we were navigating the beagle channel, on our way to omora ethnobotanical park, located 3 km west of puerto williams, the capital of the chilean antarctic province.

as the boat was moving and crossing the cold subantarctic waters, the landscape and glacial peaks made me realize that holding a bird in the hand for a single moment is a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife and the responsibility of researchers.

birds are commonly infected by blood parasites transmitted by various species of mosquitoes, flies, and midges. in hawai‘i, the introduction of blood parasites in native birds was found to decrease the bird population and cause the extinction of endemic hawaiian honeycreepers.

previous studies in chile have documented blood parasites in several species. juan rivero de aguilar, ph.d., an associate researcher at the cape horn international center for global change studies and biocultural conservation, took me on board on one of his field expeditions to understand and know more about these blood parasite infections in this subantarctic region of the world.

birds in the wild may often appear perfectly healthy; however, blood parasites may be circulating within them without any obvious symptoms. collecting a small blood sample from birds allows researchers to understand the health and the effect that these blood parasites can have on bird populations and the ecosystem.

so i would like to ask: how many hidden threats to wildlife remain invisible to the human eye in a single moment?

the first bugle rose out of the meadows — not triumphant, but strained. a bull elk stood rigid, his harem clustered behind him, their bodies angled toward escape that didn’t exist. 

every fall, herds of elk gather in and around estes park, colo., and rocky mountain national park for the rut. during this time, bull elk are highly active, vocal, and aggressive as they compete for dominance and attention from cows, or females, creating unpredictable and dangerous situations for visitors unaware of the risks.

on october 11, 2025, this particular herd was trapped between two narrow roads now jammed with rental cars, tour buses, and spectators scrambling for a front-row view. tourists climbed onto car roofs, cameras fired in bursts, and conversations carried across the valley as if the scene were a spectacle meant for the people in attendance. 

the tension in the air — both animal and human — was rising. on the opposite road, another bull bugled in growing agitation. as the crowd leaned in, he began to charge.

in one of the nation’s most iconic elk viewing landscapes, the collision between wildlife behavior, visitor expectations, and inconsistent education is becoming increasingly volatile.

chaos in the meadows

along the meadow’s edge, small signs read, “meadows closed from 5 p.m.–10 a.m.” few tourists noticed; many ignored them. 

with rangers absent due to the government shutdown, systemic issues became radiantly clearer than ever before: without enforcement, these rules were merely suggestions rather than boundaries.

“people don’t take our judgment as authority,” a bugle corp volunteer said. the bugle corp is a volunteer organization dedicated to monitoring elk during the rut, keeping visitors at a safe distance, and educating them on wildlife behavior. (the volunteer could not provide her name because she had to quickly move to another location where two bulls were sparring and visitors were approaching too closely.)

victoria jackson, administrator of the facebook group estes park resort guide, agreed. “even someone in uniform couldn’t convince them,” she said, describing an incident where a police officer struggled to move people off the golf course during an active rut scene. this trend illustrates how deeply the culture of ignoring boundaries has taken hold, making both enforcement and volunteer efforts far more difficult.

“i had a man walk into the meadow at 4:30 p.m. because the herd was there,” the volunteer said. “when i told him to leave, he said, ‘well, the sign says closed at 5 p.m., and it’s not 5 yet.’ just last week, i had a group of photographers within 50 feet of a bull, and i had to tell them to get back.” 

visitors sometimes interpret the instructional signs as permission to stay until exactly the stated hour, failing to recognize that the rule is part of a broader framework to prevent dangerous interactions.

inside the estes park visitor center, staffed by the national park service, the rocky mountain conservancy, and third-party tourism workers, elk safety was a minimal focus. a single sign in the bathroom stall offered safety rules, while a life-sized cardboard elk stood near the entrance for photos, without educational context. staff had no additional printed guidance for visitors.

when asked, employees often relied on personal rules of thumb. 

“if you walk up to them and they don’t change their behavior, you’re fine. but, if they look at you, then you’re too close,” one male staffer said at the estes park visitor center, describing his personal approach.

this advice contradicts official guidance. but according to danielle wolf, education manager at the rocky mountain conservancy, staff from different organizations use different approaches to visitor education.

“i’ve heard that rule too,” wolf said. “my team always tries to go with the more conservative approach: use the rule of thumb, stay back, give them space.”

the real “rule of thumb” is that when you make a thumbs-up and try to hide the animal with your thumb, if you can still see a part of the animal, you are too close.

a survey i conducted of 42 park visitors helped explain the disconnect between visitors’ behavior and official guidance. when asked what kind of information feels most valuable when learning about elk during the rut, 81% wanted both ethical or values-based messaging and clear instructional guidance. visitors want to understand why the rules exist, not just what they are.

when asked whether parks should provide more ethical education explaining the purpose behind regulations, 92.9% said yes.

why the rules fail

one reason people don’t follow the rules is that they don’t understand why they matter. and without meaning, rules invite people to look for loopholes. 

