Education and Community Outreach

Discussing science with community members is extremely rewarding!

The field of animal behavior lends itself to engaging community members because behavior is readily observable and accessible.

In the Branch Lab we see it as our responsibility to engage with community members to enhance scientific literacy and build trust. It also serves as a great reminder of how cool our jobs are and how lucky we are to do it!

EDUCATORS: Want to use some of our research in the classroom? See resources below or contact Dr. Carrie Branch about guest lectures!

Finding Mr. Right from Dr. Carrie Branch’s PhD research

Headwaters Science Institute hosts Dr. Carrie Branch on Lunch with a Scientist:

Webinars from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Academy

Drs. Ben Sonnenberg and Carrie Branch chat with Dr. Sarah Wagner about how chickadees use their brains to hide seeds and survive harsh mountain winters!

Hear from the experts on the Science of Seduction, including Dr. Carrie Branch

Branch Lab and Center for Animals on the Move, Science Rendezvous, Western University Spring 2025

What is Science Rendezvous?

Dr. Carrie Branch’s Outreach Experience

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with some incredible organizations to engage community members in science, including Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Nevada Bugs and Butterflies (a local non-profit), the University of Nevada Natural History Museum, Project Solution (an after-school program for underrepresented students), Science Olympiad, and Expanding Your Horizons. I have worked with budding scientists of all ages, from teaching 5^th graders about food-storing and cognition through the Sagehen Outdoor Education Program to leading nature walks for older adults with the University of Nevada’s Sanford Center for Aging.

Some of my PhD work was also featured in Science Magazine

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/04/bird-accents-change-elevation

My work has been featured across several platforms targeted to non-scientific audiences, including internationally, on the British Broadcasting Corporation (see below) and Scientific American (https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/not-bad-science/chickadees-sing-different-songs-depending-where-theyre-from/, and locally, in Moonshine Ink (http://www.moonshineink.com/mountain-life/johnny-chickadee-cache) and The Nevada Wildlife Society.