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In: Clean Boats, Clean Waters, Introduced, Maree Stewart, podcast, Scott McComb, Tim Campbell

Maree Stewart was a middle schooler from Minocqua, Wisconsin, when she and two classmates had an idea that would shape Wisconsin’s lakes for the next 20 years and beyond.

“It doesn’t feel now like I’ve done this big, momentous thing, but it really has made such a difference,” Stewart said. “And it’s just really amazing how many people have been impacted by a science project that I did when I was 12 years old.”

Students Maree, Janelle, and Luke, in the original Clean Boats, Clean Waters shirts, pose at their educational booth.

Students Maree, Janelle, and Luke, in the original Clean Boats, Clean Waters shirts, pose at their educational booth. Credit: Clean Boats, Clean Waters program

In 2001, Stewart, Luke Voellinger, and Janelle Zajicek kick-started what would become Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW), one of the most successful watercraft inspection and aquatic invasive species (AIS) education programs in the country. With the help of a $25,000 grand prize, dedicated mentors, and some fateful wordsmithing from a local t-shirt printer, the trio transformed a middle school science project into a statewide initiative that’s connected with over two million boaters.

The improbable story — told for the first time in its entirety — is the subject of the newest episode of “Introduced,” Wisconsin Sea Grant’s podcast about Great Lakes stories and invasive species science.

“We wanted to showcase how community efforts like these can make a difference and inspire others to take action,” said executive producer Bonnie Willison. “It’s also a fun, timely story now that it’s summer and more people are getting out on the water. Chances are you’ll see a Clean Boats, Clean Waters inspector if you head to a boat launch.” 

Wisconsin Sea Grant has supported the program since its official start in 2004, hiring and training interns to work as inspectors along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. According to Tim Campbell, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s aquatic invasive species outreach specialist, coverage along the coast is crucial: the Great Lakes are a source of invasive species in inland lakes and vice versa. 

Even with much to gain through a coastal watercraft inspection program, people feel less inclined to volunteer along the Great Lakes, Campbell noted — perhaps because they’re so big and it’s hard to believe that individual actions can make a difference. 

“The Great Lakes are everyone’s lakes and no one’s lakes,” said Campbell. “People are invested in the lake they have a cabin on, but it’s more difficult to get volunteers to stand at a Lake Michigan boat launch. It’s not the same level of ownership. Yet, one of the best ways to protect all lakes in Wisconsin, including the Great Lakes, is to have CBCW volunteers present on the coast.” 

The students worked in close collaboration with Laura Marquardt, Sandy Wickman, and Lisa Ahlers.

The students worked in close collaboration with Laura Marquardt, Sandy Wickman, and Lisa Ahlers. Credit: Clean Boats, Clean Waters program.

That’s where Scott McComb, Sea Grant’s aquatic invasive species outreach specialist in southeastern Wisconsin, comes in. McComb organizes Clean Boats, Clean Waters training in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties and works to build a sense of stewardship around Lake Michigan. His efforts ensure there isn’t a Great Lakes-sized hole in AIS prevention across the state.

For Campbell, the educational and neighborly spirit of the program is what sets the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program apart from other AIS prevention initiatives.“[Staff] don’t have any legal or inspection authority, but I think for our program, that might work out better because they’re a more friendly inspector,” he said. “Our inspectors are truly there to help.”

Even as seventh graders, Stewart and her peers recognized the importance of a friendly conversation.

“We just realized the power of [AIS education] is going to come from behavior changes of people. And how do you do that? By interacting with other people and word of mouth,” said Stewart. “It’s gone so far beyond what any of us ever thought it would, which is really great.”

 

The post Podcast tells story of seventh graders who launched Clean Boats, Clean Waters first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

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Jenna Mertz

On:
In: aquatic invasive species, Art, art and science, Bonnie Willison, Introduced, podcast, Tim Campbell

When it comes to art, perhaps you feel like Wisconsin Sea Grant’s invasive species outreach specialist, Tim Campbell.

“My background is in science. I feel like I’ve always been a science-logic person,” he said. “I don’t make any art. I don’t feel like I have any artistic bones in my body.”

A giant, stuffed brown beetle sits on a wooden table outside

Astrid Hooper Lofton’s big, stuffed biocontrol beetle enjoys some sun. Photo: Astrid Hooper Lofton

But are science and art really that different, or can they be used to achieve common goals? This is one of the core questions driving the latest season of Introduced, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s aquatic invasive species podcast. Co-hosts Bonnie Willison and Jenna Mertz explore the relationship between science and art by talking with artists weaving AIS — both figuratively and literally — into their work.

“This season, we wanted to bring listeners stories about community and communication, and art bridges both those themes,” said Willison. “It’s really good at grabbing people’s interest who may otherwise never have thought about AIS before. It’s also a lot of fun, and the artists we interviewed are incredibly talented.”

This season features three artists creating AIS-inspired work:

  • Astrid Hooper Lofton, a student who sews a giant, stuffed, “huggable” biocontrol beetle;
  • Daniel Murray, the mastermind behind Deep Lake Future, a one-of-a-kind immersive art exhibit in Milwaukee; and
  • Kim Boustead, an artist whose stalwart pursuit of the perfect fish leather nearly ended with a jug of urine and some very (very!) bad smells.

