Why is Science Outreach important to me?
Several years before I started my PhD, I spent the majority of my time in Baltimore, the city I grew up in. I reflected on my city, my neighbors, the many other residents, and how ecology research impacts them. I also began to think about the importance of ecology research and wondered -
Why should people living in cities care about ecological research? What is the point of research if 'regular' people don't know about it or how it affects them?
During this time I obtained a certificate from Cornell University in Urban Environmental Education. I also worked briefly at the Maryland Science Center as an educator, which gave me invaluable experience with engaging with the general public about science.
I strongly believe that an important part of being an ecologist is having the ability to share what we study with everyone, and be able to relate how our work impacts others.
And as someone who has spent many years studying bats, I'm all too familiar with how people react to bats -- it's often not good! And yet bats are so very important to our ecosystem. So many people are surprised when I tell them how bats act as our pest control, pollinators, and gardeners all around the world.
I recently obtained a graduate certificate in Science Outreach from the University of Missouri. I've also participated in several workshops to obtain proficiency in working with environmental education programs for grade school students, which includes Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Discover Nature.
Several years before I started my PhD, I spent the majority of my time in Baltimore, the city I grew up in. I reflected on my city, my neighbors, the many other residents, and how ecology research impacts them. I also began to think about the importance of ecology research and wondered -
Why should people living in cities care about ecological research? What is the point of research if 'regular' people don't know about it or how it affects them?
During this time I obtained a certificate from Cornell University in Urban Environmental Education. I also worked briefly at the Maryland Science Center as an educator, which gave me invaluable experience with engaging with the general public about science.
I strongly believe that an important part of being an ecologist is having the ability to share what we study with everyone, and be able to relate how our work impacts others.
And as someone who has spent many years studying bats, I'm all too familiar with how people react to bats -- it's often not good! And yet bats are so very important to our ecosystem. So many people are surprised when I tell them how bats act as our pest control, pollinators, and gardeners all around the world.
I recently obtained a graduate certificate in Science Outreach from the University of Missouri. I've also participated in several workshops to obtain proficiency in working with environmental education programs for grade school students, which includes Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Discover Nature.
Here's a blog post I did for National Wildlife Federation several years ago.
And this is an infographic about urban bats that I created as part of an Urbionet Urban Biodiversity course.
And this is an infographic about urban bats that I created as part of an Urbionet Urban Biodiversity course.