In the beginning of June, I will be wrapping up my time as an AmeriCorps Member here at Severson Dells, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the experiences I’ve had over the last few years. When I first started in the spring of 2021, I had recently graduated with a degree in Plant and Microbial Biology, and I was still trying to figure out where my career path would take me. Now, three years later, I am excited to begin my next chapter as a graduate student at UW-Madison studying landscape ecology.
Throughout my three terms with Severson Dells, I have learned so much and grown both personally and professionally. My work on projects like community science, habitat restoration, and environmental education has made me a better communicator and- if possible- an even bigger data nerd. These programs showed me the importance of involving community members in the scientific process, not just because it improves overall science and nature literacy while bridging what can sometimes be a daunting gap between scientists and the public, but also because people genuinely want to be involved and learn more about the world around them and what it means to do science.