across rocky mountain national park meadows and around estes lake, a survey of 36 total signs found 52.8% purely instructional, and 44.4% unrelated to elk entirely.

we are so focused on giving information that we have stripped away meaning, and meaning is what people act on.

tourism websites amplify this challenge. searches for “best elk viewing in estes park” yield blogs and lodging pages directing visitors to high-conflict areas like downtown estes, the golf course, and moraine park. some suggest bringing a chair, blanket, and coffee to “enjoy the serene beauty of the fall landscape.”

these tourism resources rarely explain elk behavior, rut aggression, or ecological context, and seldom reference park rules. this fragmented, entertainment-first messaging reflects a deeper cultural issue: wild animals are seen as entertainment, land as a backdrop, and human presence is often assumed harmless.

in fact, human presence during stressful seasons such as the rut can affect elk both ecologically and biologically. close human activity increases stress, causing elk to expend energy on vigilance rather than feeding, preparing for winter, or mating successfully. as a result, human disturbance alters elk behavior with broader ecological and environmental consequences.

social media can escalate risk-taking behavior. when posting in groups like friends of rocky mountain park, my own attempts to raise safety concerns and invite discussion about elk viewing behavior was removed by moderators, who said that posts like these can “get ugly.” i was flagged for breaking rule #3, which restricts sharing locations and photos of unsafe behavior. 

meanwhile, moderators allowed posts that described risky actions using words like “entertainment” to remain, even though such language normalizes unsafe interactions with elk and downplays the potential danger. this moderation pattern highlights how online communities can inadvertently reinforce unsafe practices and ethical misunderstandings about human-wildlife interactions.

the problem isn’t just careless visitors, but a broader systemic, educational, and cultural gap in how humans learn to interact responsibly with wild animals.

bridging the gap between humans and elk

education and context can shift behavior. halle homel, a naturalist guide experienced in the high sierras and alaskan tongass, explained: “people love wildlife, and part of the reason they love it is that many don’t regularly experience it. but because wildlife is often new to people, there is a gap in how to behave around animals.”

homel said outdoor education is central to addressing this gap, explaining the “why” behind rules and practices to help visitors connect emotionally and intellectually with wildlife and ecosystems.

victoria also believes in stronger education: “more visible signage, volunteer wildlife ambassadors, and social media collaborations could help reinforce respectful viewing practices.” 

but restrictive measures are complicated. “we can’t control where the elk chooses to go,” she said. “it becomes nearly impossible to manage safely without shutting down access.”

aldo leopold, the “father of conservation” and creator of the land ethic, argued that no significant ethical change occurs without an internal shift in values. rules are not enough. signs are not enough. 

in estes park and rocky mountain national park, the gap between knowledge and care has become dangerous. it represents  a systemic ethical failure to remind visitors that humans, wildlife, and land are interconnected. homel cited the tlingit word gunalcheesh, meaning “i am not whole without you.”

“it might be our park, but it’s also their home,” she said.

while solutions will require creativity and coordination, small steps — clearer signage, volunteer ambassadors, and context-rich interpretation — can begin to shift behavior.

the respect the rut initiative is responding by developing context-rich signs and interpretive materials in high-conflict elk viewing areas. these resources help visitors understand safe practices, elk behavior, and the ethical reasoning behind park rules.

by linking instruction with meaning, the project bridges the gap between knowledge and behavior, taking a practical step toward fostering a more responsible and informed wildlife viewing culture.

florida state university researchers are diving into new efforts to protect north florida’s cherished natural springs.

research to restore and protect the health and clarity of natural springs, especially wakulla springs, is being conducted by joel trexler, the director of fsu’s coastal and marine laboratory, and kellie keys, a professor in the communications department.

“our research in the larger sense is to try to advance our understanding of [the] influence of people on water coming into the spring and out [of] the spring vent, how that impacts the ecological side of the wakulla river,” trexler said when discussing leading a team of fsu researchers. “particularly, [our research addresses] a sense that the system has changed in ways that are not desirable.”

the health of the springs is vital because it also indicates the health of drinking water. the water in the springs is also the water in the floridan aquifer, which provides drinking water to approximately 10 million people.

“when we protect the springs, we protect our drinking water, and we protect our drinking water, we protect the springs, because they’re coming from the same place,” keys said.

about 90% of floridians rely on groundwater for drinking water, and the cleanliness of springs gives a glimpse into its cleanliness, too.

the communication component of the research is crucial. it is one thing to have facts, but to make people aware of an issue and to care about it is another challenge.

“we’re also doing communication research, different from the scientific research,” keys said. “within that communication research, we’re looking at environmental values and how communicating using different values might have an effect on the way that people take in the information.”

the environmental communication research keys is conducting was presented at the science and environmental communication section (sec) of the environmental communication research and education association (ecrea) on oct. 21 in norway. 

“they were really interested in hearing about our work with the wakulla springs lab, because we’re doing environmental communication in the southern united states, and that’s quite a different landscape, and the way things are communicated here are communicated quite different than in europe,” keys said.

