SciShow Talk Show: Ecology Project International & Serpentina the Rubber Boa

TL;DR

Ecology Project International partners high school students with wildlife biologists to conduct environmental research and increase environmental literacy.

Transcript

hello welcome to scishow talk show that day on scishow where we talk to interesting people about interesting stuff that's being done here in Missoula Montana and in the world and today we have Haley Hanson from ecology project international with a very cool organization that works with students and also with researchers getting good research done a... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 EPI helps make research more affordable and accessible by involving students in ongoing projects.
• 🇨🇷 The organization's work has contributed to a significant increase in the nesting success rate of leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica.
• 👨‍🔬 EPI not only promotes environmental research but also fosters environmental literacy and engagement within local communities.
• 😅 Rubber boas, like Serpentina Tina, have unique characteristics such as a two-headed appearance and the ability to eat baby animals without striking.
• 😃 Nocturnal animals like rubber boas rely more on their sense of smell and taste rather than their eyes.
• 🧑‍🎓 EPI provides students with the opportunity to explore and appreciate the biodiversity of their local ecosystems.
• ❓ The organization collaborates with conservation organizations and researchers to expand the body of scientific knowledge.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the goal of Ecology Project International?

The goal of EPI is to increase environmental literacy by partnering students with wildlife biologists for ongoing research projects.

Q: How does EPI select students for research projects?

EPI finds students who are interested in traveling and science and pairs them with researchers in the field. Students have the opportunity to create their own research projects.

Q: How do researchers feel about working with high school students?

Initially, some researchers were skeptical, but over time, they have come to welcome the presence of students and appreciate the additional data collection and knowledge they bring.

Q: What kind of research does EPI conduct in Costa Rica?

EPI focuses on leatherback sea turtles, a critically endangered species. They monitor nesting mothers, collect and transfer eggs to safer locations, and track hatching success rates.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ecology Project International (EPI) connects high school students with wildlife biologists to participate in ongoing research projects and learn about data collection.

• EPI started with sea turtle research in Costa Rica, working to increase the nesting success rate from 2% to 98% over 15 years.

• The organization aims to engage local communities in biodiversity conservation and educate students about the importance of environmental stewardship.