Join conservation biologist Dr. Karen Oberhauser for an inspiring talk on the remarkable biology of migratory monarch butterflies and the urgent need for their conservation. Monarch populations have been declining for over two decades, and it's time to move beyond documenting the loss to taking meaningful action. Karen will share how scientists and community members are working together to understand what’s driving these changes, and what we can do about it. Through the lens of monarchs, migration, and the science of hope, she’ll show how conservation, even in our own backyards, can make a real difference in the face of climate change and habitat loss.
For almost 40 years, Karen Oberhauser and her students have conducted research on several aspects of monarch butterfly ecology; this research depends on traditional lab and field techniques, as well as the contributions of a variety of audiences through participatory science. In 1996, she started the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP), which continues to engage hundreds of volunteers throughout North America. As Director of the UW-Madison Arboretum from 2017-2023, Karen fostered a strong Participatory Science program that incorporated the MLMP and many other projects to engage the public in meaningful ecological data collection. She has also worked with K-12 teachers since her oldest daughter started kindergarten in 1992, using monarchs and the connections people feel for this amazing insect to promote greater understanding of science and conservation. Karen has authored over 100 papers on her research on monarchs, insect conservation, and participatory science. She has an undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University, a degree in science education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a PhD in Ecology and Behavioral Biology from the University of Minnesota.
Karen is passionate about the conservation of the world’s biodiversity and building connections between humans and the natural world. She is a founding officer of the Monarch Butterfly Fund and has served on several state and national organizations focused on pollinator conservation and participatory science.
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