Welcome, Ann!
Ann Foo is a new Science Communicator at IAN. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Cell Biology and Genetics and a B.A. in Classical Languages and Literatures. Ann previously did research on foodborne pathogens and on the gut microbiome. Ann has a cat named Toast and enjoys cooking, listening to podcasts, and going to museums.
Patuxent River Stakeholder Listening Sessions are underway
On Wednesday, October 5th, we held a Stakeholder Listening Session for the upcoming Patuxent River Report Card at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. Despite the overcast weather, dozens of people turned out to talk with our science communicators about values and threats in the watershed and participate in our interactive stations. A second Stakeholder Listening Session was held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary on Saturday, October 8th. We are glad to see people give their input on the Patuxent River!
Science communication course
On October 31, IAN collaborated with Future Earth Coasts to teach the last lecture in their Monsoon School series of classes. The course was organized so that students from across the world attended a 6-day series of lectures and worked together to apply the concepts and tools they learned to tangible research projects. Our science communication lecture, taught by Joe Edgerton, Ann Foo, and Heath Kelsey, covered the importance of good science communication, narrative structure, data visualization, design, and long-term evaluation of transdisciplinary projects. The three-hour course focused on providing tools, techniques, and resources for effective science communication. We were glad to have such an inquisitive and engaged group of students to work with, and hope to see the results of their work soon.
Second LENS workshop held in Tennessee
From April 18 to 23, Andrew Elmore, Ann Foo, and Katie May Laumann facilitated the second Landscape Exchange Network for Socio-Environmental Systems (LENS) workshop in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hosted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the workshop included hands-on data tutorials and talks on remote sensing, archetype analysis, and stakeholder engagement. The workshop included two visits to National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) remote sensing sites, one in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with history and background provided by National Parks Service researchers, and the second on the Oak Ridge campus. Participants also received tours of Oak Ridge’s supercomputers and historic graphite reactor. We look forward to seeing what everyone from the workshop does with what they learned!
Coastal Bays classroom maps make their debut
IAN developed a watershed map with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program that will be put up in classrooms in Worcester County. The map posters aim to educate students about the local and environmental value of the Coastal Bays, instilling a sense of ownership and familiarity with the watershed. The two-sided classroom map posters will also be available in libraries and other community centers.