Bird monitoring project receives funding

Global Field Program (GFP) student Kyra Thurow Bartow of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, received a grant through Carolina Bird Club (CBC) to install audio-video monitoring equipment to monitor birds at Agape Center for Environmental Education.

The project focuses on passive monitoring of the eastern bluebird and eastern screech owl and how it relates to bird disturbance. The CBC is a non-profit organization that supports the birding community in the Carolinas. Read more

Understanding predator-prey relationships

GFP graduate Michael Haughwout '23 of Matawan, New Jersey, discussed predator-prey relationships in a recent issue of Green Teacher magazine.

"While studying cheetah conservation practices in Namibia, I was able to reflect on predator-prey relationships and how interesting, intricate, and important they are," he writes. The article, "Cheetahs and Gazelles," offers a lesson plan that broadens the understanding of interactions among predators, prey, and human influence and is available to purchase at Green Teacher. Read more

As seen on TV: a Dragonfly grad and Lolly the duck

GFP graduate Amanda Badger '15 recently appeared live on the news with Lollipop or "Lolly," a Pekin duck, on Fox Dayton Local 45. Lolly is one of more than 60 animals and more than 30 species, ranging from domesticated livestock to native wildlife and exotic animals, at Wild Hearts African Farm in Lewisburg, Ohio. Wild Hearts, which Badger created as part of her final GFP master's coursework, became the first Humane Certified™ zoo in Ohio in 2019. Columbus Zoo and The Wilds followed suit in 2023. Watch

Dragonfly's Aurelia Valente joins the Miami University Graduate School's RedHawk Talks

Current GFP student Aurelia Valente of Sante Fe, New Mexico, has joined a group of graduate students for RedHawk Talks, a unique opportunity for them to develop a TED-like talk about their research and passions. The five-part workshop with small group work sessions lasts through March and will conclude with a final presentation on April 10. Aurelia's talk will focus on how being a graduate biology student with disabilities has shaped her research. Read more

For the love of outdoor learning

GFP graduate student Kelly Rivett of Adelaide, Australia, was published in Teaching Science, a quarterly journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association. "For the love of outdoor learning - Participatory inquiry for a school garden at Glenelg Primary School, South Australia" outlines a seven-week inquiry in which students selected areas around the school to focus on their garden inquiry. The students collaborated to observe, record, measure, and compare the selected garden spaces using reference sheets and iPad apps. Read more

Bridging the interpreter-audience gap to connect conservation

GFP graduate student Mollie Flowers of Baltimore, Maryland, was published in Legacy, a periodical of the National Association for Interpretation. Flowers, who works as an educator and guest engagement volunteer specialist for the National Aquarium, offers advice for bridging the gap between interpreter and audience in her article titled "Connecting Through Conservation 'Asks.'" The work interpreters do is important, she writes: "Without you, the interpreter, there would be no connection." Read more

Researching species' reproductive success

GFP graduate Jennifer Kachala '23 of Sylmar, California, was published in the February edition of Animal Keepers' Forum, a journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK). Her article, which is available to purchase with AAZK, focuses on the reproductive success in hand-reared vs. parent-reared species, including this North American porcupine named Betty. Read more

Empowering wildlife professionals to safeguard snow leopards in Nepal

GFP graduate Kayley Bateman '20, a program manager at Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC), embarks on a reflective journey through Nepal's Manang Valley in an SLC blog. Bateman shared her experiences through SLC’s One Health - One Welfare program, a collaborative endeavor to empower the wildlife professionals of Nepal and safeguard the iconic snow leopard. Read about the challenges faced by local para-veterinarians and conservationists, the delicate balance between human and animal well-being, and the mesmerizing beauty of the Himalayas from Bateman's unique perspective. Read more

Creating a world where people and nature thrive

Because of his work with the local community, GFP graduate Chris Corpus '19 of Dallas, Texas, recently received the Chairman’s Award from the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.

"To be honest, I don’t feel like I’ve done enough for this wonderful Oak Cliff community yet ... so it’s quite humbling to receive this," said Corpus. "I’m so thankful to work alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. ... We are creating a world where people and nature can thrive together. It’s so exciting!"

