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MAYFLY DRIFT IN RESPONSE TO ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT: A CASE STUDY IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

As an interdisciplinary team, we asked: How do scientists engage audiences with their research? Is there a better way? To fully examine these questions, we conducted a research experiment to investigate how the exposure to artificial light at night may alter the drift behavior of mayflies from urban (lit) and natural (dark) streams. We challenged ourselves to abandon the conventional scientific paper and develop projects that communicate these results to a larger audience. Both the science and communication presented many obstacles as we embraced our artistic nature, while adhering to the scientific method. We will present what we learned about mayfly drift and our new insight on engaging with the non-science world. We determined from our project that mastering the scientific language allows for efficient communication and advancement within the research community. However, there is a larger community that is often left out of these discussions. Bridging the gap in communication between scientists and the public is essential, particularly in regards to our environment and ecosystems.

JoAnna Hernandez (Primary Presenter/Author);


Tyler Griswold ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author);


Stephanie Lenox ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author);


Anya Romig ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author);


Alexandra Wert ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author);


Elizabeth Perkin ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), fhui ;