Carrie S
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Miami University of Ohio
Expertise
limnology, biogeochemistry, conservation, environmental science, science communication, education, inclusive science
Bio
While my degrees are in Biology, I am widely interested in ecological concepts especially related to freshwater aquatics. My dissertation is on the importance of animals in nutrient cycling within lakes-- essentially I study fish excretion (pee) and egestion (poop)! As a former teacher, I'm also interested in understanding factors that influence science education and student learning; I'm currently conducting research on how student learning is impacted by integrating lessons that blend both science and the humanities. Beyond my research, I love reading books. I'm part of three book clubs and read ~120+ books a year! I also love spending time outside. I'm often found either hanging on the lake (kayaking/boating), tending my garden, or walking one of my two senior pups. Of course, I also love traveling, and I dream of visiting Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania!Project ideas
Analyzing the Impact of Communicating Science to Non-Experts
In today's world, scientists are increasingly sharing their expertise with those outside of sciences with an aim of educating the broader public. This is done through books, podcasts, magazine articles and other print and electronic media. You will consider how scientists, in a field of your choosing (i.e., engineering, public health, environmental science, etc.), are communicating to non-expert audiences. You will learn who the scientists aim to reach through each medium, why they’re targeting these particular groups, and assess the success of these modes of communication. As your final product, you can publish a science paper reviewing the communication being done by scientists and make recommendations for the future.
Environmental Science through Historical Archives
Archives provide a wealth of information showing how human populations treated and interacted with the environment in the past. This project could use archival resources to investigate a particular issue within a region over time, or it could explore multiple environmental issues within a particular era. Through research, students may analyze the social and political pressures that impacted environmental attitudes in the past while also making connections to the decisions that are being made by communities today. The research gathered through this project could be disseminated through a podcast, op-ed, or research article.
A Literature Review on Consumer-Mediated Nutrient Cycling
Animals are often ignored when learning about the cycling of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, despite the fact that they play an important role in these cycles. In recent years, scientists have spent more time researching the role of animals as they release nutrients through excretion and egesta, as well as during decomposition. In many cases, these are significant contributions of nutrients to the ecosystem. This review article would contribute to the field by synthesizing current knowledge and summarizing results from investigations into the impact of consumer-mediated nutrient cycling within a particular ecosystem; the project would also identify gaps in the literature and recommend future research priorities.