Learn Online with VCE
We’ll cover a variety of fascinating natural history topics presented by both VCE staff and conservation collaborators. Check back often, as we’ll be adding new webinars and other events throughout the year.
All webinars will be conducted through Zoom and are free for everyone. Please note that events will be recorded and made available afterward on VCE’s Multimedia Resources page for those who are unable to attend.
If you’d like to support this webinar series and VCE’s wildlife conservation work, please consider a contribution. Donate easily and securely online anytime!
Celebrating Biodiversity Wins and Charting the Future for Threatened and Endangered Species
April 27, 2022This past February, five species and three critical habitats were added to Vermont’s Threatened and Endangered Species list. From bat hibernacula to native pollinators with rapidly declining populations, these new listings highlight some of our state’s most pressing conservation challenges at a time of habitat loss and changing climate. Want to learn what’s being done to conserve them? Join scientists from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Audubon Vermont, The Nature Conservancy, and Vermont Center for Ecostudies for a lunch hour (12-1 pm) webinar on Wednesday, April 27th. We’ll cover the ecology of the newly listed species, explain what “critical habitat” is and how it helps recover threatened or endangered species, and walk through some of the conservation steps we are taking—and how Vermonters can help. Learn more and register »
Lunchtime Learning Series
Wednesdays | 12:00 PM Join VCE's Community Science Outreach Naturalist Julia Pupko each week on Wednesday from 12 - 1 p.m. for Lunchtime Learning! Over the course of the hour, Julia will give a short lesson on how to use a feature of iNaturalist through the lens of a seasonally-relevant Vermont natural history topic, and will answer any questions you may have. Sign up for the series by clicking the registration link. You can also check out previous Lunchtime Learning webinars on VCE's Multimedia web page (https://vtecostudies.org/resource-center/multimedia). Click here to register. »
NEW for 2022- VCE’s Community Science Teacher Education Workshop
July 19, 2022VCE is excited to announce its first teacher education program aimed at developing community science programs for science educators. Participants will spend four days experimenting with place-based field ecology exercises, exploring how to develop research projects for the classroom and learning about VCE’s community science projects. There is no cost for this program and participants will recieve a $150 stipend for attending. Learn more and register »
Suds & Science is Now Online
Hosted by VCE biologist Jason Hill, Suds & Science is definitely not a lecture–it’s a community discussion led by a scientist where you meet other fans of science, engage with an expert through compelling personal narratives, and gain an understanding of someone’s scientific research. So what can you expect in this virtual series–an online PowerPoint presentation? Absolutely not! Jason will interview the scientists about the intersection of their lives and their research. You’ll have the chance to pose questions when you register, and Jason will incorporate your questions into the conversation. You’ll also have the chance to comment and ask questions throughout the conversation–not just at the end. And since we’re meeting virtually, everyone will have to BYOB.
Interested? Of course you are, and it’s easy to participate. Simply click on the “Register Here!” link underneath the talk description in the schedule below. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You do not need a Zoom account to participate. If you have any questions, just reach out to Jason via email.
Check out our 2022 Suds & Science schedule by visiting “News” >> “Suds & Science”
Interested in having a VCE conservation biologist speak at your event, or lead a field outing?
Please fill out our Speaker Request Form to start the process.
Example Presentations Available in 2021:
Presenter: Julia Pupko
Title: Lady Beetles of Vermont: Invasions, Extirpations, and Discoveries
Presentation Summary: Native lady beetles play an important role as biological pest control agents. However, native beetle populations have been in decline across North America due to a number of factors. Vermont’s lady beetles seem to be following continental trends of decline, but due to lack of modern data, we do not understand what native lady beetles remain in Vermont, how their populations are doing, or what conservation initiatives may need to be implemented. The Vermont Atlas of Life (VAL) team at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies created the Vermont Lady Beetle Atlas to find answers to some of these questions, and is calling on community naturalists to join us in our search. Listen in to learn more about Vermont’s incredible lady beetle species, what the Vermont Lady Beetle Atlas has found thus far, and how you can participate in this research using iNaturalist.
Presenter: Spencer Hardy
Title: Exploring Vermont’s Wild Bees: Natural History, Identification, and Conservation.
Presentation Summary: When most people think of bees, they imagine the famous Honey Bee (Apis melifera), yet that is just one of more than 300 species of bees found in the state. Since 2019, the Vermont Wild Bee Survey has been criss-crossing the state to document these important pollinators. We have found dozens of species not previously known from the state and are amassing a rich database that will be invaluable to conservation planners for years to come. Hear more about this project–including our most exciting findings, ideas on conserving vulnerable bees, and ways you can join our future monitoring efforts.
Presenter: Kevin Tolan
Title: Eastern Meadowlarks in Vermont: Ecology and Conservation of an Imperiled Grassland Bird
Presentation Summary: Eastern Meadowlarks in the Northeast are rapidly declining; based on the latest USGS Breeding Bird Survey results, they’re undergoing an estimated 8.7% annual decline in Vermont. With their recent designation of Threatened in New Hampshire, and imminent listing in Vermont, now is a golden opportunity for targeted survey efforts. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is partnering up with New Hampshire Audubon to launch a bi-state “blitz” this spring to encourage birders and community scientists to target areas of grassland habitat with the goal of seeking out meadowlarks. Join VCE and our collaborators to learn about these imperiled songbirds and what you can do to help keep them on the Vermont landscape.
