Public ecology: The perks of doing science at an arboretum

Museums are a great, but often overlooked, source of research-oriented jobs. As a scientist at the Holden Arboretum, I direct an independent research program with all the independence you’d expect at a university. Outside of the lab, however, instead of teaching in a classroom, I engage the public. This science outreach can take many forms, from blogging to consulting on interpretative signage, and more. I also work closely with a huge team of citizen scientists that help to collect data with me. It’s a great job that combines the flexibility of academia with the fun of public engagement.