Dragonfly participates in #MoveInMiami 2024

Thursday, August 22, 2024, is Miami's annual day of giving, #MoveInMiami. Each year, we celebrate the incoming class while providing important support for the programs that mean the most to us. We hope you'll consider a donation today in support of our students’ growth and development as conservation professionals and of Dragonfly's program-wide commitment to improving human and ecological communities. Give to Dragonfly's Student Support Fund

On Dragonfly's Wings

Do you have your copy of the Spring/Summer 2024 issue of the Miamian magazine? In it is a tribute to our newly retired co-founders, Chris Myers and Lynne Born Myers, and a summary of the incredible years they spent at Miami. "Dragonfly turned into something more than we could have hoped," said Chris Myers. "We will always cherish our time with the Dragonfly team and the colleagues across and beyond Miami that made that happen." Thanks to everyone in Miami's advancement office who helped bring this story to light and to life.

Photos, clockwise from top left, courtesy of Lindsay Hansen ‘21, Adinah Greene ‘18, Rachel Arbor ‘23, current student Viviana Moreno, Borneo course instructor Sharon Glaeser, Rob Schultz ‘21, Julie Theim ’23, current student Julie Shelton, Leah Crowe ‘14, and Aimée Henderson ’23.

GFP student wins scholarship, publishes AZA article

Global Field Program (GFP) graduate student Kristen Luise of Westwood, Massachusetts, is this year's winner of the Marjorie Post Farrington Scholarship from the Miami University Graduate School. Luise, a biologist at New England Aquarium, also wrote an article on minimizing stress on cold stun sea turtles during, and in preparation for, live transport to facilities across the United States. A member view of Luise's article has been published and is available in the June 2024 edition of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Connect magazine. Read more

Click above to watch Pelecanus' 37:32 minute conversation with Ramesh.

Student's work inspires hope, empowers the front lines of conservation

Global Field Program (GFP) graduate student Sanjana Ramesh of Washington, D.C., talks with Pelecanus co-founder and AIP graduate Austin Parker '18 for an episode of Conservation Conversations. "Talking with Sanjana gives us hope about the future of conservation," shares Pelecanus. "Meeting a young person so driven to help wildlife worldwide inspires us to work harder and save habitats, species, and empower the communities on the front lines." Ramesh works as a program operations associate specialist for the World Wildlife Fund in D.C.

Haul out the haul-outs; we need a little conservation, right this very minute

AIP graduate Payden Hubbert '24 of Beacon, New York, was published in Animal Keepers’ Forum, a publication of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. In the article she summarizes results from observing seal haul-out preferences at the New York Aquarium. Hauling-out is a behavior associated with harbor seals and other pinnipeds temporarily leaving the water. Research results suggest that "harbor seals will likely accept both human-made and natural environments as haul-outs when given an option ... and that advocating for ... protection of their haul-outs is critical while alternative haul-outs are being researched." Hubbert, a former provisional supervisor and senior marine mammal keeper at New York Aquarium, completed her in-person experiential learning through Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. Read more

The 52-minute video above begins with Arbor accepting her award. Arbor speaks at 20:55-23:23.

And the Presidential award goes to ...

President Joe Biden has named Global Field Program (GFP) graduate Rachel Arbor '23 as a recipient of Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. Arbor of Beacon, New York, is among nine kindergarten through grade 12 teachers honored with a Presidential award and recognized for their role in employing innovative approaches to environmental education and using the environment as a context for student learning. Arbor, who has been recognized for her dedication to inspiring students and fostering a deep sense of environmental stewardship in New York's Garrison Union Free School District, attended a formal ceremony last month to receive her award. Read more

Hold the foam: Bahía de los Ángeles youth group is making strides in reducing single-use plastics

In Bahía de los Ángeles, our Earth Expeditions (EE) Baja partners at Vermilion Sea Institute (VSI) and the youthful team of Aventureros have been making strides to transition away from single-use plastics toward a styrofoam-free region. 

The team picks up their to-go orders from 20 food vendors in the area and works together to devour the data — analyzing the packaging, material composition, and weight, and after mealtime, making sense of the data they have collected. Conducting this Hamburger Safari allows the youth to track changes and use social media to showcase the food vendors who have reduced plastic the most since the last Hamburger Safari.

"In early 2024, the team reported a significant decrease in the plastic waste they've been monitoring," as shared by VSI guest bloggers Dr. Kelsie Fowler, Dr. Lyda Harris and Meghann McDonald on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website. "Their hard work is paying off! These youth have become key leaders in community education, beach cleans and surveys, and shifting community waste practices through behavior change engagement. The Hamburger Safari is a delicious adventure towards plastic-free waterways!" Learn more about the work of VSI-Aventureros and how you can help support the sea

McDonald heads up VSI as the executive director. Dr. Fowler serves as the VSI science education research partner, while Dr. Harris leads scientific investigation and data management-reporting efforts.

