College Impact Laboratory (CoIL) at The Ohio State University’s Post

Dr. Em Whalen, a PostDoc researcher at the Critical Ecology Lab, shared with me the dimensions of science and how it has been used to uphold power structures that hurt communities. My earliest memories of undergrad bring me back to moments of academic research. As an undergrad who went to UC Berkeley, I know that we are a prestigious university for research, and if you are a science major, you must do a research project. The first-ever research I worked on was with lizards and evolutions at an ecology lab. I was exposed to several methodologies in science that allowed me to become a young scientist at the time. Still, I remember thinking about how fixed academia can be or how limited I was in my position to continue asking more questions in fear of getting backlash. I have always wondered if academia will evolve into a place where we teach researchers not just to accept the status quo of science but to push for further questions and discussions that shine a light on historical processes in research. I am so thankful to the Critical Ecology Lab for opening their doors to interview them on this episode of Teaching Climate Together. Want to watch the episode? Head over to the link below. https://lnkd.in/geTcevYA #academia #science #phd #gradstudent #genz #sustainability #research

Weekly postdoc appreciation time, by Luiza Teixeira-Costa: "The MSCA IMPACT program changed my career plans in a very profound way. It opened my eyes and made me consider career paths different from the traditional tenure-track academic position." Read here to find out how Luiza experienced this 2-year fellowship working on the project entitled "Mistletoe and Host Ecology in the Urban Environment: Potential Positive Effect": https://lnkd.in/eshEb6sa

🧮𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🌳 Last week, I had the honor to start guiding a course in Stochastic Models as part of the prestigious Instituto Serrapilheira's Quantitative Ecology Program for 2024 (https://lnkd.in/dqp3eJVt). It's an immense privilege to contribute to this innovative initiative aimed at fostering excellence in scientific research and education in Brazil. In just two days of classes, I've been deeply impressed by the passion, curiosity, and diversity of the students. This year's class is a vibrant mix of interdisciplinary talents, all eager to delve into the complexities of stochastic processes. Their enthusiasm for learning, willingness to engage in challenging open-ended exercises, and persistence in overcoming obstacles are truly inspiring. What stands out the most, however, is the students' ability to draw connections between the course material and their own research projects. Their unique perspectives and research interests enrich our discussions, making each session a dynamic exchange of ideas. I feel incredibly honored to be part of their academic journey and to contribute to this groundbreaking program that "advances the science and practice of ecology." Engaging with such a dedicated group of students reaffirms my belief in the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to push the boundaries of our understanding in ecology and beyond. #QuantitativeEcology #StochasticModels #ScienceEducation #InterdisciplinaryResearch #TheoreticalEcology #complexsystems #ESA2024 #ESA Ecological Society of America

🪷🦢I'm thrilled to announce my very first published scientific paper! My 2023 science extension research paper on wetlands and waterbird ecology has been published in The Journal of Science Extension Research – Vol. 3, 2024! Check it out! https://lnkd.in/gk-eTF8H 🦆 The title is "Evaluation of the impact of major human activities on the habitat suitability of coastal freshwater wetlands as a species rich ecosystem for waterbirds", it includes a Literature Review, Scientific Report and Appendix! 🌳 📜 "The third volume of this scientific journal is a celebration of students' achievements in scientific research in the Science Extension course. It illustrates the depth and quality of scientific output that our inspired high school science students can produce when unfettered by content-driven investigations."

"PhD Position in Plant-Insect Interactions at Texas Christian University  A fully funded graduate research assistantship position (funded by teaching assistance) is available in the lab of Dr. Annika Nelson in the Department of Biology at Texas Christian University (TCU) starting in August 2024.  The project will be centered on the population and community ecology of plant-insect or insect-microbe interactions. The project is designed to give the student opportunities to learn and apply techniques from field ecology, chemical ecology, and/or microbial ecology to answer questions about the ecology and evolution of mutualisms involving plants and insects. Opportunities for both field and lab work are available and will depend on student interest.  Applicants should send a CV, a cover letter describing their research interests and reasons for applying, and the names and contact details of THREE potential referees to Dr. Annika Nelson (annikasn@uci.edu). For more details on the Department of Biology at TCU and the graduate program, please see https://lnkd.in/dPjuEV-s For more information about the type of research that will be done in the Nelson lab, please see annikanelson.weebly.com " https://lnkd.in/dK9PaymY #ecology #phdposition #graduateschool #evolution 

