Scientists work largely behind the scenes in our national parks. You might not meet them at a visitor center, or out on a trail. But the work they do is essential to the National Park Service's mission to preserve parks unimpaired for future generations. Who are these scientists, and what are their jobs really like? Find out below!
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- Type: Article
- Locations: Channel Islands National Park
- Offices: Mediterranean Coast Inventory & Monitoring Network,Southern California Research Learning Center
“My current position as a marine ecologist for the National Park Service is a dream by most accounts! I often tell people when asked, “What do I do,” that I am responsible for assessing the condition of the shoreline habitats in Channel Islands National Park. In reality, my jurisdiction is not limited to the shore as I also spend chunks of time working underwater offshore in kelp forest, eelgrass, and other biogenic habitats in the park."
- Type: Article
- Locations: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Offices: Mediterranean Coast Inventory & Monitoring Network,Southern California Research Learning Center
"So even though I worked on birds my whole early career, I would know a ton about island scrub-jays, but I didn't really go birding. Now I really enjoy going out and hearing songs and trying to identify the birds. And I collect the data on eBird so that every time I go out, I have a list of how many and what birds I saw. It's just like doing science, even though I'm not at work. I realize what a nerd I am."
Last updated: August 3, 2020