Tania Marien

Sometimes, environmental knowledge doesn't leave a university campus. It stays bound in dissertations, lab reports, and peer-reviewed journals that most people will never read. Researchers hold valuable knowledge, and so do community members. Somewhere in between, because they don’t connect with each other, a lot goes unspoken. Ivón Hassel has spent her career in the in-between space. She is a timber scientist and building engineer from Argentina who has worked on projects in Japan and Israel.

Environmental professionals who work independently move through their communities and lead programs at locations that extend far beyond the footprints of zoos, nature centers, gardens, and other informal science learning organizations. Even so, they do not engage with the public in every place or in every way possible. Today's research brief is about neglected spaces.

I have been wondering… Are the skills that make you an effective environmental educator working against you when it comes to advocating for the professional and economic value you bring to a project? Funding in environmental education (EE) typically revolves around grants, donations, and event fees. Leadership positions can take the form of seasonal, part-time, or low-paying roles. Often, leadership takes the form of a dedicated volunteer.