Program team

Extension Specialist, Wildlife and Fisheries, St. Paul

blairrb@umn.edu / 612-624-2198

Rob Blair has been studying birds since 1987. He has recently taught environmental ethics for undergraduates and will soon be teaching conservation biology for graduate students at the University of Minnesota. He is the co-director of graduate studies in the University of Minnesota Conservation Biology program and is engaged in promoting service learning for both undergraduate and adult learners. Through the Minnesota Master Naturalist program, Rob works with adults to promote awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Minnesota's natural environment to help them become well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities. Through Schoolyard Ecology Explorations, he works with teachers to incorporate their school grounds in their everyday teaching.

Extension Educator, Environmental Science, St. Paul

carls009@umn.edu / 612-624-8186

Stephan P. Carlson, PhD. is a Professor/Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota Extension for the last 17 years. He has 30 years of experience in the field of environmental education and has developed a number of publications and curriculums on the topic. He has been instrumental in developing the original “A GreenPrint for Minnesota; State Plan for Environmental Education” and the Teacher Preparation Project both reports submitted to the Office of Environmental Assistance as an LCCMR project in 1997. He teaches university courses on environmental education/interpretation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research (NSF REESE, #0635559) over the last few years has focused on measuring the impact of environmental field day programs throughout Minnesota. He has developed an observation tool that reflects the best practices of environmental field days and is being used through the country to assess informal out-of-school science learning experiences. He also works with two STEM initiatives with the College of Education and Human Development on the White Earth Reservation (NSF ITEST, #0737565 and Head Start) bringing hands-on science to after-school and summer school programs. He also trains Head Start educators on science and math throughout the year on the White Earth Reservation.

“I believe that ESE brings to life the world of ecological sciences and connects it to both formal and informal educators throughout the state. Its focus has been on ecological content through master naturalist, citizen science and STEM courses on the White Earth Reservation, delivery though Best Practices for Field Days and Nature Orientated Families and evaluation through BPFD Assessment tool and Protocol. The outcome of this effort is a greater ecological understanding of the world around us and educators that know how to engage tomorrow’s students.”

Extension Specialist, Wildlife and Fisheries, Crookston

jloegeri@umn.edu / 218-281-8132

John Loegering has worked on wildlife issues in urban and residential settings for over a decade. He is a regular contributor on wildlife-related topics to the Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, and White Earth Summer Science & Math Academy programs. He conducts research on the ecology and management of forest songbirds. During the academic year, he teaches courses in wildlife ecology and management, ornithology, mammalogy, fisheries, and environmental science on the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus.

Program Leader for Environmental Science Education and Housing Technoloy, Cloquet

meyer179@umn.edu / 218-726-6473

Nathan Meyer has been teaching about the environment, science and nature writing since 1996. He holds a MEd in Environmental Education, and years of experience teaching in classrooms, small nature areas, a college campus, and remote outdoor settings. Nate is currently a Program Leader for Environmental Education. He is very engaged with strategic leadership and programming to support best education practices, citizen science and strategies to involve families in nature. Through the Best Practices for Field Days Program, Nate has delivered workshops for hundreds of professionals across the country. Nate is a past-chair of the North American Association for Environmental Education Leadership Development Committee, and member of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Environmental Education Advisory Task Force. He is a past board member and vice-president of the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education.

“I believe that learning to interpret our environments and act with care is absolutely important to our shared future on the planet. Effective environmental education does not pronounce a singular ‘soapbox’ ethic of what to think and do. It is foremost an education of process, helping people vigilantly identify, understand and continually adapt to their future environments in ways that we may not yet even imagine.”

Extension Specialist, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, St. Paul

oberh001@umn.edu / 612-624-8706

Karen Oberhauser has been studying monarch butterflies since 1984. She teaches an undergraduate course on Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota, and seminar courses for graduate and undergraduate students. She is the co-director of graduate studies in the U of M Conservation Biology program, and is very engaged in the emerging field of Citizen Science. Through Monarchs in the Classroom and the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, Karen works with teachers, citizens and pre-college students throughout the United States using monarchs to teach about biology, conservation, and the process of science.

“I'm convinced that learning as much as we can about our fellow earth-inhabitants and then sharing the amazing things that we discover will tip the balance in a direction that will be better for humans and the creatures with which we share the earth. The ESE team’s work provides an important bridge between science-based conservation information and the citizens of Minnesota.”

Extension Educator, Environmental Science, Morris

rager001@umn.edu / 320-589-7045

Extension Educator, Environmental Science, Rochester

astrauss@umn.edu / 507-280-2863

Andrea Lorek Strauss has been an environmental educator since 1992, helping participants of all ages to build awareness of, respect for and a connection with the natural world. Her current projects include helping families to foster a connection with nature, developing training materials that will enable authentic inquiry through citizen science, developing materials for adult training in natural and cultural history, and a variety of other projects.

“Helping Minnesotans understand and respond to complex environmental issues is critical for the health of our planet and our communities. The ESE Team’s work to strengthen the design and delivery of environmental education across the state builds environmental literacy, cultivates positive attitudes and empowers citizens to do their part to build a sustainable future for all of us.”