Making Science Accessible
Student Snapshot: Max Carfrey ’26
From creating how-to videos on environmental research to getting involved in social-justice themed theatre, Max Carfrey ’26 (environmental studies) combines his interests in fruitful ways. He especially enjoys his work with Dickinson's Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring, saying: "Working alongside volunteers who care about the health of their local waterways brings me joy, and knowing I’m making a difference in my community is gratifying." Below, he discusses these projects, his study-abroad experiences in Norwich, England, and more.
Major:
Environmental studies, with double minors in theatre and film & media studies.
Hometown:
Havertown, Pa.
Clubs and organizations:
ALLARM, Mermaid Players (president), Department of Theatre & Dance mainstage productions, ENST Majors Committee and Hypnotic Dance Crew.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
Best thing about my Dickinson experience so far:
"I love how involved you can become without needing to devote all of your time to one thing. Students can explore many different pathways, and I am grateful to be involved in a little bit of everything."
Best thing about my major:
I really enjoy how interdisciplinary the environmental-studies department is. Although I take classes that are strictly on the studies or science side, there are also a lot of cross-listed classes that I’ve taken in tandem with my major. There is a lot of overlap between my major and minors, which helps to fully incorporate all of my interests. For example, I’ve created equipment videos at ALLARM, teaching and giving tips to our volunteers for when they are completing water quality sampling.
Favorite class/learning experience so far:
My favorite learning experience so far has been my work with the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM). I’ve been a watershed coordinator there for the past three years, working with fellow students and staff to make science more accessible in our community. Working alongside volunteers who care about the health of their local waterways brings me joy, and knowing I’m making a difference in my community is gratifying.
Favorite professor:
Wande Benke-Coker, assistant professor of environmental studies, has made a significant contribution to my academic experience, both in class and during my summer internship, when I conducted research alongside him. He is also always supporting and cheering me on with other activities I pursue at Dickinson. He has a wealth of knowledge in the environmental field and beyond, and I always enjoy our conversations.
On studying abroad:
This past spring, I studied abroad in Norwich, England, attending the University of East Anglia. The highlights of my experience were the friends I made and my travel to other European countries during breaks.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
That taking advantage of opportunities in multiple areas—academics, arts and research—helps create a rich and meaningful liberal-arts experience.
About my research:
During my summer internship, I conducted research on how air pollutants, specifically ammonia, affect cow behavior in a naturally ventilated barn. I worked alongside Professor Benka-Coker to set up air-quality (AQ) monitors in sections of the College Farm, as well as CCTV cameras capturing video to code cow behaviors into software and compare them to the AQ data. Our goal was to look for trends in aggressive and passive behaviors associated with periods of higher levels of pollutants. We hypothesized that during times when pollutant levels were elevated, there would be an associated increase in aggressive behaviors. This semester, I am continuing my research and analyzing the data to present our findings at the Pennsylvania Association of Accredited Environmental Laboratories (PAAEL) conference.
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Published October 16, 2025