Press Releases

In my role with the Research and Economic Development Division, a key responsibility is writing press releases, where my proficiency in AP writing style is evident. My skill set includes thorough research, clear and engaging reporting, and the ability to convey complex information succinctly. I am proficient in both AP and Chicago writing styles, utilizing the latter for longer-format articles, online documentary work, and fundraising writing.

Additionally, I have extensive experience with AI platforms and AI prompt engineering for editing and content creation, which has significantly enhanced my productivity. This expertise allows me to efficiently manage large volumes of work while maintaining high-quality standards.

Recent Press Releases:

Suresh Muknahallipatna Named UW Faculty Director for Computing Resources - Published June 10, 2024

Read the full press release
Summary: Dr. Suresh Muknahallipatna has been appointed as the UW Faculty Director for Computing Resources, a role that includes being the UW-UCAR/NCAR liaison, Faculty Director for ARCC, and Systems Administrator for the Quantum Collaborative Academic Partnership.

Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine Celebrates
Launch at UW - Published May 16, 2024

Read the full press release
Summary: The Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine was launched at the University of Wyoming, aiming to enhance climate resilience through collaborative research and innovation.

UW Celebrates Inaugural Research and Innovation Excellence Awards - Published January 29, 2024

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Summary: The University of Wyoming announced the recipients of the 2024 research awards, highlighting significant contributions in various fields and celebrating the achievements of its researchers.

University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

http://www.wyobiodiversity.org

At the heart of the University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute's mission lies a commitment to deepen the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of biological diversity. This mission is brought to life through a blend of innovative research funding, education, and outreach initiatives designed to engage a diverse audience—from young students to retirees and from ranchers to physicists—in the wonders of the scientific process and the story of discovery in the natural world.

My Contribution:

As the Digital & Social Media Communications Director, my role was pivotal in weaving the fabric of this story through the digital realm. The Biodiversity Institute's website became a canvas on which the tale of the Institutes' work was painted, utilizing a rich palette of storytelling techniques, illustrations, videos, audio podcasts, blogs, maps, and interactive tools. My responsibilities encompassed:

• Strategic Storytelling: Crafting and curating content that communicated the Institute's work, public programs, and events, turning the website into a vibrant hub for discovery and learning.
• Engagement through Rich Media: Leveraging video, audio, and interactive experiences to captivate and educate a broad audience, making the science of biodiversity accessible and engaging.
• Facilitating Community Involvement: Enhancing the website's functionality to support membership sign-ups, fundraising efforts, and submissions for citizen science programs, fostering a community of engaged and active participants in the Institute's mission.

Project Highlights:

The Biodiversity Institute's website stands as a testament to the power of digital storytelling in the field of science communication. Through meticulous management of the site's content creation, video production, and audio storytelling, I aimed to:

• Illuminate the Institute's Endeavors: Each element of the website was designed to shine a light on the groundbreaking research, educational outreach, and citizen science programs that define the Institute.
• Inspire Action and Participation: By creating an immersive digital experience, the website encourages visitors to explore, learn, and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.

The Biodiversity Institute Website stands as a dynamic testament to the enduring mission of understanding, appreciating, and conserving biological diversity. Continuously updated and enriched, it serves as a portal for visitors to dive into the ongoing story of discovery and engagement with the natural world. I encourage you to visit http://www.wyobiodiversity.org to navigate through the wealth of stories, visuals, and interactive experiences. Join us in celebrating the intricate tapestry of life and the Institute's unwavering dedication to its preservation and study.

University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

Ferruginous Hawk Nest Cam

In 2018, I pioneered a project at the Biodiversity Institute to bring the hidden lives of Wyoming's raptors into the public eye through live-streamed footage of their nests. Our project centered on livestreaming a Ferruginous Hawk nest for the first time, uniquely positioned on an oil pumping rig in the Laramie Valley, nestled between the Snowy and Laramie mountain ranges. Ferruginous Hawks, known for their impressive migrations across the American West, embody the spirit of wilderness and adaptability. These birds are short- to medium-distance migrants, with some populations remaining sedentary in the southern parts of their range. The migrants, particularly those traveling from Alberta to Texas, navigate by following the grasslands, avoiding the rugged terrain of the Rockies, in a breathtaking journey that underscores the interconnectedness of our ecosystems.

