Latest Posts
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How NASA and Biology Collide: Insights from Barbara Sobhani
From the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado to the craters of the moon, Barbara Sobhani is proof that conservation leadership knows no atmospheric bounds. In this episode, host Kevin Matteson sits down with Barbara—a Project Dragonfly AIP graduate, State Director for the NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium, and a Master Birder—to discuss how studying life…
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Seeking the Past: Building the Athabascan Environmental Physics Trail in Alaska
By the Elementary and Junior High Classes of Judith Onslow, Kathleen Fariday, and Mary Klopfer Girdwood Elementary Junior High School, Girdwood, Alaska Editor’s Note: This post is a vintage treasure from the Project Dragonfly archives, originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in the late 1990s. It highlights the incredible ways students can connect local history, indigenous…
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Any Job Can Be a Conservation Job
The Problem: The Myth of the “Perfect” Conservation Job By Kevin Matteson The environmental and conservation world seems so alluring to so many people. When we picture a “conservationist,” the image that comes to mind is almost always the same: a field biologist in khaki waders trekking through pristine, exotic landscapes, directly contributing to saving…
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Rain-culture: Personal Transformation in the Western Ghats
By Jack Schaefer An obvious theme that linked the whole India experience was rain. It is something that everybody manages in their life all around the world, but to be in the Western Ghats during the monsoon season gave me a new appreciation and understanding of rain. Here in Cincinnati, the common perception of rain…
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Swapping Signs for Conversations: Zoo Education Reimagined
What happens when a zoo trade-off passive signs for authentic, one-on-one human connection? In this episode of Dragonfly Conversations, host Kevin Matteson talks with Dr. Claire Lannoye-Hall, Vice President of Education at the Detroit Zoo and a Project Dragonfly Global Field Program graduate. Claire shares her journey from “accidental” zoo educator to executive leader, detailing…
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On a Wild Goose Chase: Investigating the Feet of the Hawaiian Nene
By Shari Okada’s Second-Grade Class, Lihikai School, Kahului, Hawaii Editor’s Note: This post is a gem from our Dragonfly Magazine archives, originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in the September/October 1997 issue. It showcases how a classroom of young researchers can use simple observations to uncover powerful evolutionary truths. The Spark Whether you are hiding or…
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How to Ask Your Employer to Pay for Your Master’s Degree (with Email Templates)
The Problem: The Daunting Financial Reality By Kevin Matteson You have finally found the perfect graduate program. You know that a master’s degree from Project Dragonfly will elevate your career, ignite your passion, and give you the tools to make a real environmental impact. But then you look at the tuition, and panic sets in.…
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Cultivating Conservation at the Human-Dog Interface: Field Notes from The Bahamas
By Devlyn Stubbs My name is Devlyn Stubbs. I am a 46-year-old father of two and a graduate student at Miami University, Ohio. In December of 2024, I embarked on a study abroad course with Miami University’s Project Dragonfly in Oxford, Ohio. Project Dragonfly, in collaboration with the University of The Bahamas, facilitated a study…
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Flipped Conversation: Urban Ecology and the “Pigeon Paradox” with Dr. Kevin Matteson
In a special “flipped” episode, Project Dragonfly’s own Dr. Kevin Matteson moves from the host’s chair to the guest’s seat. Interviewed by graduate student Aimee Kemp, Kevin shares his journey from the urban landscape of the Bronx to becoming a leading voice in urban ecology and pollinator conservation. 3 Key Takeaways The “Hidden Gem” Teaser Listen for Kevin’s…