USU Educators Receive National Park Service Award

Utah State University research technician Emily Yost and coordinator Ben Baldwin, both staffers in the College of Natural Resources’ Department of Environment and Society, received the National Park Service’s 2008 Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit Project Award. The team was recognized for its project, “Improving Science Communication for Multiple Parks and Networks: Summer 2006 through Summer 2008.”

“Emily and Ben’s nomination for this award received many letters of support from the various National Park Service agencies they’ve worked with over the last two years,” says Lisa Gerloff, RM-CESU executive coordinator. “The recognition is well-deserved.”

Yost and Baldwin will be presented with the award during an Oct. 16 ceremony at the annual RM-CESU Managers Meeting in Estes Park, Colo., where Yost will present her science communications work on NPS research learning center Web sites.

Yost’s association with USU began in 2006 when she served with the university’s Tehabi internship program in Wyoming and Montana’s Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Established in 1999, the Tehabi program, coordinated by Baldwin, pairs student interns with land management agencies throughout the American West.

“Emily brought strong skills in writing and communications that have been welcomed by the agencies she’s worked with through the Tehabi program,” Baldwin says.

Working with Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center staff, Yost contributed to a series of science communications materials. Her initial work, which included summaries of the natural and cultural resources of the Greater Yellowstone Area parks, was designed to acquaint the public with the area’s unique landscapes along with the scientific research conducted there.

“Through her work, Emily has basically translated science to lay people in an inviting way,” Baldwin says. “Her efforts educate people about the science and research behind these beautiful places.”

Yost served a subsequent Tehabi internship in Arizona and Utah’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, during which she wrote for the nature and science sections of the National Park Service’s Glen Canyon Web site. Yost applied this experience to writing content for Colorado’s Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Web site earlier this year.

Yost’s efforts led to employment opportunities on a series of short-term communications projects with the National Park Service as well as employment as a teaching assistant with USU’s Tehabi program. Her duties with Tehabi include assisting with curriculum development, course logistics and student instruction.

“My Tehabi internships and experiences have been fundamental to my professional and personal growth — and a lot of fun,” Yost says.

“Emily brings unique talents and skills that have greatly benefited USU and the agencies she’s worked with,” Baldwin says. “I’m amazed by her ability to work with multiple supervisors, juggle multiple projects and create outstanding, professional publications.”

To view Yost’s work, visit the Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center Web site, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Web site and the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Web site.

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