Presenting the case for indoor cats

AIP graduate student Luke Guzelis of Oak Lawn, Illinois, wrote an opinion piece titled "Outdoor cats are more dangerous than you think," and it was published in his hometown newspaper, the Chicago Tribune. Luke loves cats—especially his rescued cat, Drama Queen, pictured above. "However, I am firmly of the opinion that she belongs indoors for her own safety, the safety of other animals and the overall well-being of my suburban environment," he writes. "I don’t intend to shame those who may give their cats outdoor access. I merely wish to present the case that cats are a highly significant invasive species that poses a threat arguably greater than that posed by any other pet animal, including reptiles and amphibians." Guzelis' experiential learning takes place at Brookfield Zoo. Read more

Fostering relationships and belonging to place

AIP graduate student Maria Yamnitz of St. Louis, Missouri, was recently a contributing writer for Pathways Magazine, a free journal and resource guide published seasonally for the greater Washington DC area. Her article, "How to Belong to a Place," which appears on page 31 of the fall issue, suggests six paths to foster a sense of belonging to the place where you are. "These practices illustrate the reality we already know: That our environment sustains us in myriad ways and, as we foster relationships with where we are, we find ourselves belonging there." Yamnitz works as an interpretive guide and is working on her AIP master's field studies at Missouri Botanical Garden. Read more

Tide pool readiness

AIP graduate student Tyler Davies of San Pedro, California, was recently published on Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's (CMA) website. His article, "Trekking the Tide Pools: What You Need to Know Before You Go," helps prepare readers for a safe and educational visit to the rocky intertidal ecosystem of Southern California.

"Last spring I used components of some of my previous AIP coursework to create a "Tide Pool Visitor’s Guide" for CMAs education website, focusing on how to safely traverse and study the rocky intertidal ecosystems in and around my community," said Davies. 

His experiential learning takes place at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Read more

Filming an AIP journey

AIP graduate student Andrew Mazza of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, has been on a filmmaking journey as part of his AIP master's coursework. His New Jersey conservation-focused videos include:

• One Way You Can Help Piping Plovers in New Jersey
• New Jersey’s Grassland Passerine Birds
• New Jersey's Grassland Passerine Birds Prompt Video

Watch these and his other films—an animated educational stop-motion and "The Birds of Pilar"—on our YouTube channel. When he's not creating supercool videos, Mazza is working on his Miami web-based assignments and connecting with experts at the Bronx Zoo.

Fostering accessible pathways to STEM

GFP graduate Jennifer Stover '15 of Lufkin, Texas, was among 100 educators named as Society for Science (the Society) Advocates. The advocate program provides science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mentors with resources to help traditionally underrepresented students take their research to the next level. Stover will receive professional development and year-round support and play a pivotal role in supporting students in their STEM journeys—from embarking on scientific research projects to entering their projects into STEM research competitions. As part of the program, Stover also presented on using citizen science as a catalyst for research at the Society's recent High School Research Teachers Conference in Washington, D.C. Read more

Feeling the biophilic tug of nature

AIP graduate student Felicia Hill of Julian, California, wrote an opinion piece titled, "The draw we feel to nature is genetic. Here’s how plants can bring us back to ourselves." It was published in her hometown newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune. In the article, she addresses the biophilia hypothesis that suggests humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. In moments in the natural world "you can feel the biophilic tug nature has over you," she writes. "Nature helps calm us and releases endorphins." Hill is earning a master's while working full-time as a school educator. Her experiential learning takes place at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Read more

Reflecting on being a changemaker

GFP graduate student Joseph Sarvary of London, England, reflects on the impact of his 2018 NAAEE 30-under-30 ‘Changemaker for the Planet’ award, his career trajectory, and how his personal journey has shaped how he thinks about environmental education in a blog he wrote for the North American Association for Environmental Education. "Throughout the past five years, (driven in part by my Master’s course,) I have conducted research into the history of environmental education and the benefits that can come from time youth spend outdoors," he writes. "These benefits are neurological, psychological, behavioral, physical, and social. It de-stresses us, makes us smarter, and increases our self-esteem." Sarvary, a current Global Conservation Fellow through Miami and Dragonfly, also serves as a board member of Para La Tierra, our Earth Expeditions partner in Paraguay. Read more

Protecting jaguars through community conservation in Belize

GFP graduate student Noelle Duerwald of San Diego, California, submitted an article for the award-winning wildlife blog, "The Jaguar and its Allies." In the guest post, titled "Jaguar Protection in Belize through Community Conservation," she argues that community-based conservation offers the best future for jaguars and other wildlife in Belize. "Local communities play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation," she writes. "...Long term success is dependent on local involvement and engagement." Duerwald’s international fieldwork with Project Dragonfly has included studying coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars, and other wildlife in Belize; investigating orangutans and sustainable palm oil solutions in Borneo; and traveling to the Galápagos Islands to study the forces of evolutionary, geologic, and social change. Read more