Without the human connection, science can easily lose meaning, relevancy, and importance to broad audiences. To that end, I strive to make my research accessible and applicable to a diverse range of people. To meet those goals, I actively seek out opportunities to involve youth and community members with research, conservation, and management. See below for a sampling of different education and outreach activities I've been involved in over the years.
Youth mentoring & education
Tri-Valley School Education Program, Healy, Alaska
Throughout the school year, I worked with local school teachers on incorporating place-based science education that met state and national educational standards. By developing interactive curricula, classroom, and field projects and activities, I connected students in the local community with the birds of Denali. In 2018, I worked with students and teachers on organizing the first school-wide Christmas Bird Count, and repeated it the following year in 2019.
Girl Scouts of Alaska Women in STEM Day, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
Invited speaker; gave half-hour presentation during luncheon for girls, aged 8-12.
Konza Prairie Environmental Education Program, Manhattan, Kansas
As a docent of the Konza Prairie Environmental Education Program, I lead guided bison tours, nature and wildflower hikes, and assisted with educational activities for K-12 local school children. I also gave talks and hands-on demonstrations to local community members on my research. I participated in several other activities in service to the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research Program, including prescribed burning, the annual "bison roundup," Konza Prairie Visitor's Day, various Konza Prairie 5K/10K run events, and helped with The Nature Conservancy's "Grasslands of the World" conference in 2015.
STEM Outreach Fun Night, Lee Elementary, Manhattan, Kansas
As a science workshop presenter, I developed a "birds in flight" activity, where students learned about the power and mechanics of avian flight using several hands-on activities. Event for elementary-aged children.
Expanding Your Futures with Mathematics and Science Conference, Emporia, Kansas
As a workshop and career discussion presenter, I developed a workshop entitled "Birds of a Feather Moonwalk Together" that teaches about sexual selection and bird mating systems. For the second half of the workshop, I led a discussion on career opportunities for middle-school girls.
Skype a Scientist, in classrooms worldwide
This program matches researchers with classrooms across the world to provide an interactive Q&A session that can cover topics such as research, career opportunities, and a "day in the life" of a scientist. This program provides students and teachers the opportunity to get to know an "actual living scientist."
As a science workshop presenter, I developed a "birds in flight" activity, where students learned about the power and mechanics of avian flight using several hands-on activities. Event for elementary-aged children.
Expanding Your Futures with Mathematics and Science Conference, Emporia, Kansas
As a workshop and career discussion presenter, I developed a workshop entitled "Birds of a Feather Moonwalk Together" that teaches about sexual selection and bird mating systems. For the second half of the workshop, I led a discussion on career opportunities for middle-school girls.
Skype a Scientist, in classrooms worldwide
This program matches researchers with classrooms across the world to provide an interactive Q&A session that can cover topics such as research, career opportunities, and a "day in the life" of a scientist. This program provides students and teachers the opportunity to get to know an "actual living scientist."
Workshops & Day Events
Migratory Bird Day, Denali, Alaska
During this day-long event, I organized Denali's first migratory bird day event, with guided bird walks, showings of "The Messenger" documentary, kid-friendly homemade birdhouse activities, and an adult-friendly "birds and beer" trivia night in the evening.
Tri-Valley School Teacher In-Service Day, Healy, Alaska
I worked with local school teachers on developing science-based curriculum and incorporating the scientific method into teaching and school projects.
Denali Winterfest, Denali, Alaska
For this annual event, I gave informal talks about Canada Jays and other resident birds, and provided a guided bird walk in the afternoons. I worked with education staff to create an interactive display in the Murie Science and Learning Center showcasing Denali's "winter residents."
FRAGSTATs Workshop, Manhattan, Kansas
In graduate school, I organized a two-day workshop for faculty and students to learn the FRAGSTATs software and apply new techniques to their research programs.
Migratory Bird Day, Denali, Alaska
During this day-long event, I organized Denali's first migratory bird day event, with guided bird walks, showings of "The Messenger" documentary, kid-friendly homemade birdhouse activities, and an adult-friendly "birds and beer" trivia night in the evening.
Tri-Valley School Teacher In-Service Day, Healy, Alaska
I worked with local school teachers on developing science-based curriculum and incorporating the scientific method into teaching and school projects.
Denali Winterfest, Denali, Alaska
For this annual event, I gave informal talks about Canada Jays and other resident birds, and provided a guided bird walk in the afternoons. I worked with education staff to create an interactive display in the Murie Science and Learning Center showcasing Denali's "winter residents."
FRAGSTATs Workshop, Manhattan, Kansas
In graduate school, I organized a two-day workshop for faculty and students to learn the FRAGSTATs software and apply new techniques to their research programs.
Videos, Podcasts, & Other SciComm Media
- See feature on being selected for the British Ornithologists' Union Science Communication Award here
- See video featuring my MS research and that of the Boyle lab here. See other videos on the Boyle lab channel here!
- See featured article in American Birding Magazine here
- See the Boyle lab flickr page here
- See featured article in the The Wildlife Society Spatial Ecology and Telemetry Working Group's bi-annual newsletter here (see pages 9-14)
- Listen to the Prairie Naturalist Podcast, featuring my MS research here (fast forward to 7:46 to listen to my part!)
- Visit the Denali facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or main bird webpage
- See videos featuring the Denali Canada Jay Project here and here
- See a video featuring the Denali Critical Connections project here