Keynotes and Plenary Sessions

Thursday am

Max Liboiron – Memorial University, Newfoundland

Dr. Max Liboiron is an Assistant Professor in Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she directs the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), marine science laboratory that specializes in community-based environmental monitoring of marine plastic pollution. Liboiron’s research bridges the natural and social sciences by creating open scientific tools and protocols out of feminist and anti-colonial thought. Liboiron is also a member of the Global Open Science Hardware Movement (GOSH), which seeks to reduce barriers between creators and users of scientific tools to support the pursuit and growth of diverse forms of knowledge. Read the full blog post about her work here.

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Friday am

Rachael Polmanteer (and students)

River Bend Middle School in Raleigh, North Carolina

“If you are going to do science, it might as well be ‘real’ science” is the motto of Rachael Polmanteer’s eighth grade science classroom at River Bend Middle School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Rachael’s science journey began when she graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2009 with a B.S. in Marine Science. After working in various biological fields, she decided to take her passion for science into the classroom. In 2016, Rachael was award the Kenan Fellowship for Teacher Leadership and was paired with citizen scientist Dr. Stephanie Schuttler and the eMammal program, writing curriculum to incorporate citizen science into her classroom. After attending and doing a poster presentation at the 2017 CSA conference, Rachael decided to change her entire lab structure to incorporate a variety of citizen science projects. Rachael has organized citizen science professional development for teachers across the state, installed outdoor pollinator classrooms, organized BioBlitzs, and continues to develop new curriculum based on citizen science projects. Read the full blog post about her work here.

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Friday pm

Environmental Justice and Community Science: A Social Movement for Inpowerment, Compliance, and Action, A Panel Discussion

Moderator: Dr. Sacoby M. Wilson, Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH), Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland-College Park

Panelists:
Viola “Vi” Waghiyi, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), St. Lawrence Island, Alaska
Margaret L Gordon, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, Oakland, CA
Vincent Martin, Community Organizer Against Petroleum Refineries, Detroit, MI
Carmen Velez Vega, PhD, MSW, Tenured Full Professor, University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus
Omega R. Wilson, West End Revitalization Association (WERA), Mebane, NC
Beverly Wright, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and Dillard University, New Orleans, LA

Read the full blog post about this panel and convened panelists.

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Saturday pm

Rob Dunn – NC State University, Applied Ecology

From Rob’s website: “Most of the living world remains poorly or totally unknown. In my lab we study the species around us in our everyday lives, species we tend to think of us as well known. Most of those species are not well known and so there are many things to discover in your backyard, in your bedroom, or even on your roommate. Some days I work to study these species myself, bending down to figure out whether the fungus on my neighbor’s foot is a new species. More often I spent my time working with students and other researchers to help along their own discoveries. I also write about the world around us, which is a chance to share the stories of the scientists who have devoted their lives to understanding species, organs, cells, genes or ecosystems that influence us every day. In my building alone I am surrounded by biologists who study prairie voles, rare butterflies, fish ovaries, dinosaurs with long, long, claws, the decisions we make when threatened with death, alcoholic fruitflies, fungus farming beetles, and much, much more. It is a good job, this thing called science, silly at times, serious at others, but nearly always good.” Read the full blog post about Rob’s work.