Natalie Rhoades (She/Her)
Program Delivery Facilitator, SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity- SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity
- Member directory
- United States of America
With experience in Marine Animal Rehab., Rescue and Research coupled with a nerdy love of data, data science and all things technology, my data collection software company, WatchSpotter is the cumulation of my life’s work. From the hallways of the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center at the University of New England, my affinity for caring for marine animals was fostered and grew. Being tasked with the center’s life support systems and flow thru animal pools further opened my eyes to water quality, fecal coliforms, and bio-loads. I was the primary research technician in a multiphase study: Protecting the Saco River: Tracking non-point fecal pollution to its species source. Upon leaving UNE, I traveled to the Southern Great Barrier Reef Australia to work on an international research team focusing on population dynamics for three cetacean species. Once back stateside, I sharpened my Software UX skills working as a software consultant for Centersoft Technologies. After a brief stint volunteering for the Dolphin Photo ID program at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, I was hired to join the team. I split time the first years at FAU HBOI between the Harmful Algal Bloom lab and the Dolphin Population and Assessment Lab. Settling in as a Research Assistant for the latter as well as a first responder for the Marine Mammal Rescue Team. In working with the Dolphin Population and Assessment Primary Researcher, along with other industry collaborators, I soon became the PIs data analyst and was paramount in the creation and development of the programs state of the art cloud-based SQL database platform. I worked as a liaison between the research program and software architects to assure ease of use, maximum data output and advanced analytics. The software is still used by the newly formed team today. At the end of 2019 it was time for me to branch out on my own. In the spring of 2022, WatchSpotter was born. My idea was to create a customizable SaaS application that could be used by researchers worldwide. Data is data- scientific questions need to be answered. My contingency was that no matter what the research topic- if the research brings people into the field-whether scientists, volunteers, or citizens, they are there to gather data-to answer questions. I knew that the two biggest challenges facing many environmental research groups were time and money. It would not be feasible for most nonprofits or other environmental institutions to pay for custom software- which often runs in excess of $150K nor do they have the time to wait for such programs to be complete. These known challenges fueled the customization and simple UX that make up the WatchSpotter platform. When I’m working with Environmental Science or software, I enjoy being outside in the woods or at the beach, volunteering and hanging with family and friends.
Meet Muhammad Asif Khan, a passionate forestry student. With a strong interest in conservation and sustainability, I'm dedicated to understanding the management of forests and the impact of human activity on them. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and camping in the great outdoors. I'm also active in student clubs and organizations related to forestry and environmental conservation. I wish to do my Master's in Forestry abroad.
I am a conservation enthusiast with a bias for wildlife fauna. I intend to specialize in project management. I am also looking for more opportunities in conservation all over the world, especially in the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Namibia, and Tanzania.
Co-Executive Director, PROGRES (Sulawesi Regional Ecological Conservation Initiative)
I am co-leading PROGRES, a Sulawesi-based NGO to initiate and empower locally-led conservation to protect threatened yet overlooked wildlife. After obtaining my MS degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida, I had worked as a conservation scientist in the Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia and chaired Tambora Muda, national-level network of Indonesian young conservationists.
Wildlife biologist with cross-cutting interests in wildlife conservation technologies, wildlife and ecological research, climate change.
I'm a wildlife conservationist, with 14 years of hands-on experience in the field management and coordination of international conservation and research programs with endangered wildlife. My work focuses heavily on parrots and macaws, participating in or leading 13 programs in 8 countries. My strong interest is in biodiversity conservation based on field research and focus on wildlife species highly threatened by extinction.
While my experience lies in marketing and communication, I'm finally venturing into writing children's books, a childhood dream, and am specifically focusing on writing books that ignite passion and curiosity for animals in young readers. "If we care about animals, we'll want to protect them." I'm looking to connect with professionals who are studying and/or are actively helping in advancing wildlife conservation efforts in general. I am also a beginning nature photographer with a passion for capturing the unique personalities of each animal I see. (That's the goal, anyhow!) I've had a lifelong passion for animals and want to learn all I can and share what I can with young readers, hopefully inspiring the next wave of conservationists, naturalists, scientists, etc.!
Research, Teacher, social worker, human right activist, Environmentalist, Ecology
I was a police officer in the UK for 25 years. I then retrained as an International Mountain Leader and have guided all over the world. In 2011, I won the Bronze in the Wanderlust Magazine World Guide Awards.
I stumbled into conservation work, firstly in Borneo, and this opened my eyes to our need to change the way we do things. During the covid confinements when I could no longer work as a guide, I took to writing, and published a novel, Stonechild, where the famous London statues come to life with their important message on conservation. Do you think we would listen to them?