Environmental Education

Fellow Story

Ardoin co-authors paper on strategies for 'remaking' Appalachia's polluted waterways

For many Americans, there is a single word that elicits images of both enduring poverty and environmental degradation: Appalachia. New Stanford research published in the journal Society and Natural Resources paints a starkly different image of the mountainous region by focusing on an emerging movement of citizen volunteers working to clean up watersheds polluted by abandoned coal mines and sewage-clogged streams.
January 7, 2015
Fellow Story

Ardoin receives grant for pro-environmental behavior by ecotourists

The Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University has awarded seven new Environmental Venture Projects (EVP) grants for interdisciplinary research aimed at finding practical solutions promoting global sustainability. Seven faculty teams will receive grants totaling $1,025,000 over two years to tackle a broad range of environmental challenges, from coral reefs in American Samoa to groundwater supply in China. The seven projects were selected from an initial pool of 24 letters of intent submitted to a faculty committee led by Elizabeth Hadly and Chris Francis.
January 7, 2015
Fellow Story

Ardoin and Johnson get NSF grant to study long-term impacts of STEM education at zoos and aquariums

A visit to the zoo gives kids a chance to see animals they may never otherwise experience. It’s also an opportunity for deep engagement and learning in science. To date, however, the long-term impacts of learning science outside the classroom aren’t well known. Researchers wonder whether the lessons last, how best to connect these lessons to what students are learning in class, and how to make sure all kids have an opportunity for diverse learning experiences.
December 19, 2014
Fellow Story

Preschools latest to take on green movement

There are currently about 80 nature-based preschools nationwide, up from 19 in 2009, said Christy Merrick, director of the Natural Start Alliance, which is part of the North American Association for Environmental Education. But she noted that numerous other preschools employ some sort of eco-friendly approach. She said the schools range from taking simple steps to basing their entire curriculum around nature and having students spend time every day in natural settings.
December 10, 2014
Foundation News

Network Call: Sustainability on Campuses

This spring we held a networking call to connect academic Fellows who are interested in expanding their schools' sustainability efforts. Nine Fellows attended the lively call, and topics ranged from how to get involved in a school's...
October 26, 2014
Fellow

Heather Hulton VanTassel

2014 Fellow
Heather previously held a position with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History as the Assistant Director of Science and research where she managed and facilitated programs related to science, research, and collections. Heather recently...
Fellow

Sarah Hameed

2014 Fellow
Dr. Sarah Hameed joined Marine Conservation Institute as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2016 to launch the Global Ocean Refuge System – an initiative that connects the world’s best marine protected areas and the people who champion them into a...
Fellow Story

Creating Urban Habitat for Birds

When you look at your yard, you probably see some grass, a few flowers, maybe a bird or two. Susannah Lerman, 2010 Fellow and 2011 Leadership Grant recipient, sees a huge opportunity for wildlife habitat with little or no investment. Lerman began her career wanting to work with species in remote areas, but she soon realized that cities offer the best opportunities for educating people about nature. Now she finds ways to increase citizen participation in increasing wildlife habitat and reconnect people with nature, particularly in urban areas.
June 25, 2014
Fellow

Andrea Adams

2014 Fellow
A 2014 Switzer Fellow, Dr. Adams conducts interdisciplinary research and facilitation aimed at conservation problem solving. Working at the intersection of science, management, and community, she aims to improve recovery outcomes for threatened wildlife to support thriving ecosystems. As an Ecologist in the Earth Research Institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara, her work focuses specifically on amphibian declines, wildlife reintroductions, and endangered species management.
Fellow Story

Cushing named Berkshire Sanctuaries Director

Mass Audubon has appointed Becky Cushing to succeed René Laubach as Berkshire Sanctuaries Director. She will oversee Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox, as well as Canoe Meadows and Lime Kiln wildlife sanctuaries in Pittsfield and Sheffield, respectively. Cushing, 30, worked previously for Mass Audubon on Cape Cod and the South Coast, and returns to the respected conservation organization after working for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Vermont since 2013. On May 20, she will move into the position overseen for 29 years by Laubach, who retires at the end of this month.
June 17, 2014