Another good place to look is on town Conservation Commissions. I worked with many of them in Vermont. In that state nearly all the conservation commissions are staffed by volunteers and many of the people have a biology or ecology background (though not all).
Many of the conservation initiatives such as Two Countries One Forest or Algonquin to Adirondacks Conservation Association are comprised nearly entirely of volunteers as well. Nearly all of my friends and associates involved biology/ecology do something on the side ranging from educational volunteering to providing free advice to municipalities to staffing food kitchens and much more. I'd echo what some of the other folks have said about finding a focus for the question. There is a lot that people are doing outside of their paid positions. Neahga Leonard On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 8:08 PM, J. Michael Nolan < [email protected]> wrote: > Wendee.... > > Great question, but I suspected you were going to get some of these > responses coming in. > > I suggest you come up with something more specific in how to measure this > contribution you want to write about. > > In short, I think most Educators would like to hear that their Students > became Biologists of any kind and would thank them forever for their > influence. I get comments from former Students, not all Biologists, but > they still comment about the class they had with me. It feels good. > > So, not every Student the Science Educators on this list or in general > will every become a Scientist of any type. > > I have led groups personally since the age of 20 to many places. Many of > those people were not Science oriented from day 1 and are not Scientists of > any kind today. > > We still send groups/individuals to many parts of this amazing Planet. > Educators want some of their Students to become famous Tropical Ecologists > in some cases. Not a bad goal and I understand. Not going to happen! Still > life-altering experiences, they look at their surroundings, their > life-style, conversations with others, trying to figure out who to vote > for, etc., etc. with a different and more informed angle. I have led groups > and told me they still hate Biology, but they had a different grasp on life > in general and they were thrilled to have had the chance to participate. > > Know you are an excellent writer, measuring this issue is going to get > arguments from all sides. Am just guessing that the diversity in answers > could add substance to your article. I know you will, but please tell it > from both sides. > > Often they will have the same kind of impact. Educators on this list do > some amazing things and just because you are not a U. level Professor with > a Ph.D. and working with an NGO,etc. doesn't mean they are not making a > contribution. > > Thanks for your time....probably telling you things that you already knew. > You have traveled, but let me emphasize, making an educational contribution > to our Planet does not always require a Ph.D. or in some cases, not even a > HS diploma. > > I would agree 100% with the comments I have included below. We also work > with many NGO's in other parts of the world that supply us with People that > stun me on a daily basis with their local and beyond....knowledge. > > Call me or e-mail me, I can give you some very specific examples with > References. > > *While it is not above and beyond their normal job duties, I'd argue that > nearly all academic biologists make a substantial contribution to society > through their teaching (not just their research). For many of us, teaching > makes up an equal or greater proportion of our workload than research. > And, many of us do give back through service to NGOs and government > agencies, outreach to the public and school groups, etc. > > > *Let me echo that some of us academics are involved in working with > environmental groups, serving on advisory committees to EPA, NOAA, and > state environmental agencies etc. I am spending this week in the DC area on > an advisory committee to NOAA Sea Grant. (It's better to be here than in > NJ/NY.) > > Thank you. > > Mike Nolan > > ---------- > > If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your > number, best time to return your call and your e-mail address. > > After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request. > > Sincerely, > > J. Michael Nolan, Director > > Rainforest and Reef > > > ****************************************************************************************** > "Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine Ecology" > > Destinations that we Specialize in: > > North America....Alaska (Southeast and the Interior), Hawaii, British > Columbia, the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. > > Caribbean....The Islands of Curacao and Dominica > > Central America....Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and > Panamá. > > South America....Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and The Galápagos Islands, Péru, > including Cuzco and Machu Picchu. > > Mexico....The Baja Peninsula (especially during the Spring Whale Migration > and Breeding season). > > East Africa....Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar Island. > > Australia and New Zealand. > > Birding, Photography, along with Home and Garden Tours are available upon > request to Most Destinations that we offer. > > The following "Research/Conservation Expeditions" are now also available > upon request...Endangered Species of Brazil; Macaws and Primates of the > Peruvian Amazon (Tambopata-Candamo Reserve Zone) and Endangered Sea Turtles > of Costa Rica (latinamericanseaturtles.org or widecast.org). > > Spanish/Cultural Immersion Programs are available in Costa Rica, Panamá, > Ecuador, Péru, Bolivia and Spain. > > Sea Kayaking is available in British Columbia, Southeast Alaska, Baja > Mexico, Belize and The Galápagos Islands. > > References/Comments from past Group Leaders are at our Website, many more > are available upon request. > > Rainforest and Reef > 161 Main St. > Coopersville, MI 49404 > Local/International Phone: 1.616.604.0546 > Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721 > Fax: 1.616.604.0546 > Google Talk/MS IM/Skype: travelwithrandr > AOL IM: buddythemacaw > E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected] > Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses > Web: http://rainforestandreef.org (under revision for 2013 and beyond) > > ****************************************************************************************** > -- Neahga Leonard *There is not just a whole world to explore, there is a whole universe to explore, perhaps more than one.* http://writingfornature.wordpress.com/
