Science for Natural Resource Stewardship with Dr. Ray Sauvajot

Description

The Key Role of Partnerships and Collaboration in National Parks Join us Wednesday, October 9th from 7:00pm – 8:30pm for the 2024 Acadia National Park Science Symposium evening lecture, featuring keynote speaker Ray Sauvajot, Ph.D., Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship Science for the National Park Service. Hosted by Schoodic Institute and the National Park Service, the Acadia National Park Science Symposium provides a forum to learn about science taking place in the region and to interact and build collaborations with scientists, educators, students, park staff, and others working in a range of fields. You can learn more about the science symposium here. The theme of this year’s symposium is 25 Years of Impactful Research in Acadia National Park. The symposium will highlight some of the most influential science, science communication, and education that has happened in Acadia National Park since the start of the Research Learning Center (RLC) 25 years ago. In 2000, the National Park Service began working with community members to create an RLC on the campus of the former Navy Base in Winter Harbor. The goal of Schoodic Institute (Acadia’s Research Learning Center) is to help grow science in national parks and better connect science with management, education, and communication. Since the establishment of Schoodic Institute, the amount of annual research in the park has increased more than threefold. This year’s science symposium will highlight some of the most influential examples of research, education, and communication that has happened over that time. The symposium will take place in-person at Moore Auditorium on the Schoodic Institute campus (Winter Harbor, ME) and online via Zoom. This virtual option is open to speakers and attendees alike. Please note that there will be overnight accommodations available. Lunch will be included in registration, which will open this summer. ABOUT RAY SAUVAJOT Dr. Ray Sauvajot serves as Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship Science for the National Park Service (NPS), where he provides leadership and direction for natural resource management and science programs of the NPS. As Associate Director, Ray oversees national programs in biology, air and water resources, climate change response, geology, natural sounds and night skies, environmental quality and compliance, ecological inventory and monitoring, and science communication. Ray leads a diverse team of scientists, policy experts, planners, program managers, administrators, and technicians at offices in Washington, D.C., Colorado, and other locations to help advance the mission of the NPS. Ray has served in positions with the NPS for over 30 years and has also held adjunct faculty appointments in biology, ecology, and environmental science at UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, and California State University Northridge. Ray received a B.A. degree in biology from UC San Diego (1987) and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (1993, 1997) in ecology from UC Davis. Stay tuned – more details coming soon!