Non-personal Interpretation

Non-personal environmental interpretation is thematic, goal-driven science communication that lacks direct interaction with the audience. This includes multimedia, waysides and brochures, social media, and more. I have always been interested in making non-personal interpretation a large part of my career. I strive to use my own photography in all materials I make, and hold myself to a high standard. Below, I also summarize citizen science efforts to which I contribute and use in outreach.

Brochures & Booklets

Some of the earliest outreach I have done has been in the form of pamphlets and flyers for trail kiosks. Since high school, I have worked with local government and non-profits to create materials meant to introduce the public to the wonders of insects. These are most commonly trifold brochures, but sometimes full-page format. They provide a field guide to insects commonly found at natural areas, tailored to each property through informal surveys I performed. When possible, the photos used are those I took on-location. These guides encourage visitors to start paying more attention to the smaller creatures that share these habitats, as a way of enriching their experience and gaining appreciation for insect diversity.

Over time, this has been incorporated into my career, and I now often make such guides as informal 'reports' on pollinator communities for the properties at which I have worked. While at the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, I created a 27-page spiral-bound native bee guide for the visitor center. Making these kinds of materials is perhaps my favorite kind of outreach, and I plan to keep pursuing it as my access to graphic design software increases. It is one of the main reasons I strive to continually improve my photography and knowledge of the natural world. I hope one day to publish localized field guides, to help people discover what can be found right outside their door, or at their local nature preserve. To me, this is crucial in forming a meaningful connection to nature.

Most recently, I was in a non-personal interpretive course at SUNY-ESF, in which I worked with a community partner (Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus NY) to create a brochure and wayside to be used at their site. My photography has been featured in a multitude of other published outreach and management materials in the US and Canada, including pollinator identification guides. Check out the Rehan Lab New England bee guide here.

Click on the image to view one of my bee brochures.

Click to view a pollinator plant guide made for an ESF Field Botany course taught by Dr. Donald Leopold

Writing

Me, circa 2011, standing next to my first insect guide, in the trail kiosk at Beaver Brook Association.

Being a scientist, writing is inevitably a huge part of my career and academic coursework. However, I have striven for excellence in all kinds of writing, from scientific to creative and interpretive, and it is one of my greatest joys as well. My goal is to use my words, alongside my photographs, to ignite curiosity and passion in all those who read them. All presentations and brochures I produce feature my writing. I have had the grateful opportunity to write multiple articles in newsletters for NGOs, highlighting pollinator conservation efforts and survey findings. I also utilize these skills to do informal pollinator outreach on social media outlets, which is often limited in allotted characters, making concise, yet impactful, statements necessary.

You may read an autobiographical account written for the UNH Inquiry Journal here.

Videos

I grew up watching public access networks like PBS and NHPTV, which had countless programs about the natural world. These were led by passionate scientists and everyday naturalists that wanted to share their experiences with others, and get them excited about nature. Since then I have always wanted to follow in their footsteps, using the power of film to bring my love of nature to people of all ages. More than anything, I hope that I could be a source of inspiration for a new generation of nature stewards like my childhood heroes were for me.

In high school, I was a part of an award-winning videography program (known for its parodies of famous sci-fi films), where I learned to script, direct, film, and edit short films in a variety of genres, as well as coordinate filming of live events. I first used this for outreach as a way of advertising my high school pollinator garden initiative. In college, I held a part-time job with the UNH Parker Media Lab, further expanding my repertoire by creating instructional videos and helping students troubleshoot their own video editing process. I have since made videos for college projects on many topics, and numerous informal videos about insects and birdwatching. I am proficient using advanced editing software including Final Cut Pro and a variety of filming equipment. Someday, I hope to even host a public access show where I can teach others about insects, native plants, and conservation.

Short film created for a freshman college English course. It was shown by Beaver Brook Association at their 50th anniversary gala event.

Tutorial video for students and staff made at the Parker Media Lab, UNH.

Websites & Citizen Science

At every presentation or workshop I give, I always encourage the audience to get involved with citizen science. To me, this is one of the greatest ways to develop an emotional investment in conservation - by making a real contribution to it! I have been a part of countless citizen science projects, big and small, for a decade and a half. These can be, in themselves, ways of outreach, by sharing your passion and experiences on a community platform and motivating others to do so too. I have given and written tutorials for citizen science websites like eBird, and am always at the ready to recommend a handful for any occasion. I also offer local knowledge to help others navigate natural areas, such as the New Hampshire eBird Hotspots website (pictured). There, I provide birding information and photos to help local and out-of-state birders alike find new places to visit, and get the most out of their trip. As mentioned under 'Personal Interpretation,' I am involved with many citizen science events as well, like Bioblitzes and Christmas Bird Counts. These are top of my list when doing non-personal outreach, particularly on social media, as ways to get engaged with nature and start a new hobby. Citizen science is a powerful tool to introduce the public to ways they can forge their own personal connections with the nature around them.

Here are some of the ongoing citizen science projects I contribute to that you may find me at: