2016 STEM Festival

In Notes from the Conservation Front Line adventurer-biologist Dr. Niall McCann takes audiences on an amazing journey as he describes his often dangerous work researching and protecting endangered species in remote and challenging environments. He describes how he’s been able to bridge the gap between science and policy, and how his work in human-wildlife conflict has led him to develop a career in anti-poaching.

In addition to his work in research and conservation, Niall hosted two seasons of the Nat Geo Wild TV series Biggest and Baddest, which focused on human-wildlife conflict. In filming the show, Niall participated in medical interventions on mountain gorillas with the Gorilla Doctors, worked with the Bronx Zoo’s WCS to collar and track the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, and joined rangers of Uganda’s Wildlife Authority to trap giant man-eating Nile Crocodiles and re-locate them to a National Park hundreds of miles away. While filming the series Niall was charged by a tiger, treed by an elephant, and dragged down a sandy bank by an anaconda. In addition to being hugely enjoyable, working on the show highlighted to Niall the importance of working with communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict all around the world.

For more information, go to http://www.niallmccann.com/

• Academic Boosters of Clarke County

• Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

• Boyce Elementary School

• C2 Management

• CCPS Makerspaces

• Clarke County Education Foundation

• Clarke County Farm Bureau

• Clarke County High School FFA

• Clarke County High School FIRST Robotics Team

• Clarke County High School HOSA Club

• Clarke County High School IB Biology Students

• Clarke County High School Steel Drum Ensemble

• Clarke County Library

• Conquest Technologies

• D. G. Cooley Elementary School

• Friends of the National Zoo/Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

• Johnson-Williams Middle School

• LFCC STEM Club

• LFCC Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education

• Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

• Piedmont Environmental Council

• Potomac Valley Audubon Society

• Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

• Roseville Veterinary Clinic and Wildlife Veterinary Care

• Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum

• STARBASE Winchester

• Thermo Fisher Scientific

• U.S. Army

• Winchester Medical Center/Valley Health Systems

Wildlife Conservation Society - materials for grades 5-12

National Wildlife Federation - materials for grades K-12. National Wildlife Federation works to provide educators with easy-to-implement, trusted curriculum and activities that help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute - Friends of the National Zoo offers educational programming for people of all ages through camps, classes, overnights, school programs, and lectures. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional training are offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School Conservation.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute - The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) facilitates and promotes conservation biology programs at the National Zoo. Scientists at SCBI have long been leaders in the study, management, protection and restoration of threatened species, ecological communities, habitats and ecosystems.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums - all ages. The AZA Conservation Education Committee (CEC) has compiled thematic educational activities that have been developed by educators at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.

TeacherVision - materials for grades K-12. Cross-curricular printables, lesson plans, quizzes, and references for National Wildlife Week (held in March each year). Activities include bird-watching, reading comprehension passages, and fun art projects. Students will enjoy learning about wild plants and the animals that live in the rain forests, oceans, and polar regions.