The Positive Impact of Citizen-Based Science Initiatives

Skier with backpack and poles heading up a steel snow-covered slope

WHEN:
Thursday, February 9, 2023
5:00-6:30 p.m. PT Reception
7:00-8:30 p.m. PT Lecture

LOCATION:
Downtown Portland, Oregon

Reception
At Von Ebert Brewing

131 NW 13th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Lecture/Panel Presentation
At Patagonia Portland
1106 W Burnside St
Portland, OR  97209

COST:
Reception & Lecture
$5 per person

Includes first drink, heavy appetizers, special sticker, and lecture

Lecture Only
$5 per person

Includes special sticker and lecture


 

Celebration of Community Observers

Brought to you by:
Patagonia Portland in partnership with the WWU Alumni Association

Join us in celebrating citizen science! Patagonia Portland is hosting an evening of learning from four environmental organizations harnessing the power of community to spur scientific advancements.

Four winter-focused community/citizen science projects show the impact of community contributions to science. These initiatives involve volunteers in diverse ways to advance important environmental science topics in our region.

Hear four TED-style talks from Mountain Rain or Snow, Community Snow Observations, Living Snow Project, and NASA GLOBE Observer. Discover how community observers have moved the needle locally in research on winter storms, biodiversity, and hydrology.

On the panel is our own Associate Professor of Environmental Science Robin Kodner's celebrated Living Snow Project!

Your registration includes a private, pre-event reception at Von Ebert in the Pearl District with Dr. Kodner. Come with questions or curiosity for snow, climate change, new discoveries, and opportunities to get involved in valuable citizen science -- and meet other Portland WWU alumni!

Space for the is limited! Register now!

Portrait of speaker Robin Kodner

Robin Kodner

Panel Member

Robin Kodner is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Western Washington University. Robin landed at WWU in 2012 after earning her Ph.D. at Harvard University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington. She has always studied algae and their interactions with their environment. Robin has focused her research on field-based studies of algae communities that produce consequential blooms. She uses environmental-based DNA to study algal biodiversity, community structure, and evolution over time scales from geologic to seasonal. Currently, her lab works on the snow microbiome from the Pacific Northwest as a model to study how microbial communities evolve in response to climate-driven environmental change. She also maintains ongoing research on the microbial communities in Bellingham Bay and their response to changing ocean conditions. She founded and directs The Living Snow Project in 2017 to enable collection of large-scale datasets of pink snow and engage the community in her research. Robin has also been an outdoor educator, in the mountains and on sailboats, using these environments as platforms for teaching basic sciences.

Red water bottle with moutainscape sticker

Special Treat for Attendees

We have a special bonus for each of our registrants: a beautiful mountainscape sticker for your water bottle from Hydrascape Infinity Stickers!

Questions, Accommodations, and Parking

Contact the WWU Alumni Association for this event. Feel free to call at (360) 650-3353 or email at alumni@wwu.edu if you have any questions or comments.

Advance notice for disability accommodations and special needs is greatly appreciated. Please indicate your special needs on the registration form.

Paid parking is available across the street from Von Ebert Brewing.