I strongly believe that as scientists, we need to engage with the general public to communicate the results of our research in meaningful ways. We must be able to disseminate scientific advances in a way that not only informs but also incites public interest in the scientific process. I regularly communicate scientific findings with the general public, and I even spoke at the Denver Science March in 2017 to a crowd of over 10,000 people on the importance of science and science communication. I regularly implement and participate in outreach opportunities that increase engagement with the community as well as with local K-12 students and teachers, providing hands-on activities for children that will hopefully inspire them to pursue careers in the STEM fields through the following activities:
Uniting citizen scientists with researchers provides an amazing opportunity for collaboration, outreach, and engagement with the local community, and citizen scientists also greatly enhance our ability as researchers to gather and analyze data at an unprecedented pace. I have implemented several citizen science outreach projects, including:
- Leading field trips for flower identification for several organizations across Colorado, engaging one-on-one with community members.
- Leading field trips and tours for K-12 students to instill a love of science, nature, and evolutionary processes at an early age.
- Participating in STEM outreach at local schools and the Girls & Science event at the Denver Museum of Science.
Uniting citizen scientists with researchers provides an amazing opportunity for collaboration, outreach, and engagement with the local community, and citizen scientists also greatly enhance our ability as researchers to gather and analyze data at an unprecedented pace. I have implemented several citizen science outreach projects, including:
- Connecting students and members of the local community with the flora of Colorado and citizen science by contributing iNaturalist observations, thereby increasing our understanding of global biodiversity.
- Engaging community members to assist with a study of alpine thistle speciation on mountain tops through collection assistance and an iNaturalist online field notebook.