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Natural Resource Agencies
We work with Regional, State, Federal, and Tribal agencies to help inform science-based management decisions.
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Schools and Education
We go to schools to help raise awareness of natural resource issues and to help recruit low-income and underrepresented minority students into Fisheries and Wildlife and other College of Agriculture and Natural Resource fields at MSU. Dr. Roth is Co-PI of the NSF-funded S-STEM group centered around Food, Energy, and the Environment.
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General public
We partner with angling groups to obtain stomachs for the Huron-Michigan Predator Diet study. We attend and engage with anglers at Charter Boat Association and Citizen's Fishery Advisory Committee meetings, Sea Grant workshops, fishing tournaments, and maintain a social media presence in support of the diet study.
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We are presenting our projects this upcoming April at the annual MSU Science Festival (https://sciencefestival.msu.edu/)!!
We will host an aquatic invasive species bar trivia at Ellison Brewery in East Lansing on April 1, 2025 from 6-8pm. Sign up here if you are interested: forms.gle/mkwSqfctG5evLMdr6. We will also host a booth at the STEAM Expo Days! Check back for more updates! |
Outreach events
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Howell High School, October 2024
Graduate student Colin Assenmacher and lead field technician Mackenzie Thompson traveled to Howell High School and presented about Red Swamp Crayfish, invasive species, and how to conduct research. They presented to both the AP Environmental Science class, as well as a large group of interested students during their study hour. They discussed past studies on Red Swamp Crayfish, research and findings from our lab’s work, and outlined the process of developing Colin's thesis. In addition to the presentation, they were able to take students from the AP Environmental Science class outside to one of our research ponds. They placed crayfish traps the day prior and retrieved them, allowing students to hold live crayfish. The students were excited and many if not all the students held a crayfish. Overall it was a great experience and we hope to do something similar in the future! |
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Founder's Fishing Pier Fishing Camp, August 2024
Undergraduate field technicians Caden Pitsch, Vivian Gunn, Jon Dittenbir, and Evan Wahmhoff presented to a fishing camp about our red swamp crayfish project. Camp-goers were able to play a fun game to learn about burrowing behaviors of the red swamp crayfish, touch their carapaces, and see the equipment we use daily to trap and take biological samples. We try to do this each field season to expose kids to the world of invasive species and get them involved in science! 
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Heartwood Special Education School, May 2024
Lead data technician Sarah Walker and Lead field technician Mackenzie Thompson traveled to Heartwood Special Education School to present on invasive species and red swamp crayfish in Michigan's waterways. Students were able to interact with the presentation through song, coloring sheets, and word searches. |
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