Public Engagement with Science
We are collaborating with Dr. Cat Davis at UMCES’ Public Engagement with Science Lab to study public engagement experiences at bird banding stations. Consistent with calls for the scientific community to expand science communication in ways that support dialogue, shift beliefs, and build trust and relationships, this work is addressing public engagement with avian research and conservation. Banding stations conduct important research and monitoring of bird populations. At the same time, they can also offer unique opportunities for non-scientists to see wildlife up-close, witness science in action, and interact with researchers, all experiences that could change behaviors in ways that support bird conservation. Unfortunately, we know little about public engagement efforts at banding stations. Our study emphasizes the value of banding stations in connecting the public to research and conservation, while highlighting the need for further research on improving these efforts to support bird conservation goals. The first publication from this work titled Public engagement at North American bird banding stations: Widespread prevalence with emerging evidence of knowledge- and belief-based outcome considerations is in press at Ornithological Applications.
Supporting K-12 STEM Education
We are partnering with Dr. Mary Stapleton at Towson University Center for STEM Excellence on a Professional Learning Experiences for Maryland secondary STEM teachers. Middle and high school science teachers from over six Maryland counties have participated in workshops with the Towson University Center for STEM Excellence. Over the course of three days, teachers ventured into two Baltimore parks to collect real-world data on phenology – the timing and patterns of seasonal events – using citizen science tools like iNaturalist and eBird. Returning to the classroom, teachers explored datasets collected by millions of volunteer observers and worked on translating those observations into real-world data stories. These summer workshops marked the launch of the teacher cohort of the professional learning community during which teachers will develop and then implement their own phenology-based lessons in their own classrooms integrating hands-on observation, data, and storytelling. One powerful takeaway echoed across the group: students need more than just numbers—they need stories. As one teacher put it: “Using simple data in phenological changes makes it more accessible and engaging for students by providing relevant context and narrative structure. This approach will greatly improve content understanding, enhance scientific vocabulary growth, and encourage critical thinking as students interpret and communicate real-world phenomena.” By grounding science education in local observations, this work will hopefully support deeper student engagement, climate literacy, and authentic scientific thinking—one seasonal shift at a time. We additionally developed an online lesson on Bird Migration and Climate Change. Students learn about the research of a local scientist Dr. Emily Cohen as they work to answer the driving question: Are bird migration patterns changing? This activity is designed for upper level high school students and fits well in biology, environmental science or research methods classes. Grades 9–12. NGSS Alignment.
Recent Popular Science Articles
Different Bird Species May Team Up For Migration On the Science Friday podcast
Social or solitary? The secret lives of migratory songbirds from On the Record Podcast from WHYY
Do birds have migration buddies? A new study shows surprising connections between species by Jason Bittel for National Geographic Magazine
A New Study Reveals Migration Isn’t a Solo Affair—It’s the Social Event of the Season by Benjamin Hack for Audubon Magazine
The stopover-to-passage ratio (SPR) links airspace and stopover habitat use to identify high-priority conservation areas for migrating birds Partners in Flight (PIF) Conservation News
Night Moves By Paul Bogard
The New Migration Science By Scott Weidensaul
Migration, The Black Box of Neotropical Bird Conservation By Justine E. Hausheer
Passing Through: Migratory Connectivity and the Gulf of Mexico By Jennifer Howard
Migratory Songbirds Transport New Ticks & Pathogens Across the Gulf By Justine E. Hausheer
Updates from our friends in the field By Emily Cohen
Cover Photo by Claire Nemes