Ecologist Goes to Washington

A close encounter with an Alaska senator and a fish called ‘Walter’ while advocating for NSF

terence — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:58:51 +0000

Timothy Treuer is one of six 2016 ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at Princeton University, he into tropical forest regeneration in Costa Rica. In the podcast, Timothy discusses his research and his various policy engagement activities, including meeting Sen. Lisa Murkowksi (R-AK) during the Biological and Ecological Science Coalition congressional visits.

For more on his experience in Washington, DC, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the second in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2016 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

‘Putting a face’ on science funding, Lear reflects on congressional visits experience

terence — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 18:07:22 +0000

Kristen Lear is one of six 2016 ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia, she studies the foraging and roosting habitats of pollinator bat species, including the Mexican Long-Nosed Bat. In the podcast, Kristen discusses her work with Nivalis Conservation Network to preserve the endangered bat, her membership in ESA sections and other activities that have aided her career growth as an ecologist. She also reflects on participating in the Biological and Ecological Coalition congressional visits this Spring.

For more on her experience in Washington, DC, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the first in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2016 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Inouye reflects on ESA Centennial year tenure, international ecological society partnerships

terence — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:11:31 +0000

David Inouye has worked on topics related to pollination biology, flowering phenology, plant demography, and plant-animal interactions such as ant-plant mutualisms, nectar robbing, and seed predation. Since 1971, he has spent summer field seasons at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Colorado. This past August, he completed his service as President of the Ecological Society of America. In the podcast, he reflects on highlights of his tenure as president, including participating in Climate Science Days on Capitol Hill, presiding over ESA’s Centennial meeting in Baltimore, as well as his collaborations and outreach efforts with the international ecological community.

For more concerning international collaboration on ecological issues, see the accompanying post on Ecotone.

GSPA recipients bridge the gap between science and policy

terence — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 14:21:41 +0000

Emlyn Resetarits (University of Texas-Austin) is one of four 2015 ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. In the podcast, Emlyn discusses her experiences working on biodiversity issues in the Austin, TX region. She also reflects on her meetings with federal lawmakers from her state in Washington, DC as part of ESA’s annual Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition Congressional visits.

For more on the importance of scientists being engaged in policy, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the fourth in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2015 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Programs that promote diversity in science education

terence — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 20:48:06 +0000

Natalie Hambalek is one of four 2015 ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. At Oregon State University, she conducts research into pesticides and infectious diseases that contribute to amphibian population declines. In the podcast, Natalie discusses her experience meeting with lawmakers in Washington, DC. She also discusses a number of federal and state programs and initiatives that help promote careers in science for traditionally underrepresented groups.

For more on programs that encourage diversity in science education, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the third in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2015 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

How lessons from the natural world can improve urban planning

Liza Lester — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:16:55 +0000

Sydney Blankers is one of four 2015 ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois-Chicago, she studies urban and environmental planning. In the podcast, Sydney discusses using ecological systems as models for urban planning. She also reflected on her meetings with policymakers on Capitol Hill to highlight how federally-funded research benefits the communities they represent.

For more on how organisms within the natural world can inspire technological innovations in urban communities, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone

This is the second in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2015 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Engaging in policy has multifaceted benefits for scientists

Liza Lester — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 14:08:48 +0000

Cleo Chou is one of four 2015 ESA Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at Princeton University, she studies carbon and nutrient cycling in tropical rainforests. In the podcast, Cleo discusses her research as well as her meetings with policymakers on Capitol Hill. She also touches on the benefits of ecologists communicating their research with policymakers.

For more on the importance of policy engagement see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the first in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2015 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Baron on earth stewardship and promoting a sustainable society

Liza Lester — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 16:03:27 +0000

Jill Baron works as an ecosystem ecologist at the United States Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center. This past year, she completed her service as President of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) (2013-2014). Here, she reflects on her tenure as ESA President and her work with the Society to promote Earth stewardship.

For more on Baron’s perspective on Earth stewardship, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

Monitoring air quality in national parks

Liza Lester — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:49:28 +0000

Andrew Bingham is one of five ESA 2014 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. At Colorado State University, he studies nitrogen storage in soil and its policy implications. In the podcast, Andrew reflects on his Capitol Hill visits while in Washington, DC and discusses his Geographic Information Systems (GIS) work with the National Park Service’s (NPS) Air Resources Division.

For more on GIS and NPS air quality monitoring activities, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the fifth in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2014 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

The role of ecology in natural resource management decision-making

Liza Lester — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 16:30:42 +0000

Amber Childress is one of five ESA 2014 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at Colorado State University, she studies biogeochemical cycling and science-policy interactions. In the podcast, Amber discusses her experiences informing natural resource management decisions with science. She also elaborates on the need for ecologists to engage in the policy making process.

For more on the role of science in natural resource management, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the fourth in a series of episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2014 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.