Tim Campbell’s art (Crayons, marker; circa 2024). Credit: Tim Campbell

Campbell also appears on the podcast as a guest host and resident left-brainer. In addition to showcasing his own artistic endeavors, he reflects on how scientists can lean on art to better connect with audiences.

“We all think people are rational beings that collect data and facts — they weigh the pros and cons and make the decision that’s best for them. But there’s these things called emotions and feelings that get in the way and influence decision making. And I probably can’t make anyone feel anything with just data alone, except maybe bored,” laughed Campbell.

Art alongside science, however, can cast a wider net. Those not captivated by spreadsheets might gravitate towards a colorful mural or sculpture and learn something new about the issues impacting their community.

“And when everyone is engaged, good things can happen for invasive species management and the Great Lakes,” said Campbell.

Listen to the current season on our website or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

The post When art and science join forces first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/when-art-and-science-join-forces/

Jenna Mertz

On:
In: Bonnie Willison, Introduced, Jenna Mertz, new season, podcast
Jenna Mertz conducts an interview at the Deep Lake Future Exhibit

The “Introduced” team explores an interactive art exhibit in Milwaukee. Photo: Wisconsin Sea Grant

“Introduced,” Wisconsin Sea Grant’s award-winning podcast about aquatic invasive species and the Great Lakes, returns for a third season on Nov. 11. The six new episodes feature stories of artists, students and scientists making sense of the ways that AIS impact Wisconsin’s waters.

“In the Midwest, we love our lakes. And you can’t fully understand our lakes if you don’t understand aquatic invasive species,” said Bonnie Willison, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s video and podcast producer. “I love being able to tell the human stories behind invasive species on ‘Introduced.’ We interview so many different people who are working to keep our lakes healthy and working to do better science.”

This season, Willison co-hosts the podcast with Jenna Mertz, a writer with Wisconsin Sea Grant. The pair highlight stories that touch on themes of science communication and community.

“This season really explores the way that stories, words and art shape the way people respond to introduced species, whether it’s with fear, curiosity or acceptance. As a writer who thinks about words a lot, it was fascinating to dig into those ideas,” said Mertz.

FLOW artist Astrid stands next to her creation: a 5 foot beige beetle stuffed animal

Astrid Hooper Lofton stands next to her creation for the FLOW Project: a giant, stuffed cella beetle. Photo: Wisconsin Sea Grant

The first episode grapples with common names for plants and animals, which can be scientifically inaccurate or, at worst, offensive. Listeners will hear from Tyler Muller, a Ph.D student who discovered — and now, has the opportunity to name — two new species of fish.

Other episodes tell the stories of artists inspired by AIS; a waterfront property owner who contended with the state’s first population of starry stonewort; and the origin of the Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program, which was inspired by three middle school students in northern Wisconsin.

“Podcasts are a great medium for talking about introduced species. Through friendly conversation, you talk about science — but you can also have some fun, you can share personal reflections and you can let guests speak in their own words. I find it really rewarding,” Willison said.

Listen to the new season on the Wisconsin Sea Grant website and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Introduced is also supported by the Great Lakes Commission.

 

 

 

 

The post Award-winning podcast returns with new stories about aquatic invasive species first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

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Jenna Mertz

On:
In: ANREP, Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, award, Bonnie Willison, Introduced, Sydney Widell, Tim Campbell, Titus Seilheimer

The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) last week announced the winners of its 2022 national awards competition. Titus Seilheimer, fisheries specialist; Tim Campbell, aquatic invasive species specialist; Bonnie Willison, digital storyteller; and Sydney Widell, a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student in Freshwater and Marine Sciences and formerly an undergraduate employee of Sea Grant, won a gold award for their work on the podcast series “Introduced.”

“Introduced” spans two seasons with 18 episodes that explore stories of aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin, like rusty crayfish, purple loosestrife and spiny waterfleas.

Introduced cover art

Sea Grant’s Yael Gen designed the cover art for the podcast series.

“Creating this podcast was personally satisfying. It was the first time I’d done podcasting and the easy on-air rapport I had with Sydney made it all the more rewarding,” Willison said. “We learned a lot about the changes that invasive species bring to our cherished lakes streams and wetlands and we talked to many inspiring people who are devoted to protecting our waters.”

Willison also credits Campbell and Seilheimer for making the podcast so effective and educational.  

“When I heard Bonnie was going to lend her considerable talents to a new podcast series and that series would focus on aquatic invasive species, I was excited for the opportunity to dive deeper into some AIS topics and highlight voices and stories that could help us understand the complexity of those issues,” Campbell said. He appears in seven episodes and provided overall consultation on the series.

Seilheimer, too, welcomed the opportunity to participate—offering advice on the podcast series’ direction and featured in four episodes. “Podcasts are an innovative way to reach all kinds of audiences with the kind of prevention messages we want to share. Everyone can play a role in conserving our natural environments.”

Co-hosts Willison and Widell interviewed more than 60 people for the series. The guests included resource managers, recreational fishers and researchers, as well as people from nongovernmental organizations and private businesses.

The ANREP awards honor natural resource programs and people. The organization is a national association for cooperative extension service professionals working in environmental education, fisheries, forestry, wood sciences, range, recreation, waste management, water, wildlife, energy and related disciplines at the county, area, state or national level.

 

The post “Introduced” podcast wins national award first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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Moira Harrington