In addition to being Dallas Zoo's conservation director, Corpus also serves on the instructional team of Miami’s Earth Expeditions. Read more

Dragonfly's indispensable alumni leaders

Meet our 13 alumni leaders who were selected to help motivate, engage, and lead learning for current Dragonfly students in the 2023-24 academic year. Read more

Dragonfly co-directors join Cincinnati Zoo's Barrows Conservation Lecture series April 3

Join us virtually or in person at 7 p.m. E.T. April 3, 2024, when Dragonfly Co-Directors Chris Myers and Lynne Born Myers will present as part of the Cincinnati Zoo's Barrows Conservation Lecture series at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. In addition to being presenters, the Myers will also receive the zoo's 32nd Wildlife Conservation Award, presented annually to the world’s leading conservationists and scientists. Read more and purchase your tickett

Dragonfly director honored for innovative global programming

Dragonfly co-founder and director Chris Myers (fifth from left) was recently honored with two awards:

• The 2024 Creativity & Innovation Award by the Miami University College of Arts and Science.
• The 2024 John E. Dolibois Faculty Award for Innovation in Global Programming by Miami University Global Initiatives.

Through out-of-the-box thinking and a focus on collaboration, Dr. Myers has inspired and brought a network of people together in common cause: benefitting human and ecological communities worldwide. Project Dragonfly, which includes both the Advanced Inquiry Program and Global Field Program, constitutes not only the largest graduate program at Miami, but is also the largest graduate program of its kind in the world.

Pictured from left: Katie Feilen, Susan Brehm, Kevin Matteson, Jill Korach, Chris Myers, Dragonfly co-founder Lynne Born Myers, Jamie Bercaw Anzano, and Connie Malone. Read more

Author and leader in the field of animal studies

Dragonfly Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP) Michelle Szydlowski has published a new book, "Elephant Tourism in Nepal," through CAB International, an inter-governmental, not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives worldwide by helping solve problems in agriculture and the environment.

Additionally, Szydlowski and her working group colleagues were recently honored by the Australasian Animal Studies Association (AASA) with two awards—one for their article on presumed bias and the other for their work creating and hosting the annual Anthrozoology as International Practice conference in November 2023, with 320+ registrants from 52 countries in attendance. Established in 2005, the AASA works in the field of animal studies and provides a hub for research, opportunities, and robust discussion.

Visit CABI's Digital Library to view purchase options and gain access to the book.

Working for writing excellence: 'Howe' do they do it?

Congratulations to Dragonflies Amy Sullivan, Jamie Bercaw Anzano, Katie Feilen, Jill Korach, Michelle Szydlowski, and Laura Abondano, on their latest excellence in writing certification. They attended the "All-Fellows Change Retreat," a three-day event to work in teams and help develop changes at Miami through the Howe Center for Writing Excellence.

All six also attended the Faculty Writing Fellows Program, a semester-long master class that supports faculty members and their departments/programs in their efforts to teach students to write more effectively in their disciplines and professions and to use writing in ways that encourage deep learning of disciplinary material. The goal of the program is to engage teams of faculty members in collaborative work that will be of use to their departments. Read more

Strategizing carbon offsets in the Miami community

Dragonfly Assistant Teaching Professor Amy Sullivan recently appeared in The Miami Student in an article about the university's carbon offset strategy. In the article, Sullivan compares the carbon offset market to the Wild West. She suggests "looking inward”—reducing emissions internally through improved energy efficiency before relying on carbon offsets from outside sources like tree-planting projects to achieve carbon neutrality. Read more

Increasing dialogue about climate change through art

A big thank you to everyone who attended the March 8 reception to help kick off the 2024 "Changing Climate, Changing Communities: Local Reflections of a Global Issue" art exhibit at the Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) in Oxford, Ohio. The exhibit, which includes artwork from Miami students, faculty and community members, aims to engage the community in conversations about climate change.

The exhibit is also a collaboration of Miami University’s E.C.O. Team as well as community partners and the OCAC. Members of team E.C.O., which stands for "Engaging for Climate in Oxford," include Miami faculty—both past and present—and a Miami undergraduate:

• Stephanie Danker, Department of Art  
• Katie Feilen, Project Dragonfly, Biology
• Amy Sullivan, Project Dragonfly, Biology
• Shafkat Khan, Pittsburgh Zoo (former Dragonfly VAP and EE instructor)
• Natalie Bishop, Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship intern

If you're in the Oxford area now through April 5, you can see the exhibit in person at the OCAC, or stay tuned here for our April newsletter to view a digital slideshow of all the artwork. Read more

Top photos from left: Current GFP student Emma Karle of Cincinnati, Ohio, with one of her four designs. Karle's "Gorilla" and "Giant Panda" paintings. Dragonfly Co-Directors Chris Myers and Lynne Born Myers with Khan.

Bottom photo from left: Michelle Szydlowski, artist Isa Obradovich, Miami President Gregory P. Crawford, Danker, Sullivan, Feilen, Bishop, University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford, Khan, Connie Malone, and Jill Korach.