Elementary students’ ‘outdoor – digital’ explorations in ecology - learning through chains of transduction | Open Access Cecilia Caiman & Susanne Kjällander Pages: 83-100 | DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2023.2229541 Abstract This article illustrates a research project in a Swedish elementary school where young students are engaged in a project on ecology. Species, digital resources and nature contribute to place-based exploration of ecological issues, relevant in learning for sustainability. Since children grow up in a digital era, their meaning-making is transversed by oral, digital and physical modes. By launching the terms relations, gaps, stand fast and chain of transduction as an analytical apparatus and connecting video ethnography to pragmatic theory and multimodal analysis, we contribute to the body of knowledge on students’ participation and meaning-making featured in digital and physical representations. Specifically, ecological and sustainability learning takes place in the transduction displaying students’ drawings, texts, digital images and biological arrangements. The article concludes with several education concerns: the teacher’s responsibility in supporting agency-processes, the growth of ecological literacy in a blurred ‘digital-ecology’ environment and the educational need to support students’ attachments and care for the living and nonliving. #participation #ecology #explorations #digitaltablets #digitalsignmaking #transduction #ecologicalliteracy #agency #SDG4 https://lnkd.in/giSJiChz

If you are doing your PhD, and wondering if you'll ever publish even a part of any of those chapters, the answer is yes! But when you do, you'll likely have improved it even more than you could imagine by learning and co-authoring :) Most proud of "A Population Ecology of Network Domains" by Branda Nowell and I as level-up of my doctoral work. https://lnkd.in/gHgyzCs5 Purpose-oriented networks (PONs) are a crucial and prevalent forum for addressing complex public issues. Using a longitudinal bipartite dataset of 74 PONs nested in three different geographic areas, we test a series of hypotheses, based in population ecology theories, concerning the impact of domain-level dynamics on network-level outcomes. Findings offer substantial support for, and insight into, the relevance of population-level dynamics in explaining organizational, network, and domain-level changes over time. Findings further offer practical insight and a cautionary tale for public and philanthropic initiatives that incentivize or mandate the formation of new PONs in a network domain.

One the reasons why I value and respect the work Critical Ecology Lab does is that it offers a differnt way for researchers and scientists to approach subjects in environmental change research with practice and care. My first research experience in undergrad during UC Berkeley was studying evolutionary changes within specific species of lizards in Florida and I had often found it difficult to ask different types of questions that explored historical knowledge. As a former environmental scientist, it gives me hope that we begin to evolve and create new pathways for those in higher Ed or grad school researchers / PhD / Post Docs to begin implementing these types of framework. Not only does it provide a sense of community but a practice that academia can take from within to evolve. To learn more about this episode, consider watching the full episode below ⬇️ #ecology #phd #environmentalscience #science #academia

“The degree is hard work, but you build connections and build memories that make the experience worth it." From the classroom to the lab, Josie Griffith ('24) made connections and pursued research as a Graduate Assistant (GA) on the Hill. “After my undergraduate degree… I wanted to branch out from invasive species work so finding a project that dealt with the conservation of native species was important. I found my current lab and the research topic fell in my area of interest as it would be working with native imperiled stonefly species.” As a GA, Josie assisted with teaching BIO123 - helping Hilltoppers build their research skills and learn about evolution, the diverse forms of life, and ecology in a hands-on lab. “Every student comes from a different background and having the opportunity to share knowledge with these individuals is my top highlight of this program.” Josie says her program created a welcoming environment where they are willing to go the extra mile for each other. The support from faculty and members of her cohort helps her achieve her goals as a conservation biologist. "Juggling everything that comes with this program can feel overwhelming at times, but everyone is there to support each other in any way they can. The courses that are offered help to expand your knowledge base and build skills that are useful for the future. The faculty within the department want to see everyone within the program succeed.” For anyone considering graduate school, Josie specifically highlighted the importance of your advisor. "Finding an advisor that is a good fit is very important to personal success and my current advisor is one of the reasons I chose this program.” Learn more about the WKU Graduate School at https://wku.edu/gradschool #WKU #HigherEducation #GradSchool #GradSchoolTips #Research #AppliedLearning #Biology #STEM #WomenInSTEM #Science #Ecology #Conservation #Teaching #GraduateAssistant #Biology Ogden College of Science & Engineering, Western Kentucky University WKU Graduate School

The BS Psychology program offers courses that provide an opportunity to learn about the subject conventionally and to see how these notions, theories, and models work within social ecology. This four-year program requires the completion of 129 credit hours of coursework (43 courses). Now is the time to apply: https://lnkd.in/eUaeMK9f #IoBM #Fall24 #WeAreLimitless #Admissions