Article by: Jen Young, NGRREC/L&C Marketing and PR, jenryoung@lc.edu
EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and
Education Center (NGRREC) is welcoming three new environmental
technicians to assist with field and laboratory support for various research
projects.
The technicians will primarily be
monitoring the ecology and conservation efforts surrounding amphibians,
reptiles, dragonflies and damselflies.
“I really like
the tangible impact our work and findings have on the scientific understanding
of amphibian ecology, and it feels like I am doing something beneficial for the
world,” Environmental Technician Andrew Wilk said. “I also really enjoy working
with this community of scientists.”
The technicians
will be working mostly with John Crawford, terrestrial wildlife ecologist, to
continue data collection on the bird-voiced treefrog project in Southern
Illinois as well as a salamander study taking place in Smoky Mountains National
Park that has been running for over 20 years. The newest project is a dragonfly
and damselfly study that is focused on the current status
of the taxa. They are also focal species within the Wetlands Campaign of the
Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.
“I love the
variability of our work environments and being able to discover new flora and
fauna while out in the field,” Environmental Technician Amy Janik said. “The
best part of what I do is that the learning never ends, each day of the week
there is always something new to discover.”
The technicians
will also be assisting other NGRREC scientists with their research projects
including watershed research, floodplain forest inventory and the GREON (Great
Rivers Ecological Observatory Network) project.
“It’s exciting
to be a team member here with the potential to assist on a broad range of
projects,” Environmental Technician John Connock said. “My favorite part about
working in the wildlife field is getting to see animals and places in the world
that many people do not get the opportunity to see often in person.”
NGRREC, a
division of Lewis and Clark Community College, also offers several
opportunities including student workers and year-round internship opportunities
for L&C and regional students who may be interested in a career related to
research, education or conservation.
Learn more about
the bird-voiced treefrog project by visiting http://www.ngrrec.org/News-Stories/Research-on-Protected-Frogs-in-Illinois/.
To learn more
about the internship program by visiting http://www.ngrrec.org/Internship/
National
Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC℠)
Founded
in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, NGRREC is dedicated to
the study of great river systems and the communities that use them. The center
aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related
to the interconnectedness of large rivers, their floodplains, watersheds, and
their associated communities