As I reopened my
first blog post of last summer (which was written around a year ago), I was once again reminded of one of my favorite John Muir quotes. And as I pack my bags after completing my third year of college, I completely understand what he means. Yes, the mountains are calling me, and soon I must go.
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| View along the 92-mile park road. |
This year I will be spending my entire summer living and working in Denali National Park and Preserve in interior Alaska. What a dream come true! I will be a Science Communication Intern working in the
Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC). While my specific projects are yet to be determined, I will be learning about all of the current scientific research that is happening in the park and writing about it in various forms, potentially in National Park Service website articles or by designing physical exhibits for the MSLC.
The focus of this internship is something that I am considering pursuing after graduation or after graduate school. Science communication is a little-known (but essential) field, where writers are needed to explain complex research to non-scientific audience. This is a vision that I am extremely passionate about—I believe that the more accessible scientific research is, the greater the impact it will have around the world.
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Charles Ott Photo, Denali National Park and Preserve
Museum Collection |
The Murie Science and Learning Center was named for a group of incredible scientists and writers: Adolph Murie, his brother Olaus Murie, and Olaus' wife Margaret.
Adolph Murie (born in Minnesota!) first went to Alaska in 1922 with his half-brother Olaus to study caribou. After graduating from Concordia College in 1925, he became a field biologist for what was then known as Mt. McKinley National Park, hiking throughout the wilderness and observing animal behavior. In fact, he was one of the first biologists to see the ecological relationships between plants and animals in an environment, as opposed to observing each species separately. After completing research in the park, Murie wrote books and popular magazine articles detailing the immense beauty of the Alaskan wilderness and emphasizing the importance of protecting it. His legacy of research, writing, and management is still inspirational to scientists and science writers everywhere.
I am thrilled to be once again embarking on a journey to a new place, to climb new mountains and get their good tidings. But I know that this opportunity would not have been possible without my professors, friends, family, and former supervisor in Tennessee. Thank you for everyone that has encouraged me and believed in me in my pursuit for another summer adventure.
Stay tuned for updates in the next couple of weeks!
Lindsey
