Ecologist Goes to Washington

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

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.    

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.

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.    

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.

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.

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.

Steward Pickett works as a plant ecologist with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. His expertise includes urban ecology, landscape design and succession. Pickett recently completed his service as President of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) (2011-2012). Here, he reflects on his tenure as ESA President and on nurturing a diverse ecological community. For more on Pickett’s perspective on diversity and Earth stewardship, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.       Photo: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Matthew Schuler is one of three ESA 2012 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. His Ph.D. research at Washington University focuses on how land-use practices can enhance species diversity in heavily managed ecosystems. Here, he discusses his experiences meeting with policymakers on Capitol Hill, his past work with the Timber Wolf Information Network and the need for scientists to get involved with their local communities. For more on wolf management efforts, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone. This is the final in a series of three episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2012 for their work at the interface of science and policy. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Adam Rosenblatt is one of three ESA 2012 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. His Ph.D. research at Florida International University focuses on American alligators and their role in the Florida Everglades ecosystem. Here, he discusses his research, its relevance to human society as well as his interactions with policymakers at various levels of government. For more on American alligators, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone. This is the second in a series of three episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2012 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

 Sara Kuebbing is one of three ESA 2012 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) winners. Her Ph.D. research at the University of Tennessee focuses on invasive plant species and their impacts on ecosystems. Sara discusses her research and its relevance to the state of Tennessee as well as her insights on the importance of science policy engagement. For more on invasive plants, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone. This is the first in a series of three episodes featuring graduate students recognized by ESA in 2012 for their work at the interface of science and society. For more information on the GSPA, click here.

Elena Bennett is Assistant Professor with the Department of Natural Resource Sciences and McGill School of Environment at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Here, she discusses her participation in the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program and how the experience informed her perception on how to effectively  share scientific information with policymakers. Bennett relays how her experience changed how she thinks about what it means to make science “accessible”  to lawmakers. For more on the importance of science communication, see the accompanying post on ESA’s blog, EcoTone.