Latest Posts
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Bridging Art and Conservation: From Digital Design to Diverse Disclosures
How can a background in fashion and computer science lead to a career as a leading conservation illustrator? In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Katy Tanis, an alumna of the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) and the creative force behind the Love in the Wild children’s book series. Katy shares her journey of “sneaking”…
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Outside Inn: A Study of Skeletal Homes
By the Fourth-Grade Class of Linda Slager, Stewart Elementary School, Oxford, Ohio Editor’s Note: Originally published in Dragonfly Magazine in the late 1990s, this student inquiry explores the engineering marvels of the ocean. After seeing how corals live side-by-side in shared skeletons, these fourth graders decided to test the limits of structural design themselves. The…
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Stillness Speaks in the Shade of Banyan Trees: Reflection from India’s Western Ghats
By Mikayla Deiotte During my Earth Expeditions course in India with Project Dragonfly, one theme that surfaced repeatedly: conservation science isn’t just about data or research, it’s about connection. Being on the ground in the Western Ghats made me realize how deeply tied people are to the land they inhabit, and how that intimate relationship…
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Dem Bones: How Many Bones Are in Your Hand?
By the Third-Grade Class of Thela King, Morton Elementary School, Lexington, Nebraska Editor’s Note: This inquiry is a gem from our Dragonfly Magazine archives, originally published in the late 1990s. It captures the curiosity of a third-grade classroom as they poked, prodded, and peered into the anatomy of the human hand. The Spark We started…
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Breaking the Spiral of Silence: How to Talk Climate Without the Doom and Gloom
Climate Change, Conservation Psychology, Informal Science Education, Inquiry-Based Learning, Non-Profit Leadership, SciCommWe’ve all been there: you want to talk about the environment, but the conversation feels like a one-way ticket to a “Sarah McLachlan commercial” level of sadness. You worry about being too political, too nerdy, or just plain depressing. In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Kait Birghenthal, President and Project Coordinator for NNOCCI…
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Bones, Beaks, Fur, and Feathers: A Barn Owl’s Buffet
By Ashley Pickard’s Sixth-Grade Class, National Cathedral School, Washington, D.C. Editor’s Note: Originally published in the November/December 1996 issue of Dragonfly Magazine, this vintage investigation takes us into the world of an avian predator to see what we can learn from the “leftovers” of its last meal. The Spark How can you tell what an…
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From the Bahamas to the Jungles of Thailand: A Global Fellow’s Journey of Connection and Mindfulness
By Lyndeisha Curry Hi there! My name is Lyndeisha Curry, and I am from the island of Abaco in The Bahamas. I am incredibly grateful to have been selected as a Global Conservation Fellow for 2024. From my first Earth Expedition in Belize to my recent experience in Thailand, the knowledge I am gaining through…
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Air-OO-Planes Away: The Quest for the Ultimate Flight Design
By the Fifth-Grade Students of Ms. Ursula Sexton and Mr. John Lukas, Green Valley Elementary School, Danville, California Editor’s Note: Originally published in the September/October 1996 issue of Dragonfly Magazine, this story follows a class that combined science fiction with serious scientific testing to solve the problems of future space travel. The Spark Our investigation…
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Keeping the Five Alive: “Pragmatic Hope” for Rhinos
When you think of a rhino, do you see a prehistoric tank or a secretive, singing forest dweller? According to Martha Parker, Director of Grants & Partnership Development with the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), the answer is both—and they need our help now more than ever. In this episode, host Kevin Matteson catches up with…