TROPICAL ECOTOURISM ADVENTURE

Transcription

1 The Research Ambassador Program Nalini M. Nadkarni, Ph.D., Director Olympia, WA (360) RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TROPICAL ECOTOURISM ADVENTURE National Science Foundation Informal Science Education Program: NSF National Geographic Society Conservation Trust program conservation/index.html The International Canopy Network An outreach project by researchers to communicate science to public audiences. RESEARCH SCENARIO NO. 2 SEPTEMBER 2005

2 RESEARCH AMBASSADOR What is the Tropical Ecotourism Adventures Project? Tourism is the largest industry in Costa Rica, and contributes greatly to ecologically sustainable economic growth. Forest canopy ecotourism - with canopy ziplines bringing thrills to forest visitors - has provided potentially sustainable alternatives to cattle farming and coffee growing. As ecotourism grows, the opportunity to provide scientifically sound information as a part of the adventure experience can also increase. The Research Ambassador Program joined with Selvatura Park ( a leading canopy walkway and zipline operation in Monteverde, Costa Rica, to provide interpretive materials for eco-tourists. What issues does this project address? In the past, no educational materials have been available to visitors at Selvatura. In April 2005, Research Ambassador representatives visited Selvatura and met with the Director. The Director agreed that providing information for visitors would enhance their experience. This is especially critical because many of the guests at this canopy adventure facility do not visit the more traditional natural history and conservation oriented parks and wildlife centers in the country. TROPICAL ECOTOURISM ADVENTURE What were the outcomes? Results from a preliminary survey indicate that over half of park visitors would like to have more educational materials available. We produced a brochure to describe the general ecology of the forest at Selvatura. Currently, all visitors to Selvatura Park are provided with this brochure when they purchase tickets for the canopy tours at Selvatura. Future Work The next steps of the project include the creation of signs to be posted on the bridges, each discussing a different aspect of canopy ecology. Other components include the creation of text and content for the Selvatura website, to write and publish a field guide aimed specifically at the biota found in the Selvatura forest, and creation of an up-todate training manual for guides hired at Selvatura. In the longer term, the Selvatura administration wishes to hire a resident naturalist and create a lecture series about forest ecology, to be held on Selvatura grounds. WHAT IS RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM? A major problem facing our society is the widening gap between humans and nature, exacerbated by the lack of connections among science, scientists and society. The Research Ambassador Program helps bridge those gaps by providing academic scientists with rewards and incentives to do direct outreach to the public. The Research Ambassador Program, established in 2003, has recruited scientists from many disciplines in academia and trained them to do outreach, especially in non-traditional venues such as churches, prisons, skateboard parks and hospitals. Researchers link their research to the interest of an existing profession, trade or interest group, and give talks or write popular articles about their research as it relates to that public audience. Rewards for scientists include a financial honorarium, a letter of thanks from a highranking academic, outreach training, and contacts to communicate in the local community.

3 The Research Ambassador Program Nalini M. Nadkarni, Ph.D, Director Olympia, WA (360) RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LEGISLATORS ALOFT National Science Foundation Informal Science Education Program: NSF National Geographic Society Conservation Trust program conservation/index.html The International Canopy Network An outreach project by researchers to communicate science to public audiences. RESEARCH SCENARIO NO. 3 SEPTEMBER 2005

4 RESEARCH AMBASSADOR LEGISLATORS ALOFT What is Lesislators Aloft? The Legislators Aloft project was initiated to facilitate the transfer of research and conservation messages directly from scientists to decision makers. In 2002, twelve Washington State legislators and their aides were invited to join forest canopy researchers and conservationists for a day in the forest, climbing trees. Platforms were installed in trees at a height of 60 feet. Participants were instructed in canopy access techniques. Researchers and legislators discussed topics of mutual interest: sustainability, biodiversity, and global climate change. In subsequent months, individuals contacted each other for information on these topics. What issues does this project address? Many scientists are interested in conveying their thoughts and research directly to decision makers, so that management decisions will more accurately reflect the current state of knowledge. This project provided a direct conduit for that communication. The relationships among participants continued beyond this event, demonstrating that this activity can have longterm positive effects. What were the outcomes? A post-session evaluation, a written questionaire distributed at the session with an follow-up, documented that 80% of the legislative audience felt positive or highly-positive about the experience, and 75% stated they would be willing to contact a forest ecologist for advice or information about environmental issues in the future. WHAT IS RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM? A major problem facing our society is the widening gap between humans and nature, exacerbated by the lack of connections among science, scientists and society. The Research Ambassador Program helps bridge those gaps by providing academic scientists with rewards and incentives to do direct outreach to the public. The Research Ambassador Program, established in 2003, has recruited scientists from many disciplines in academia and trained them to do outreach, especially in non-traditional venues such as churches, prisons, skateboard parks and hospitals. Researchers link their research to the interest of an existing profession, trade or interest group, and give talks or write popular articles about their research as it relates to that public audience. Rewards for scientists include a financial honorarium, a letter of thanks from a highranking academic, outreach training, and contacts to communicate in the local community.