The Ferruginous Hawk, distinguished by its long broad wings and a broad tail varying in shades from gray to rusty, thrives in the open, level, or rolling prairies of North America. Their habitat preferences, from arid grasslands to semi-arid sagebrush, highlight the hawk's adaptability and the critical need for conservation efforts to preserve these landscapes. The project I led not only showcased the Ferruginous Hawk's remarkable lifecycle—from nesting and hatching to the fledging of chicks—but also highlighted its significant ecological journey, engaging over 7,500 viewers with more than 252,195 minutes of watch time. This initiative did more than just promote raptor conservation; it served as a vivid reminder of the natural beauty and biodiversity we stand to lose without concerted efforts to protect and understand our world.

I was  involved in every technical aspect of this initiative, from sourcing and installing the advanced camera systems that made this intimate observation possible to managing the solar power solutions and data transmission that brought the wild into homes worldwide. This project stands as a testament to the power of technology in bridging the gap between humanity and the natural world, offering a rare glimpse into the private lives of one of nature's most magnificent travelers, the Ferruginous Hawk.

University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

University of Wyoming Natural Science Collections Partnership

https://www.naturalhistorycollections.org/index.php

As part of my role at the Biodiversity Institute, I spearheaded a comprehensive project to promote the University of Wyoming's natural science collections through the creation of a documentary style website. This 6 month initiative involved creating and managing the entire website, including writing content, producing video and audio components, and ensuring the site catered to both public and internal university audiences. Key aspects of the project included:

• Partnership Promotion: Highlighted the UW Natural Science Collections Partnership aimed at protecting and funding the collections.
• Discovery Center: Developed engaging multimedia content to educate visitors about the significance and usage of natural history collections.
• University Collections Overview: Detailed the various collections, showcasing their contributions to research, education, and public engagement.
• Collaborative Efforts: Worked closely with different collection departments to accurately represent their unique offerings and importance.

Through this project, I utilized a blend of traditional writing skills and modern digital media techniques to create an informative and accessible resource, enhancing public awareness and support for these invaluable collections.

Discovery Highlight

Listen to an excerpt on technology and how it changes the way we use collections. From our podcast: Interview with Dr. Matt Carling - Curator of the University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates.

Accessibilty Option | Transcript

University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

The Wyoming Wild Podcast:
Exploring Savana Ecology on UW's Kenya Field Course at the Mpala Research Center

www.wyobiodiversity.org/index.php/blogs/mpala-research-center-trips

Produced for Jake Goheen and the University of Wyoming Program in Ecology this podcast episode transports listeners to the heart of the African savanna, sharing the transformative experiences of University of Wyoming students engaged in a unique field course led by Professor Jake Goheen. Through interviews with the professor and participating students, the episode explores the complexities of wildlife conservation, hands-on ecological research techniques, and the power of firsthand encounters with African biodiversity.

The podcast and related website, focuses on interviews with Professor Jake Goheen, instructor of the "Ecology and Conservation of African Savannas" field course, and three students from the program, Ema Lujan, Angela Zhu, and Dill Scherer. The course was organized by personnel from the UW Department of Zoology & Physiology, and took place from May 19 to June 7 at the Ewaso Ng’iro base camp on the grounds of Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia County, Kenya.

This immersive episode paints a vivid picture of the students' journey, in their voices, from classroom lectures to savanna explorations, as they delve into wildlife conservation in Kenya. The podcast is a testament to the impact of experiential learning and international collaboration, capturing firsthand experiences, and edited to highlight student voices and their newfound knowledge.

For more about the project, visit Wyoming Biodiversity Institute's Podcast page.

University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

Panama Pipeline Road Campaign

https://www.wyobiodiversity.org/index.php/pipeline-road-campaign
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In my role at the Biodiversity Institute, I led the creation of a successful fundraising campaign to restore Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park, Panama. This project involved:

• Campaign Development: Collaborated with a Spanish-speaking colleague to produce comprehensive content, including videos in both English and Spanish.
• Video Production: Scripted and edited videos to effectively communicate the campaign’s goals and importance.
• Fundraising Success: Raised much-needed funds to support the road and bridge restoration efforts.
• Public and Internal Engagement: Highlighted the importance of the road for biodiversity research, education, and ecotourism, emphasizing its critical role in scientific studies and conservation efforts.

This project demonstrated my ability to manage multifaceted campaigns, engage diverse audiences, and utilize multimedia to achieve significant fundraising goals.

University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute

Wyoming’s Big Game Migrations and 50 Years of Wilderness

As part of my role at the Biodiversity Institute, I directed and edited a video for the Wyoming Migration Initiative titled "Wyoming’s Big Game Migrations and 50 Years of Wilderness," celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. The video examines how wilderness areas and other lands are utilized by Wyoming’s migratory ungulates, such as elk, moose, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and mule deer. I was involved in script editing, and the production included footage by renowned wildlife videographer Joe Riis. This video was showcased on National Geographic website from 2015-2016.