Outreach

Through Micaela‘s leadership, our lab has welcomed many Washington State policymakers, organizers, and community members for lab tours and engaging conversations. Visitors include State Representatives Strom Peterson and David Hackney, WA State Senator Claire Wilson, Melissa Chaudhry, and members from the Senate Services Committee, the Department of Corrections, and the Office of Corrections Ombudsman, Just Us Solutions, the League of Women Voters, and the national Unlock the Box Campaign. We’ve shared our research our bumblebees and octopuses, along with our commitment for doing science that changes our communities for the better. We hope that these continuing conversations helps highlight the value of basic scientific research and its impact on the world around us.

Stephanie has been out in the community spread the buzz about bumblebees! She has helped organize fun events at local community gardens where neighbors can learn about these amazing animals up close. Check out her handmade models of bumblebee nests and mounted bumblebee specimens–engaging and effective teaching tools!

Nastacia launched an outreach program at her high school alma mater, Mount Baker Senior High School, creating opportunities for students in rural Washington to meet and interact with scientists from the Pacific Northwest. The program brings local researchers into classrooms to share their work and career paths, showcasing diverse and exciting professional possibilities in science.

Amanda and Yan created an interactive multimedia booth for the ARCS Foundation Night to Ignite Science event. Guests could examine octopus tissue samples up close and watch videos of these incredible animals in action. Visitors learned how studying octopuses can teach us about brains, aging, evolution, and so much more!

Aimel and Micaela spent the day with kindergarteners and fifth graders at Jenkins Creek Elementary School, connecting over bumblebee science in multiple languages! A day filled with questions, excitement, and curiosity.