Project Dragonfly

at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
  • 5.0 (1)
  • LIFE SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Project Dragonfly is a transformative education initiative with master’s degree programs in biology, graduate courses, learning media, public exhibits, and community partnerships across the U.S. and globally. With three programs to choose from, students can tailor their learning experience to their overall goals and interests.

  1. MAY 15

    It's Never Too Late: Bridging the Gap Between NASA Robotics and Backyard Birding with Barbra Sobhani

    Picture an autonomous rover navigating the vast, rolling terrain of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. It pauses, drills a sand core, and analyzes the sample—just like it would on the surface of Mars. It sounds purely like rocket science, but for Barbra Sobhani, it’s intimately connected to protecting life right here on Earth. When Barbra—who holds degrees in physics and geology—decided to pursue a master’s in biology, her friends were confused. But as the state director for the NASA Colorado Space Grant program, an Audubon Master Birder, and a botanical illustrator, she knows that exploring extreme environments in space is one of the best ways to understand climate resilience at home. From launching student-built atmospheric sensors to ground-truthing satellite data with community classrooms, Barbra proves that conservation and aerospace are two sides of the same coin. Tune in to hear: The Astrobiology Connection: How sending bacteria up on high-altitude weather balloons helps us understand species survival. The Art of Observation: Why drawing Darwin's finches in the Galapagos can cement your connection to a species. The Lifelong Learner: Why it's never too late to pivot your career, head back to school, and connect with a brand new community.

    31 min

  2. MAY 1

    Why I Ask My Research Subjects for Consent (Even the Ones with Trunks) with Dr. Michelle Szydlowski

    Imagine standing perfectly still as a multi-ton elephant leans in, pressing its forehead directly against yours. For Dr. Michelle Szydlowski, this wasn't a moment of terror, but one of profound communication. In the world of elephant tourism in Nepal, Michelle doesn't just study animals; she studies relationships. As an anthrozoologist, she explores the messy, beautiful, and often misunderstood bond between captive elephants and their "mahouts"—the caregivers whose lives are inextricably linked to theirs.Michelle breaks down the "sanctuary myth" and moves us past Western labels of "good" or "bad" to look at the ground-level reality of conservation. From building popsicle-stick slides for salamanders as a child to navigating the complex caste systems of Nepal as a researcher, Michelle’s journey is one of radical inclusion. She shares how her own neurodivergence became a "superpower" in the field, allowing her to read the non-verbal cues of elephants in a way others might miss.Tune in to hear:-- The "Consent" Protocol: How Michelle asks an elephant for permission before beginning her research.-- The Mahout Gap: Why a 4,000-year-old tradition is shifting from an elite calling to a low-wage, low-status job for untrained youth.-- Dogs vs. Cats: A surprisingly accurate field guide to the personalities of rhinos versus elephants.

    43 min

  3. APR 17

    The Lion’s Mane and the Rainbow Tail with Katy Tanis

    Imagine a child opening a picture book to find a tiger, a sloth, and a zebra all sharing the same jungle floor. To most, it’s a colorful scene; to Katy Tanis, it’s a missed opportunity for "eco-literacy." Katy started by designing textiles for brands like Betsy Johnson, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the animals on her fabrics deserved better representation.A graduate of Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program, Katy works to bridge the gap between "cute" and "correct." Whether she’s illustrating the real-life courtship rituals of same-sex animal pairs in her Love in the Wild series or debunking the myth that penguins and polar bears are neighbors, Katy proves that you don’t need to sacrifice style to teach science.Tune in to hear:-- The "Accuracy Gap" in Media: Katy highlights a significant lack of ecological literacy in children's products—from putting penguins in Scandinavia to calling chimpanzees "monkeys." She argues that if we don't accurately represent where animals live and how they behave, we undermine future conservation efforts.-- The Power of Stylized Science: You don't need a dry, botanical sketch to be accurate. Katy uses her fashion background to create vibrant, "trendy" art that serves as an entry point for kids (and adults) to learn about niche biodiversity, such as the LGBTQ+ behaviors observed across the animal kingdom.-- Diversity as a Hook: By showcasing the "rainbow" within animal families—like the many colors of bees or frogs—artists can break the "quintessential animal" mold and introduce the public to the 98% of species that usually get ignored by publishers.

    44 min
  4. The Heat-Trapping Blanket: Why the Earth Can’t Kick Its Foot Out with Kait Birghenthal

    APR 3

    The Heat-Trapping Blanket: Why the Earth Can’t Kick Its Foot Out with Kait Birghenthal

    Imagine lying in a bed with too many blankets piled on top of you. You’re sweltering, you’re uncomfortable, but unlike us on a hot summer night, the Earth can’t simply kick a foot out to cool down. This is the vivid, accessible world of Kait Birghenthal, President and Project Coordinator for NNOCCI (the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation). Working from the front lines of The Marine Mammal Center in California, Kait is on a mission to dismantle the "spiral of silence" that keeps 75% of Americans from talking about the climate, even when they’re deeply concerned. Kait moves us away from the "doom and gloom" of traditional environmentalism—what she calls the heartbreaking "Sarah McLachlan commercial" effect—and toward a strategy of strategic framing and shared values. By connecting the survival of baby elephant seals to the way we talk over the dinner table, she proves that hope isn't just a feeling; it’s a tool for civic change. Tune in to hear: The Power of the Blanket: How a simple shift in metaphors—from "greenhouse effect" to "heat-trapping blanket"—can bridge the gap between scientific complexity and public understanding. Sentinels of the Sea: Why seals and sea lions are the "canaries in the coal mine" for our shared health, and how their survival is tied to our own communities. The "Jedi Mind Trick": Practical tips on "bridging and pivoting" to navigate difficult conversations without getting stuck in political polarization. Kait mentioned an 'On the Street' framing video when discussing climate change misconceptions, carbon dioxide, ozone layer etc: https://youtu.be/paCLWbze08c?si=TyKepNLhl4dKfjWN And, check out Kait's podcast, featuring some NNOCCI colleagues: Let's Sea: https://linktr.ee/letsseapod And, join NNOCCI! https://nnocci.org/

