of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program offers students unique environmental playgrounds to let their research run free. For Chicago native Jake Coffman, the 981-acre College of Charleston–owned Stono Preserve is the perfect place to pursue his passion for herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians. 

“My favorite thing about Stono is it’s pretty much untouched,” says Coffman, whose research at Stono Preserve focuses on the diversity in species across two habitats: among unmanaged loblolly pines and among restored longleaf pines. “There’s such a unique mosaic of habitats here that you would otherwise just not be able to see in its truest beauty.”

Stono Preserve consists of many different ecosystems, including wetlands, salt and freshwater ponds, pine forests, tidal marshes and more. In addition to the environmental studies program, the Historic Preservation and Community Planning Program uses Stono Preserve, as do marine biology and forest management students. 

“The College has been very helpful in helping me do the research I want to do out here,” says Coffman. “It’s amazing to walk through here and just feel like you’re 200 years in the past.”