Contributions to conservation biology research are traditionally approached from an ecology and evolutionary biology perspective, but education research can be equally valuable. Population genetics research can inform management decision-making while education research can improve how we teach conservation. My dissertation tackles conservation…

Interactions between plants, soil, and herbivores can shape plant community dynamics and ecosystem processes. My research addresses gaps in understanding of plant-soil-herbivore interactions in urban woodlands and how to improve critical thinking and literacy about urban woodland ecology through community-engaged learning. I employed greenhouse…

Largely due to human contributions, global climate degradation continues to rise. To delve into possible solutions for this issue, the relationship between wildlife conservation behaviors of high school graduates and high school environmental studies is examined. Participants engaged in an online survey, in which they indicate wildlife…

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore affordances for STEM-related skills in a nature preschool in central Texas. Observations were conducted along with the collection of videos and photographs of four preschool-aged participants. Informal interviews were also implemented during data collection and observations. Semi-formal…

University programs with waterfowl teaching, research, and outreach in the United States and Canada have decreased from approximately 55 to 33 programs ([approximately]40%). A reduction in these programs may lead to a loss in professional capacity of waterfowl and wetlands specialists working for science and conservation of these resources. Three…

There are fewer forestry/natural resources pathway classes being taught in Georgia high schools than any of the other main areas (Georgia Agriculture Education, 2019). Georgia high school agriculture pathways are a series of three interrelated courses designed at giving high school students specific skills and expertise in a designated area. The…

Most contemporary reforms in American science education center around ideas of improving student science literacy (Dauer & Forbes, 2016) with the goal of enabling informed engagement on scientific issues (NRC, 2012). This is particularly true for decisions that affect the public interest, including public health, the environment, and the…

Informal science education occurs in many settings, often without an explicit goal of teaching or learning science. Sometimes scientific content and practices are opportunistically encountered through daily activities. Such is the case with fish consumption advisories, which inform people who eat fish about their potential exposure to harmful…

Changes in climate and the corresponding environmental issues are major concerns facing the world today. Human consumption, which is leading the rapid depletion of the earth's finite resources and causing a dramatic loss of biodiversity, is largely to blame (Pearson, Lowry, Dorrian, & Litchfield, 2014). American zoos and aquariums are…

Charrettes have a long history of use in medical, architectural, and planning professions. An extensive literature search found little application of the charrette model implemented to advance, support, and identify transdisciplinarity (TD) research, transdisciplinary teaming models (TDM), transdisciplinary learning (TDL) supporting transformative…

Citizen Science programs create a bi-directional flow of knowledge between scientists and citizen volunteers; this flow democratizes science in order to create an informed public (Bonney et al. 2014; Brown, Kelly, and Whitall 2014). This democratization is a fundamental part of creating a science that can address today's pressing environmental,…

The primary purpose of this dissertation provides a complete trekking guide of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail from Kingsport, Tennessee, to Middlesboro, Kentucky. The trekker is given a view of the trail's natural setting that describes the pattern of the road and its surfaces. In the section "Before You Trek" advice is given as to…

This dissertation explored the roles schools can play in the successful outcomes of large carnivore or keystone reintroduction projects. Schools are more than centers for knowledge acquisition--they connect their community and disseminate information quickly to a wide audience. This study took place in California's Eastern Sierra Nevada, a…

This study examines the educational philosophies and teaching styles of Extension agents in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The Philosophy of Adult Education Inventory (PAEI) designed by Zinn and the Principles of Adult Learning Scale (PALS) developed by Conti were the instruments used in this study. The PAEI identifies the educator's…

As with many organisms across the globe, "Cicindela nevadica lincolniana" is threatened with extinction. Understanding ecological factors that contribute to extinction vulnerability and what methods aid in the recovery of those species is essential in developing successful conservation programs. Here we examine behavioral mechanisms for niche…