SCHOOLYARD LTER
RESEARCHER PARTICIPATION

Dr. Alan Knapp - LTER Researcher and P.I.

Dr. Knapp was very enthusiastic about getting the Schoolyard LTER off of the ground.  He suggested the idea of monitoring the fire reversal project, chose the appropriate sites and showed us where he thought the best location for monitoring would be.  He was very helpful in providing background information to assist with the project descriptions for the teacher handouts.

Dr. John Blair - LTER Researcher and P.I.

Dr. Blair gave an overview of Konza research describing the LTER researchers role and his own belowground projects.  The teachers found his work fascinating and were very interested in developing a project for students that would incorporate it. He suggested a belowground study that might be interesting to kids.  The project was not selected because the root windows could not be made accessible to the students by the fall.  Future projects involving a belowground study would be well accepted. 

Dr. Walter Dodds - LTER Researcher and P.I.

Dr. Dodds gave wonderful suggestions for projects that turned out to be the favorites of the teachers.  He chose a location for monitoring geomorphological changes that occur in streams.  Teachers were excited about incorporating this project into their geology curriculum.  Collecting stream invertebrates for a long-term inventory was the number one choice of the teachers.  The teachers enjoyed his presentation about why working in the water is "safer" than working on the land! 

Dr. Phil Fay - LTER Researcher

Dr. Fay presented the gall insect sampling project and stayed to work with the teachers as they did the activity.  The teachers were very appreciative of his time and presence to answer any questions they might have.  Dr. Fay was very enthusiastic and offered great suggestions and background information for this and the grasshopper project.  The teachers felt that they really benefited from his participation. 

Dr. David Hartnett - LTER Researcher & Director of KPRNA

Dr. Hartnett gave the welcome and introduction to KPRNA.  He explained the operations and purposes of Konza and stated that he hoped the teachers would establish a long and working relationship with KPRNA concerning the Schoolyard LTER program.  He also gave a wrap-up speech on the last day of the workshop thanking the teachers for their participation and encouraging them to come out to do the projects.

Dr. Theodore Hopkins - Entomology Professor Emeritus

Dr. Hopkins offered tremendous support throughout the workshop and offered background material for the grasshopper collection project. He stayed to demonstrate the procedures for collecting grasshoppers and returned the following morning to instruct the teachers how to identify and mount specimens.  He provided some of his own adult grasshoppers for identifying and pinning because in the spring most of the specimens collected were nymphs.  He is helping to gather grasshoppers for a reference collection that will be used by the education program and researchers both.  The teachers thoroughly enjoyed participating in the grasshopper project. 

Dr. Dave Rintoul - Biology Professor

Dr. Rintoul was one of the speakers for the high school entomology students last fall.  He suggested a project collecting insects using pitfall traps.  The project was not selected because of a limitation in time to prepare for the activity and some logistical problems.  He was more than willing to offer any suggestions and support needed to carry out this activity.  It may be added to our list in the future. 

Brent Brock - KPRNA Data Manager

Brent gave excellent technical support before, during, and after the workshop.  He created several data screens to show the teachers how easy it will be for their students to input data collected.  He answered their questions and offered to answer any that they may have in the future regarding technical problems concerning the Schoolyard LTER program.  Brent demonstrated the way to access their data on the computer, and to show them ways to access information off of the internet.  Brent was a great help and appreciated by everyone involved. 

David Stagliano - Stream Entomology Graduate Student

Dave was a favorite of the workshop because of his enthusiasm for teaching.  He demonstrated how to sample for stream invertebrates and was very willing and excited to be a part of a program involving kids.  He involved the teachers by getting them in the creek, sampling, and identifying the invertebrates they found.  The teachers really enjoyed this project for themselves, and felt that their students would love it too.  The teachers requested that Dave come into their classrooms before the visit to Konza to talk to the kids about what they would be seeing.