Outreach
At Yellowstone Ecological Research Center, science and education go hand in hand. Each year we support numerous college students working on either a bachelor's degree or advanced degrees. YERC also employs post-graduates--often in their first few years out of their undergraduate program--to do field work that serves as an early step in career development and may serve as the foundation for future advanced education. Many of these interns or volunteers go on to do YERC-supported graduate work. Some eventually become YERC staff members; others become future collaborators as they begin to lead their own research and/or education programs.
Along with its on-going intern program, YERC currently operates or directly supports several education programs, as briefly described in the box below. In addition, over the past 15 years YERC and its predecessor organization have offered a variety of education programs and opportunities, including:
- hosting volunteers in our offices to help provide them hands on experience in such areas as GIS work;
- hosting field volunteers for project assistance and special assignments;
- hosting K-12 school groups for field trips and lectures;
- presenting local and regional lectures and seminars open to the public on various research and environmental issues; and
- an ongoing program for grant support for integration of education opportunities into YERC research efforts.
If you are a student whose education goals might fit well with YERC's mission, please feel free to contact us at (406)556-1414.
Current Education Programs |
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Beyond Hayden: Exploration, Inspiration, and Education in Yellowstone
This NASA-supported project seeks to educate and inspire the scientists of tomorrow based on ecological and geospatial science training centered on Yellowstone National Park. The project includes student educator and student researcher paths and serves Native American and rural American student populations. Project collaborators include Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), MOSS (Montana Outdoor Science School), the Biodiversity Conservcation Division of Turner Enterprises, and Dr. Cathy Whitlock of Montana State University.
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MSU Engineering Capstone Projects
Engineering students at Montana State University undertake real-world engineering problems for their senior project. YERC is happily supporting two of these projects:
- Assessing methods for eradicating lake trout from Yellowstone Lake YERC scientists and staff are supporting four engineering students (two ChemE, two ME) in a collaborative effort to assess possible methods of eradicating lake trout from Yellowstone Lake. Lake trout are an invasive species that threaten native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, thereby threatening a food chain that culminates with grizzly bears and bald eagles.
- Creation of a stand alone metrological station
YERC scientists and staff are supporting three senior mechanical engineering students as they work to create a low cost, high data content weather station suitable for use in numerous YERC field research efforts. A copy of last semester's final report can be viewed here: MET_station_report.pdf (2 mB).
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MSU Entrepreneurial Program
YERC scientists and staff support students in Management 463, a senior level Montana State University class-- rated one of the top 10 programs in the nation!--slated at give business majors solid exposure to the entrepreneurial experience. For 2005, YERC is supporting two students undertaking market and distribution channel assessments for a software product under development by YERC scientists. The work is supported, in part, by a grant from the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology. Past students have provided semester long study in areas as diverse as website overhaul and remote sensor scoping for purchase.
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MSU Work Study Program
Each semester YERC generally hosts two or three Montana State University work study students to help us with numerous office tasks and to provide them with work experience and exposure to ecological science and education.
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Field Internship
Lab Internship
Graduate Students
NASA-Beyond Hayden - A joint education project of YERC & NASA
Beyond Hayden: Exploration, Inspiration, and Education in Yellowstone
In late 2005, YERC started this unique, non-traditional, NASA-funded internship program. For more information please see our NASA-Beyond Hayden page.
