terence – 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.

Collins reflects on tenure as President of ESA

terence — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:42:57 +0000

Scott Collins is an internationally recognized plant ecologist currently serving as Director of the Sevilleta Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) program. His research focuses on how climate change and disturbance impact grassland ecosystems in the Sevilleta. Collins recently completed his service as President of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) (2012-2013). Here, he reflects on his tenure as ESA President and his perspective on the importance of participating in the policymaking process as well as effective methods of science communication.

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

The role of science investment in community and professional development

terence — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 14:22:42 +0000

Lindsay Deel is one of four ESA 2013 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. Her Ph.D. research at West Virginia University focuses on environmental geography and policy issues surrounding the management of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In the podcast, Lindsay reflects on sharing her research with policymakers on Capitol Hill.

She also highlights federally-funded graduate science programs that support research that can make a positive difference for communities. For more on federal graduate science programs see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the final in a series of four episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2013 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Federal research investment and its benefits for society

terence — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:29:08 +0000

Carlos Silva is one of four ESA 2013 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. His Ph.D. research at the University of Maryland focuses on remote sensing of tropical rainforest dynamics. Carlos discusses his experiences in meetings with policymakers on Capitol Hill and his efforts to highlight how federal biological research investment benefits the communities they represent. He also shares his insights on what makes effective science policy engagement.

For more on how research investment benefits human society, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the third in a series of four episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2013 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

In defense of federally-funded research

terence — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:29:49 +0000

Matthew Berg is one of four ESA 2013 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University, he studies ecohydrology. In this podcast, Matthew discusses his collaborations with state and local officials to draft watershed management policies. He also gives highlights from meetings with lawmakers in Congress, including his response to queries questioning the value of fundamental research projects.

For more on legislative efforts to scrutinize scientific research, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the second in a series of four podcasts featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2013 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Sequestration impacts national park destinations

terence — Fri, 31 May 2013 13:27:13 +0000

Caitlin McDonough MacKenzie is one of four ESA 2013 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. A Ph.D. student at Boston University, she studies the effects of climate change on plants in Acadia National Park in Maine. In the podcast, Caitlin discusses her meetings with policymakers on Capitol Hill and elaborates on the impact budget sequestration has had on her research.

For more on sequestration and its impact on national parks, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.

This is the first in a series of four episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2013 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.