Professional Development from ESA

Socially Engaged & Ecological Art

Facilitated by Maria Park

This session will focus on sharing the roles of art and creative practices in engaging people with ecological concepts. Participants will learn about how socially engaged art, natural pigments, scientific illustration, design, sonification, and music, can be used to draw attention to organisms and ecosystems. The central learning objective is for participants to develop a deeper understanding of how art can play a critical role in communicating science and connecting people with their surrounding ecosystems.

• Who is this for?: People who are looking for creative ways to communicate science
• Career Level: Students, Recent Graduates, Early Career, Mid-Career/Management
• Prerequisite Education or Experience: None

September 9, 2026 1:00-2:00 PM ET

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Participation worth 0.25 CEUS toward ESA recertification in Category I(b)

An Introduction to Accessible Digital Communications

Facilitated by Alex Lindeman

This training is a broad overview of how to ensure your digital communications of all mediums (e.g., documents, social media, web and app content, etc.) are accessible and compliant with federal law (i.e., Section 508). This is awareness-level training, because the topic is quite complex and too big to fit into a single hour. However, by the end, attendees will know the basics of how to comply with Section 508 technical standards; will know how to use automated tools to check for common accessibility failures; and will know where they can go to learn more specifics throughout their career.

• Who is this for?: People who are new to digital accessibility, or who have only awareness level.
• Career Level: Students, Recent Graduates, Early Career, Mid-Career/Management, Senior
• Prerequisite Education or Experience: None required, though experience with common tools such as AdobeAcrobat and the Microsoft suite recommended

October 7, 2026 1:00-2:00 PM ET

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Participation worth 0.50 CEUS toward ESA recertification in Category V: Human Dimensions

Basics of Digital Drawing and Animation

Facilitated by Dorothy Janick

This webinar will introduce participants to basic digital illustration and animation tools and techniques using a tablet and Procreate for iPad. Its purpose is to familiarize participants with foundational skills and demonstrate how these tools can be used to create engaging science communication products. Participants will learn that digital illustration and animation tools are accessible and easy to use, even for beginners, and they will explore ways to enhance science communication products through movement and visual storytelling.

• Who is this for?: This event is designed for early-career science communicators and others interested in exploring digital illustration and animation for science communication. It will be especially valuable for students, researchers, educators, outreach professionals, and communicators who want to create more engaging visual content.
• Career Level: Students, Recent Graduates, Early Career
• Prerequisite Education or Experience: None

October 14, 2026 1:00-2:00 PM ET

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Participation worth 0.25 CEUS toward ESA recertification in Category I(b)

Drawing as a Teaching Tool for Ecology Learning

Facilitated by Nancy Lowe

Observational drawing increases observation, generates questions, and makes learning explicit. In this one-hour online workshop, you will learn fundamental drawing techniques that you can apply to biology and ecology education. No previous drawing experience is necessary. You can just use a pen, pencil, and blank paper, but a $10 supply list will be available if you wish to practice some of the techniques.

• Who is this for? Anyone interested.
• Career Level: All career levels.
• Prerequisite Education or Experience? None.

October 15, 2026 noon-1:00 PM ET

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Participation worth 0.25 CEUS toward ESA recertification in Category I(b)

Understand Color in the Natural World – Using Color Pencil

Facilitated by Nancy Lowe

From warning coloration to iridescence to floral color that attracts pollinators, color is sending all kinds of signals in the natural world. Color pencil can liven students’ observational drawings in the field, and the process of color-mixing can help them understand how color works. This one-hour online workshop will share basic color pencil techniques for observational drawing. No previous drawing experience is required. A supply list of $20 of materials will be shared with those who wish to practice the techniques.

• Who is this for? Anyone interested.
• Career Level: All career levels.
• Prerequisite Education or Experience? None.

November 12, 2026 noon-1:00 PM ET

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Participation worth 0.25 CEUS toward ESA recertification in Category I(b)

Creative Nature Journaling

Facilitated by Nancy Lowe

Capturing observations in the field is an ancient art-science practice that can heighten observation skills while capturing useful data. This one-hour online workshop will share more than 20 creative ways to incorporate nature journaling in ecology education. No previous drawing experience is required, and no materials are necessary to participate.

• Who is this for? Anyone interested.
• Career Level: All career levels.
• Prerequisite Education or Experience? None.

December 10, 2026 noon-1:00 PM ET

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Participation worth 0.25 CEUS toward ESA recertification in Category I(b)

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