Elizabeth Gaither making a difference in human and ecological communities

2014 Jan 23

Newton, N.C. resident Elizabeth Gaither, a graduate student in the Global Field Program (GFP) from Miami University's Project Dragonfly, has been awarded a Community Engagement badge from the university for making a difference in human and ecological communities. As part of the GFP, students like Gaither apply the tools of conservation science and advance the tenets central to the master's degree: inquiry, community and voice.

Through her Conservation Science & Community course project entitled "School-yard Mapping to Create Action Plan to Decrease Trash and Connect Students to the Outdoors," Gaither helped fourth graders create an action plan to reduce/eliminate trash on their campus, using school-yard maps for identification of trash "hot spots". Gaither is a teacher at North Newton Elementary School.

As part of her master's program coursework, Gaither traveled to Baja to study desert and marine ecosystems on the Baja peninsula. Study sites include 13 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

The GFP master's degree is designed for educators and other professionals from all disciplines and settings who are interested in working collaboratively to bring about change in local and global contexts. Applicants can be from anywhere in the United States or abroad. To learn more about the GFP and apply by the January 28 deadline, visit http://gfp.miamioh.edu/.

Project Dragonfly also offers the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) master's degree in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, New York, Phoenix, San Diego and Seattle. The community-based AIP degree is co-delivered with Miami's Dragonfly and premier learning institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Courses take place in web-based learning communities and on-site at zoos in those locations. To learn more about the AIP and apply by the February 28 deadline, visit http://aip.miamioh.edu/.

Like Project Dragonfly on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PrjDragonfly.