    45 min
  5. The Rhinos That Sing and the Humans Who Listen: Keeping the Five Alive with Martha Parker

    MAR 20

    The Rhinos That Sing and the Humans Who Listen: Keeping the Five Alive with Martha Parker

    Martha Parker grew up on 20 acres in rural New York, where a chance encounter with a displaced nest of baby bunnies sparked a lifelong obsession with wildlife. Today, she isn’t just saving rabbits; she is the Director of Grants & Partnership Development at the International Rhino Foundation, where she manages the complex "people work" required to save the world’s five remaining rhino species.From the "honeymoon paddocks" of Indonesia to the grasslands of India, Martha pulls back the curtain on the reality of modern conservation. It’s not all rugged jeeps and field binoculars—it’s about grant writing, human-centered design, and navigating the politics of shared spaces. Martha shares the enchanting (and loud) eating habits of the critically endangered Sumatran rhino and explains why, even in a world of habitat loss and poaching, she maintains a sense of "pragmatic hope." This episode is a masterclass in how individual passion can scale into global impact.Tune in to hear:-- The "Pizza Slice" Strategy: How semi-wild sanctuaries are saving species that are too shy to find their own mates.-- The "Singing" Rhino: A description of the unique, endearing vocalizations of the world’s smallest rhino. Hear their songs here:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2706939102756892-- The Resilience of the "Native Garden": How a frost in Florida serves as a powerful metaphor for the future of conservation.

    39 min
  6. The Snake Tattoo and the Spider in the Shower with Kathayoon Khalil

    MAR 6

    The Snake Tattoo and the Spider in the Shower with Kathayoon Khalil

    We’ve all been there: reading a headline about the few remaining rhinos or the melting ice caps and feeling a heavy, familiar sense of defeat. For decades, the "doom and gloom" approach was the primary tool in the conservation toolkit, but Dr. Kathayoon Khalil argues it might be doing more harm than good. When we lead with fear, we don't always spark action; often, we just spark a desire to look away. In this episode, Kevin Matteson sits down with Kathayoon, a conservation psychologist at the Columbus Zoo, to discuss why "saving the world" needs a rebranding centered on hope and empathy. From the power of naming a spider in your bathroom to why she wears a giant snake tattoo as a badge of honor for the misunderstood, Dr. Khalil breaks down the science of how we connect with nature. We explore the "social norm" of the zoo visit and how a simple shift in language—calling an animal "she" instead of "it"—can bridge the gap between human and specimen. Tune in to hear: -- Why "Debbie Downer" conservation messaging causes people to shut down and how to use hope as a motivator instead. -- The six best practices for building empathy, even for the "non-charismatic" creatures like snakes and wasps. -- How to handle the "science policeman" in your head when you hear someone misidentify an animal at the zoo.

    47 min
  7. Designing a Neurodiverse Ecosystem with Grayson Ponti

    FEB 20

    Designing a Neurodiverse Ecosystem with Grayson Ponti

    By the time he was an adult, he had visited 150 different zoos and aquariums. He wasn’t a rugged outdoorsy kid camping in the woods; he was a child fascinated by the glass walls that allowed him to see into other worlds. For Grayson Ponti, nature wasn’t just a place to visit—it was a puzzle to understand, both biologically and socially.Today, Grayson is using that lifelong passion to challenge how conservation organizations welcome the public. As the founder of ZANE (Zoos and Aquariums for a Neurodiverse Ecosystem), he argues that true inclusivity goes beyond putting a "sensory friendly" sticker on the door. He joins Kevin to discuss how his background in English—not biology—helped him build a movement that celebrates neurodivergent strengths in the workplace and the wild.Tune in to hear:-- Why the "Golden Rule" is actually a bad framework for inclusivity.-- The concept of "Safe but Uncomfortable" and why it matters in field work.-- Why we should stop saying "Human-Wildlife Conflict" and start saying "Interaction."https://www.zanezoo.org/

    37 min
  8. The Dungeon Master of Biology: Rolling for Science with Michael Haughwout

    FEB 9

    The Dungeon Master of Biology: Rolling for Science with Michael Haughwout

    To Michael Haughwout, field science isn't just research—it's "real-life Dungeons & Dragons." Whether he is swimming with whale sharks in Baja or tracking diamondback terrapins in New Jersey, he approaches science with the spirit of an adventurer.A 2023 Global Field Program graduate, Michael is the first in his family to earn a Master’s degree. He brings that same sense of possibility to his AP Environmental Science classroom, where 20-sided dice are standard equipment and "I wonder..." is the most important phrase in the syllabus.In this episode, we discuss how to maintain passion as an educator even when the hard days come. Michael shares why he ditched traditional rubrics to help students find pride in their work, how he uses AI to support neurodivergent learners, and why he treats the pine barrens of NJ like the landscape of Legend of Zelda.Tune in to hear:- Why he brings D20 dice into the biology lab.- The science of the "baseball catcher stance" (and other student-led inquiries).- How to turn a lack of funding into innovation (building hovercrafts!).- Stories behind the elaborate tattoos mapping his travels from Namibia to the Galápagos.

    49 min
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About

Project Dragonfly is a transformative education initiative with master’s degree programs in biology, graduate courses, learning media, public exhibits, and community partnerships across the U.S. and globally. With three programs to choose from, students can tailor their learning experience to their overall goals and interests.

Information

  • Creator
    at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
  • Show Website
    Project Dragonfly