Exploring coral reefs in real time

AIP graduate Zovig Minassian '24 of La Crescenta, California, wrote an article for California Classroom Science, a publication of the California Association of Science Educators (CASE). In "Increasing Student Awareness of Coral Reef Conservation with Inquiry and Participatory Education," Minassian shares an ecology unit she developed with activities and lessons focusing on climate change and coral reef conservation. The unit targets mostly high schoolers but can be tweaked for younger grades. Minassian's AIP site is San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Read more

Putting emotion back into science

AIP graduate Megan Schulz '23 of Denver, Colorado, wrote an article for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). In her article, "An Educator's Guide to Fostering Empathy for Wildlife through Community Science," she asks: When did society decide that emotion has no place in science? Schulz makes a case for empathy in environmental education and offers six best practices for developing empathy. Schulz is the Adult Programs Coordinator for Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. Schulz's AIP site is the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. Read more

Little birders in the big city

As part of her AIP master's coursework, graduate student Cara Stofa of New York, New York, launched a new website to help New Yorkers learn more about birds. Did you know that around 400 bird species have been spotted in New York City (NYC)? Little Birders NYC provides resources about the types of birds in NYC as well as weekly videos, games, quizzes, and information on bird watching. You can also follow Little Birders NYC @littlebirdersnyc on Facebook and Instagram.

First beach day AIP social in Florida offers fun and a chance to set the Miami Ohio/Florida record straight ;)

Last month Jacksonville, Florida, area AIP and GFP students, alumni, and facilitators gathered for their first beach day AIP social. The event provided an opportunity to enjoy some fun and make connections when local Dragonflies met Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens' (JZG) newest cohort members and also got reacquainted with friends in former classes.

In keeping with JZG's Plastic Free July initiative, the group brought some reusable Miami-branded swag: Miami RedHawks tumblers. A Jacksonville-area AIP student discovered a collection of the MU cups at a local retail store, and local AIPers quickly bought all the cups.

Maybe a store staffer confused Miami University in Ohio with the University of Miami in Florida. Whatever the case may be, we wanted to share a little history about our schools. As explained in the Miami vs. Miami? That’s confusing article, university officials tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Florida school to change its name in 1925 — 116 years after Miami University’s charter.

No hard feelings, though, because there's room for everyone when it comes to impactful higher education! In the end it's less about our differences and more about our commonality. What remains true for both of our organizations: we're two liberal arts colleges that pride ourselves in the tradition of inquiry, engagement, and creativity. We are higher education that's making a difference!

Project Dragonfly combines the flexibility of online courses and conservation action in your home community with unparalleled experiential learning and field study in the U.S. and across the world. Through two degree programs, stand-alone, professional development courses (outside of the degree programs), independent studies, community engagement and networking, Dragonfly provides a professional community for folks at a reasonable price. Learn more below!

Earn a master's degree

Earn a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Biology or a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in the Biological Sciences through the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) or the Global Field Program (GFP). 

Learn more about each of our programs below.

Earn graduate credits

In addition to the master’s degree programs described elsewhere, we offer a number of online and hybrid courses that, along with our suite of Earth Expeditions global field courses, can be taken on their own for professional development and lifelong learning, outside of a degree program.

Yes to a master's; pick a program: the AIP

The AIP combines online courses from Miami University with extra-ordinary learning experiences and field study at premier zoos and botanical gardens in select communities across the nation.

The due date to apply to the AIP is February 15, 2025. 

Yes to a master's; pick a program: the GFP

The GFP combines online courses from Miami University with Earth Expeditions international field courses in conservation hotspots in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

The due date to apply to the GFP is January 15, 2025.

Not sure which program is right for you?

That's okay — while applicants for our degree programs will be asked to indicate their preferred program when completing the Graduate School application, those interested in being considered for multiple programs may write us at dragonfly@miamioh.edu for further information and instructions.

Attend a virtual info session to learn more

Please join us for our free, live webinars with Dragonfly faculty, staff, and graduates in fall 2024 and winter 2025. All webinars start at 8pm ET and last 30 minutes with additional time for questions and answers. We look forward to connecting and sharing with you!

Get the latest in Dragonfly fashion wear

It's time to gear up for the fall! Visit the Dragonfly store to see the latest in Dragonfly wear. New this year is an assortment of hats. Order today!