Master of Arts - Biology I Conservation communication Portfolio
2015 AIP Cohort
Master’s program Details
The Advanced Inquiry Program is a 2.5 year master's degree that combines web-based graduate courses through Miami University of Ohio with face-to-face experiential learning and field study with the Institute for Conservation Research at the San Diego Zoo.
This innovative program allows graduate students to explore an area of focus as it relates to conservation and invites outside perspectives to join in the fight to conserve earth’s wild spaces.
I was drawn to this program because it allowed me to utilize my previous experiences in content marketing and storytelling and combine it with a strong background in conservation biology and hands-on experience in the field.
As evidenced by my portfolio, I have been working on defining the types of messages and strategies that work in communicating conservation issues. Through my work, I have developed an approach that focuses on engaging and educating communities with carefully crafted, localized messages. It starts with specifically identifying a target audience, highlighting issues that will rally stakeholders around an idea, then identifying and eliminating barriers to behavior change. I have been building my arsenal of conservation marketing tools so that I can take what I’ve learned and put that to work in creating positive change worldwide. My aim is to make conservation issues compelling, relevant and easily to understand.
A selection of my Master’s research
Connecting Scientists and Online Social Networks
“Scientists must embrace the new global online communities to share their messages, or they will be left behind. Digital natives are turning to the internet in droves for information and if conservation scientists don’t join the conversation, their work won’t be able to make the transition from research, to outreach, to actual behavior change.”
Conservation Messages: Assessing Implications for Social Media Sharing
“Social media can exponentially aid in increasing awareness if early adopters share conservation content with their networks. The task is creating the right messages that motivate people to share and take action. One conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that emotionally charged video content has the potential to make people feel more engaged than if they were to read the same content in an article. A second conclusion is that emotional engagement can then lead to message-sharing among social networks.”
Using Video as a Tool for Creating Commitment to Reducing Plastic Waste
“The purpose of this research is to determine which types of conservation video messages produce the most behavior change commitment from online viewers. This study specifically focuses on content aimed at reducing plastic waste, and the target audience is viewers of online video content.”
Promoting Storytelling and Commitment as a Means of Conservation Behavior Change
“The intended outcomes of the project are both a shift in commitment towards conservation and marked behavior change. Some secondary outcomes are increased visibility for the institution on social media as well as the use of social media as a source of reinforcement for the commitments shared by visitors online.”
Using Community Participation to Map The Coyote Conflict in San Diego County
“As Rocheleau, (2005) describes, a community mapping project can be used as a “power tool” to aid in the abatement of an ecological or sociological issue. Participatory community mapping projects can help to generate interest in a particular issue when members of the community feel they can be part of the solution.”
How Wildlife Adapt to Climate Change Stressors
“The year 2016 will go down in history as the year when carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in the atmosphere pushed past the 400 ppm mark. This may seem like a bit of science jargon to some, but it is of the utmost importance that we strive for a global understanding of what it means to be living in a post-400 ppm world.”
In this review, Rees (2003) predicts the demographic extinction of Asian elephants within the next 50 years and provides an ultimatum to these institutions: either redistribute the existing captive animals into more well-matched breeding groups, or accept that Asian elephants cannot be saved by captive breeding and push all funding towards in situ efforts.
On the Kinabatangan River in Borneo.
An all-female Bornean reforestation unit teaching us a traditional dance.
Hiking in the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica.
Conducting a research project at the San Diego Zoo.
External experiences
Save Orangutans Now - Treasurer of the Board 2020 - current
Working to bring awareness to and amplify messages from the cutting edge of orangutan conservation.
Trunks ‘n Leaves - Conservation Content Strategist, 2019 - 2020
Worked to help lay the marketing content foundation across all platforms - web, social, donor events/presentations.
Focused on making updates to the existing site to help the site rank higher in organic search
San Diego State University - Grant Proposal Development - Fall 2016
Click here to view a sample letter or inquiry.
HUTAN/DANAU GIRAND FIELD CENTRE, Borneo, Indonesia 2018
Wildlife Field Expedition in Borneo for my Master’s program.
Tracked orangutans and other wild animals in the field and recorded research data.
Generated wildlife campaign ideas around conservation issues.
SPECTACLED BEAR CONSERVATION SOCIETY, Peru 2016
Nonprofit focused on community-based conservation in Andean dry forest and habitat preservation for the Spectacled Bear.
Worked with organization leaders to track and capture footage of reclusive bear species.
Developed and created an ACFF Official Selection short-form documentary piece to promote awareness and boost fundraising efforts.
AULA GLOBAL RESERVE, Monteverde, Costa Rica 2015
A protected research reserve in the cloud forests that monitors feline activity.
Completed a 2-week volunteer opportunity documenting movement and population density to continue to attract donations.
Tracked animals using camera traps, track pads, and photography to document activities.
SAN DIEGO ZOO, San Diego, 2015 - 2016
Conservation institution committed to saving species worldwide and leading the fight against extinction.
As an Information Ambassador, provided the zoo guests with an optimal zoo experience.
Assisted in creating the enrichment items used to engage and stimulate the animals.