EducatioN and Outreach

As an educator, my main goals are to provide an equal opportunity learning environment, to foster critical thinking, and to inspire and excite students to continue learning outside of the classroom. I am also passionate about engaging and educating others about biology, ichthyology, and evolution. To this end, I actively try to expand the scientific knowledge of both my students in the classroom and that of the general public by engaging in numerous outreach activities.

Education and outreach at the local level are important for creating better scientific understanding by incorporating the use of specimens and visual aids with in-person experiences. It is also imperative that scientists enhance biological understanding of broader audiences at the national and international level. Being able to engage both students in the classroom and the general public virtually by practicing communication skills and by creating clear and easily understandable graphics and visuals that are easily transmittable via virtual platforms is a necessary skill for modern scientists and educators. Whenever possible I have tried to hone these skills by actively engaging in virtual events, either to the public or as an invited speaker in a virtual classroom setting.

LIST OF OUTREACH EXPERIENCES

*Please refer to my curriculum vitae for the exhaustive list of both outreach and teaching experiences

2023

The Deep Sea, Presentation to 1st grade Marine Biology class about the deep sea, the organisms that live there, and how we study the deep sea. American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, March 10th.

Collections Tour, American Museum of Natural History, met one-on-one with a trustee and briefly talked about my research and gave them a tour of the collection. New York, New York, March 8th.

2022

Collections / Lab Tour, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, met one-on-one with a Haskell University Native American student interested in research on deep-sea fishes. Lawrence, Kansas, October 10th.

Jellies and Lanterns, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Kansas, July 6th.

Meet a Marine Biologist, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, Kansas, July 5th.

Imaginarium: Extreme Ocean Animals, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Kansas, June 27th.

Bioblitz, Topeka Riverbank Restoration Project, Friends of the Kaw, Kaw River State Park, Kansas, May 7th.

Deep-sea Fishes Booth: ‘Women in Science,’ University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas, March 26th.

Fish Bones of the Kaw Booth: ‘Bones of the Kaw,’ University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Friends of the Kaw, Lawrence, Kansas, March 24th.

NOAA Professional Development for educators. Virtual meeting, Midwest area. Guest expert on bioluminescence. Virtual. November.

2021

Scientist Participant in Letters to a Pre-Scientist (An organization recognized for excellence in supporting women and girls in STEM, making the shortlist for the Nature Research Innovating Science Award).

Freaky Fishes: ‘Macabre at the Museum,’ University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas, October.

Members Night: 'Deep Scattering Layer,’ virtual presentation, KU Natural History Museum, January 28th.

Meet a Marine Biologist: Virtual presentation to Girl Scouts around Lawrence, KS, February 7th.

2020

Fish reproduction booth: 'Sexy Science,’ KU Natural History Museum, February.

Ichthyology Collections: ‘Collections up Close,’ KU Natural History Museum and University of Kansas Union, February.

My Dive into Deep-Sea Research: Presented to the KU SEEDS (Ecology) Club, University of Kansas, February.

Scientist Participant in Letters to a Pre-Scientist (An organization recognized for excellence in supporting women and girls in STEM, making the shortlist for the Nature Research Innovating Science Award)

2019

Learn how to Fish: Taught girl scouts at Camp Tongawood (Tonganoxie, KS) how to fish, June.

Threatened and Endangered Fish Species: Discovery Day: Endangered Species, KU Natural History Museum, Dec.

Freaky Fishes: ‘Macabre at the Museum’, KU Natural History Museum, October.

Fishes of the Deep Sea booth: Discovery Day: Marine Life, KU Natural History Museum, May.

Deep-sea Diversity: 'Science Night’, Lawrence Beer Company, March.

Fish Reproduction Booth: 'Sexy Science’, KU Natural History Museum, February.

Scientist Participant in Letters to a Pre-Scientist (An organization recognized for excellence in supporting women and girls in STEM, making the shortlist for the Nature Research Innovating Science Award)

2019

Deep-sea Diversity: 'Science Night’, Lawrence Beer Company, March.

Interviewed on the Fisheries Podcast: Hosted by Fisheries Biologist Nick Kramer, we discussed deep-sea research, expeditions, and the creation of the #SundayFishSketch, March.

Sexy Science: Fish reproduction booth at the KU Natural History Museum (February).

2018

Macabre at the Museum: Deep-sea fishes booth at the KU natural History Museum (October).

Ichthyology Deep-sea Collection for 'Collections up Close' at the University of Kansas Union (April).

Deep-sea Diversity during 'Science Night' at the Lawrence Beer Company (March).

Article about scientific communication and my creation of the #SundayFishSketch on twitter
- https://environment.uw.edu/news/2018/03/marine-and-environmental-affairs-student-uses-art-to-communicate-science-with-sundayfishsketch/

- https://environment.uw.edu/news/college-newsletter/march-2018/

Sexy Science: Fish reproduction booth at the KU Natural History Museum (February).

2017        

Science of the Macabre: Deep-sea Fishes booth at the KU Natural History Museum (October).

Martin, R.P. (2017) Backpage article: Art of the Deep. Fisheries, 42, 244
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2017.1296737

2014   

Invasive Species Awareness. The Global Social Responsibility Conference, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN. Oral Presentation

Co-creator of interpretive trail signs for educational purposes at Camp Ripley, Minnesota