Project Dragonfly

It's Never Too Late: Bridging the Gap Between NASA Robotics and Backyard Birding with Barbra Sobhani

Picture an autonomous rover navigating the vast, rolling terrain of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. It pauses, drills a sand core, and analyzes the sample—just like it would on the surface of Mars. It sounds purely like rocket science, but for Barbra Sobhani, it’s intimately connected to protecting life right here on Earth. When Barbra—who holds degrees in physics and geology—decided to pursue a master’s in biology, her friends were confused. But as the state director for the NASA Colorado Space Grant program, an Audubon Master Birder, and a botanical illustrator, she knows that exploring extreme environments in space is one of the best ways to understand climate resilience at home. From launching student-built atmospheric sensors to ground-truthing satellite data with community classrooms, Barbra proves that conservation and aerospace are two sides of the same coin. Tune in to hear: * The Astrobiology Connection: How sending bacteria up on high-altitude weather balloons helps us understand species survival. * The Art of Observation: Why drawing Darwin's finches in the Galapagos can cement your connection to a species. * The Lifelong Learner: Why it's never too late to pivot your career, head back to school, and connect with a brand new community.

Why I Ask My Research Subjects for Consent (Even the Ones with Trunks) with Dr. Michelle Szydlowski

Imagine standing perfectly still as a multi-ton elephant leans in, pressing its forehead directly against yours. For Dr. Michelle Szydlowski, this wasn't a moment of terror, but one of profound communication. In the world of elephant tourism in Nepal, Michelle doesn't just study animals; she studies relationships. As an anthrozoologist, she explores the messy, beautiful, and often misunderstood bond between captive elephants and their "mahouts"—the caregivers whose lives are inextricably linked to theirs.Michelle breaks down the "sanctuary myth" and moves us past Western labels of "good" or "bad" to look at the ground-level reality of conservation. From building popsicle-stick slides for salamanders as a child to navigating the complex caste systems of Nepal as a researcher, Michelle’s journey is one of radical inclusion. She shares how her own neurodivergence became a "superpower" in the field, allowing her to read the non-verbal cues of elephants in a way others might miss.Tune in to hear:-- The "Consent" Protocol: How Michelle asks an elephant for permission before beginning her research.-- The Mahout Gap: Why a 4,000-year-old tradition is shifting from an elite calling to a low-wage, low-status job for untrained youth.-- Dogs vs. Cats: A surprisingly accurate field guide to the personalities of rhinos versus elephants.

The Lion’s Mane and the Rainbow Tail with Katy Tanis

Imagine a child opening a picture book to find a tiger, a sloth, and a zebra all sharing the same jungle floor. To most, it’s a colorful scene; to Katy Tanis, it’s a missed opportunity for "eco-literacy." Katy started by designing textiles for brands like Betsy Johnson, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the animals on her fabrics deserved better representation.A graduate of Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program, Katy works to bridge the gap between "cute" and "correct." Whether she’s illustrating the real-life courtship rituals of same-sex animal pairs in her Love in the Wild series or debunking the myth that penguins and polar bears are neighbors, Katy proves that you don’t need to sacrifice style to teach science.Tune in to hear:-- The "Accuracy Gap" in Media: Katy highlights a significant lack of ecological literacy in children's products—from putting penguins in Scandinavia to calling chimpanzees "monkeys." She argues that if we don't accurately represent where animals live and how they behave, we undermine future conservation efforts.-- The Power of Stylized Science: You don't need a dry, botanical sketch to be accurate. Katy uses her fashion background to create vibrant, "trendy" art that serves as an entry point for kids (and adults) to learn about niche biodiversity, such as the LGBTQ+ behaviors observed across the animal kingdom.-- Diversity as a Hook: By showcasing the "rainbow" within animal families—like the many colors of bees or frogs—artists can break the "quintessential animal" mold and introduce the public to the 98% of species that usually get ignored by publishers.

The Heat-Trapping Blanket: Why the Earth Can’t Kick Its Foot Out with Kait Birghenthal

Imagine lying in a bed with too many blankets piled on top of you. You’re sweltering, you’re uncomfortable, but unlike us on a hot summer night, the Earth can’t simply kick a foot out to cool down. This is the vivid, accessible world of Kait Birghenthal, President and Project Coordinator for NNOCCI (the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation). Working from the front lines of The Marine Mammal Center in California, Kait is on a mission to dismantle the "spiral of silence" that keeps 75% of Americans from talking about the climate, even when they’re deeply concerned. Kait moves us away from the "doom and gloom" of traditional environmentalism—what she calls the heartbreaking "Sarah McLachlan commercial" effect—and toward a strategy of strategic framing and shared values. By connecting the survival of baby elephant seals to the way we talk over the dinner table, she proves that hope isn't just a feeling; it’s a tool for civic change. Tune in to hear: * The Power of the Blanket: How a simple shift in metaphors—from "greenhouse effect" to "heat-trapping blanket"—can bridge the gap between scientific complexity and public understanding. * Sentinels of the Sea: Why seals and sea lions are the "canaries in the coal mine" for our shared health, and how their survival is tied to our own communities. * The "Jedi Mind Trick": Practical tips on "bridging and pivoting" to navigate difficult conversations without getting stuck in political polarization. Kait mentioned an 'On the Street' framing video when discussing climate change misconceptions, carbon dioxide, ozone layer etc: https://youtu.be/paCLWbze08c?si=TyKepNLhl4dKfjWN [https://youtu.be/paCLWbze08c?si=TyKepNLhl4dKfjWN] And, check out Kait's podcast, featuring some NNOCCI colleagues: Let's Sea: https://linktr.ee/letsseapod [https://linktr.ee/letsseapod] And, join NNOCCI! https://nnocci.org/ [https://nnocci.org/]

The Rhinos That Sing and the Humans Who Listen: Keeping the Five Alive with Martha Parker

Martha Parker grew up on 20 acres in rural New York, where a chance encounter with a displaced nest of baby bunnies sparked a lifelong obsession with wildlife. Today, she isn’t just saving rabbits; she is the Director of Grants & Partnership Development at the International Rhino Foundation, where she manages the complex "people work" required to save the world’s five remaining rhino species.From the "honeymoon paddocks" of Indonesia to the grasslands of India, Martha pulls back the curtain on the reality of modern conservation. It’s not all rugged jeeps and field binoculars—it’s about grant writing, human-centered design, and navigating the politics of shared spaces. Martha shares the enchanting (and loud) eating habits of the critically endangered Sumatran rhino and explains why, even in a world of habitat loss and poaching, she maintains a sense of "pragmatic hope." This episode is a masterclass in how individual passion can scale into global impact.Tune in to hear:-- The "Pizza Slice" Strategy: How semi-wild sanctuaries are saving species that are too shy to find their own mates.-- The "Singing" Rhino: A description of the unique, endearing vocalizations of the world’s smallest rhino. Hear their songs here:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2706939102756892-- The Resilience of the "Native Garden": How a frost in Florida serves as a powerful metaphor for the future of conservation.