معرفی
Jean Bonhotal is a Senior Extension Associate and Director of the Cornell Waste Management Institute (CWMI) within Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. She holds a Master of Science from SUNY Binghamton (1991), a Bachelor of Science from Utah State University (1984), and an AAS from SUNY Morrisville (1979). With over 25 years of expertise, her work focuses on composting methodologies, pharmaceutical degradation in organic residuals, and sustainable waste-to-resource conversion. She concurrently pursues graduate studies in the Buckley Lab.
Research interests include compost quality assessment, mitigation of soil contamination via compost application, and innovative uses for agricultural and municipal organics. Her outreach spans compost infrastructure development with farms, municipalities, and schools (e.g., diverting 80% of waste in North Country schools). Internationally, she collaborates with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to establish composting programs. Notable achievements include pioneering mortality composting protocols for livestock and horses, and leading the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities initiative to address urban garden soil contamination.
- Key Collaborations: NYS DEC, USDA, EPA, Penn State University
- Technical Contributions: Compost Facility Map (tracking 12 new facilities), Natural Rendering program for horse mortality
Her awards include the Rufus Chaney Award (2014) for composting innovation and multiple NACAA recognitions for educational outreach. Current priorities center on advancing composting for food waste management, disaster preparedness for mass mortality events, and landfillspace reduction through organic recycling.
