Science Communication Training Program

Unfortunately, natural resource professionals often do not receive the training that would help them effectively communicate with their constituents and other broader audiences. 

Carolyn Hall (she/her) is a Brooklyn, NY based historical marine ecologist, science communications trainer, and award-winning professional contemporary dancer. She holds a MS in marine science from Stony Brook University where she researched the historical impact of dams on access to alewife spawning habitat. After working so much in the public, she became involved in science communication out of the desire to make her and others’ data-rich research more relatable and memorable. Currently, her focus is on personal, interactive art-meets-science projects designed to encourage reconnection between people and their environments. She can often be found along shorelines hatching plans for creative public engagements around fish, water, and climate change. She co-directs science communication programs for the American Fisheries Society, is a co-founder of Exact Communication, is a Creative Programs Coordinator for Genspace, creates the speculative future climate change walking tour 'Sunk Shore' with Clarinda Mac Low, and is a core team member of the eco-art collective Works on Water.

Drue Banta Winters is a seasoned government affairs and strategic communications advisor with nearly 20 years of experience in natural resources at the federal and state government levels.  Drue provides government affairs consulting for clients with an emphasis on fisheries and marine aquaculture.  She most recently served as the Policy Director for the American Fisheries Society (AFS).  Prior to AFS, she served in a key leadership role for the State of Louisiana on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill for Governor Bobby Jindal and later for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. She is most proud of her work on the long-term recovery of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.  In that role, Drue served as a federal policy advisor with a focus on flood control, flood insurance and ecosystem restoration for the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding.   Ms. Winters is a native of south Louisiana.  She holds a B.A. from Louisiana State University in political science and a J.D. from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law School. She resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland with her family.   

Julie Claussen is a fisheries research biologist that has worked in the areas of sustainable fisheries management and the conservation of native fish populations.  Recognizing the need for scientists to engage with natural resource constituents, Julie was one of the founding partners of the Fisheries Conservation Foundation (FCF), where she now serves as Director of Operations.  Through FCF, Julie has conducted research, run workshops and conferences, and provided trainings for several international research partners, including Bhutan, Bahamas, Canada, Thailand, and the International Finance Corporation in Nepal and Pakistan.  Through these experiences, she faced the challenges of sharing fisheries science with culturally diverse audiences, and this led her to working with the ABT Framework Training Team, where she now serves on their advisory council.  Julie has long been active with the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and was one of the founders of the AFS Science Communication Section.  She has received recognition for her work in equal opportunities (Emmeline Moore Prize), and her work to strengthen international ties.  Through all her experiences, Julie strongly believes that if natural resource professionals are given the opportunity to build their skills to engage and inspire their intended audiences, then we can be successful in making the changes needed for a sustainable future for fisheries.

Katie O'Reilly is an Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Illinois Natural History Survey. Her current role involves coordinating outreach efforts to educate audiences about aquatic invasive species in the North American Great Lakes. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame where her research focused on the impacts of environmental change on coastal Lake Michigan ecosystems. As a graduate student, Katie created the #25DaysofFishmas Twitter campaign to engage with audiences about freshwater biodiversity and she has extensive experience using social media to communicate complex environmental topics. Katie also previously worked as a Science Communication Specialist for the National Sea Grant College Program where she developed communication products for audiences ranging from federal agency leadership to on-the-ground stakeholders like coastal residents.