5 The Research Ambassador Program Nalini M. Nadkarni, Ph.D., Director Olympia, WA (360) RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM MOSS IN PRISONS National Science Foundation Informal Science Education Program: NSF National Geographic Society Conservation Trust program conservation/index.html The International Canopy Network An outreach project by researchers to communicate science to public audiences. RESEARCH SCENARIO NO. 5 SEPTEMBER 2005

6 RESEARCH AMBASSADOR MOSS IN PRISONS What is the Moss in Prisons project? To investigate methods to sustainably grow mosses for the horticultural trade, Research Ambassadors enlisted the help of inmates at the Cedar Creek Correctional Center to grow mosses. One of the characteristics of plants is their ability to inspire renewal. Prisoners working with plants are given opportunities for both an emotionally rehabilitating experience and to learn about the process of science. Prisoners monitored the growth rates of four species of native mosses. What issues does this project address? Collection of mosses and other secondary forest products from the forests of Washington is a growing industry for the horticultural trade. Collecting mosses from branches of trees in old-growth forests, is not sustainable. However, collecting continues, both legally and illegally. Two goals of the project were to provide emotional benefits to incarcerated persons and to provide an alternative to the harvest of wild moss populations. How was it done? Original moss samples were collected with a permit from the Olympic National Forest in Washington State. With the prisoners, researchers developed methods to grow mosses, including growing the wild-collected gametophytes in hanging mesh bags and in plastic flats with varying amounts of shade and water. Growth activity is documented by oven-drying and weighing subsamples on a monthly basis. Inmates also make observations and notes for participating researchers. What were the outcomes? The Moss in Prisons project is enthusiastically supported by the prison administration. Inmates eagerly participate in the project. The goal to provide sustainably grown mosses suggests promise. The project has led to the implementation of a lecture series at the prison called Sustainable Futures - Sustainable Lives. Visiting lecturers deliver talks about an aspect of sustainability or ecology. Lectures are attended jointly by prison staff and inmates. WHAT IS RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM? A major problem facing our society is the widening gap between humans and nature, exacerbated by the lack of connections among science, scientists and society. The Research Ambassador Program helps bridge those gaps by providing academic scientists with rewards and incentives to do direct outreach to the public. The Research Ambassador Program, established in 2003, has recruited scientists from many disciplines in academia and trained them to do outreach, especially in non-traditional venues such as churches, prisons, skateboard parks and hospitals. Researchers link their research to the interest of an existing profession, trade or interest group, and give talks or write popular articles about their research as it relates to that public audience. Rewards for scientists include a financial honorarium, a letter of thanks from a highranking academic, outreach training, and contacts to communicate in the local community.

7 The Research Ambassador Program Nalini M. Nadkarni, Ph.D., Director Olympia, WA (360) RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TREETOP BARBIE National Science Foundation Informal Science Education Program: NSF National Geographic Society Conservation Trust program conservation/index.html The International Canopy Network An outreach project by researchers to communicate science to public audiences. RESEARCH SCENARIO NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 2005

8 RESEARCH AMBASSADOR What is the TreeTop Barbie project? TreeTop Barbie was designed to inspire youth - especially young girls - to become aware of the field of the forest canopy. She is a real Barbie doll, but wears hand-tailored clothes that are modeled on real field clothes and climbing gear, including a field guide to canopy plants and animals (both Barbie- and human-sized). The TreeTop Barbie package includes the doll and a personal letter from Barbie about forests and their importance to people. What issues does this project address? Treetop Barbie can serve as a role model to encourage young girls in directions that are alternatives to the mainstream Barbie doll and what she represents in our society. Treetop Barbie and her accompanying educational materials also provide a link between youth and an exciting part of the natural world in tropical and temperate ecosystems. TREETOP BARBIE What were the outcomes? The Treetop Barbie Project has received positive attention from professionals in ecological disciplines. She is popular among non-scientists such as children and doll collectors. TreeTop Barbie was described in the Science Times of the New York Times and has been highlighted by other regional, national and international papers. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) supports the TreeTop Barbie Project and promotes her on their website ( This project is a model for other scientists to link their research to a popular cultural icon and thus heighten awareness of non-scientific audiences. How can I get a TreeTop Barbie? TreeTop Barbie is distributed by The International Canopy Network (ICAN), a not-forprofit organization dedicated to promoting forest canopy conservation through research and education. Funds generated will support this and other outreach activities. WHAT IS RESEARCH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM? A major problem facing our society is the widening gap between humans and nature, exacerbated by the lack of connections among science, scientists and society. The Research Ambassador Program helps bridge those gaps by providing academic scientists with rewards and incentives to do direct outreach to the public. The Research Ambassador Program, established in 2003, has recruited scientists from many disciplines in academia and trained them to do outreach, especially in non-traditional venues such as churches, prisons, skateboard parks and hospitals. Researchers link their research to the interest of an existing profession, trade or interest group, and give talks or write popular articles about their research as it relates to that public audience. Rewards for scientists include a financial honorarium, a letter of thanks from a highranking academic, outreach training, and contacts to communicate in the local community.