“that water is both where the springs emerge from, but it’s also where we put our wells in for all the water we use,” keys said. “if you picture, we have a bunch of straws in the aquifer all over the place drawing up that water, and it’s like everything we use.”

wakulla springs is a popular tourist attraction and local favorite for swimming, boat tours, hiking, and wildlife viewing. it is a place where many fsu students go to get away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.

many floridians are directly connected to the water that flows through wakulla springs, yet many aren’t aware of it. this is where keys says the communication side of the research becomes essential: it helps the public understand that protecting the springs also means protecting their own water supply.

by translating complex scientific data into clear, accessible formats that align with people’s values, the team at the wakulla springs lab hopes to continue to improve the health of the springs and, in turn, the water supply.

“people may not contribute to conservation or sustainable practices because they do not know enough about the issue or how to solve it on a small scale,” adeline kulaga, a graduate student who works with keys, said to the fsview. “this is why communication channels of researchers to the general public must be informational, efficient, trustworthy, and developed. if people have access to scientific findings that are presented in an easily digestible manner, they can be up to date on the current issues and feel like their actions have an impact.”

chinyere knight, ph.d., is a professor at tuskegee university within the biology department of the college of arts and sciences. she is a mycologist and microbiologist studying slime molds and fungi within tuskegee, ala., and the broader southeast. her work in mycology focuses on applied mycology for health purposes and ecology education for broader audiences. 

knight is working towards a proposal for a herbarium on tuskegee’s campus to house a significant collection of slime molds and other fungi, which will expand and deepen mycology research at hbcus. 

as an undergraduate student doing research in her lab, i had the chance to pull her in for a chat after a recent lab meeting to discuss her work, its impact on health, and the role of education in her research. 

the interview below has been edited for length and clarity.

sylvia legette: for the reading audience, can you explain what slime molds are? what do you do with them and how does your research impact broader audiences? 

chinyere knight: slime molds are an interesting organism. they’re classified as protozoa, but we study them in mycology because they’re fruiting. they look like mini mushrooms when you see them in nature, but once you study them in detail, they’re actually classified as protozoa. 

but they’re really unknown to scientists, to biodiversity. because of that, there’s a lot of room for discovery. the things that are unknown are an opportunity for us to find innovations and new applications. typically, either mycologists or botanists study them because they grow bark and live in soil.

it’s become more important with the issues that we are having in the environment and climate change to have these robust natural history collections. 

my major professor and mentor, lafayette frederick, who was a tuskegee alumnus, studied slime molds. he created [a collection of slime molds, fungus, & plants at tuskegee university] and i inherited it. 

we have all of these great botanists and scientists, but we don’t have a museum for it. so i want to try and establish that here so we can have our own storage and safeguard our own material too at an hbcu. there’s only one other hbcu in the nation that has an herbarium and that’s delaware state, so this is also to empower and broaden hbcus’ impact, especially because we train so many of these great scientists. so they should be able to have a storage [site] for research and materials, but also to create model organisms for you all to study and have that connection to legacy. 

sl: can you describe your journey to academia? did you always want to be a mycologist? 

ck: do y’all know what a vision board is? so this is my vision board from 2011. you see how old it is. i cut pictures out of magazines and stuff like that. this was my vision from about 15 years ago. 

i wanted to be involved in microbial research or work with natural products and medicine, and i wanted to try to get funding. you see the picture of her getting money? this was the darkest skinned picture i could find. she’s supposed to represent us. 

like art, culture, and dance, i want to be part of legendary scientific history. from undergrad to now, my vision and interests have pretty much been the same. i used to have this saying that i was trying to find the cure, but now i realize there’s no actual cure to things. it’s more like a pathway to healing. looking at alternative ways to heal either the environment, the earth we live on, and ourselves too. 

sl: what made you choose tuskegee specifically, and can you name any mentors, and people specifically who guided you in your path?

ck: historically, of course, george washington carver. i mean, you read about him. if you don’t, before you even come here, you associate dr. george washington carver with tuskegee. also my major advisor was an alum of tuskegee.

i would say at least maybe four other professors that i had in the biology department at howard university were also tuskegee alumni. so i just knew it was one of those places that just connects all of the really bright black scientists together. howard, tuskegee, it’s like a pipeline. 

sl: with me starting on my own scientific journey, having good mentors is extremely important, and meeting people who connect you with opportunities to further your journey is also important. how do you incorporate mentorship for students into how you operate as a professor and how you structure your lab? 

ck: now that i’m faculty, i see the demands and i see how much the students really care. i was once one of those students who was always in office hours, always in the lab, and probably a very demanding student. i know that my professors at the time really invested in me. so i think that once you have had somebody nurture and invest in you, you have gratitude for that. it shows you how important it is for the next generation to have the same nutrients you were given. 

you can see the difference in the experiences of somebody really nurturing your dream and helping nurture your journey. i’ve always had that and i think that that’s one of the experiences that you get at an hbcu. 

sl: now to the nitty gritty. with the current federal proposed budget for the next fiscal year, there will be an approximate 50% cut to national science foundation funding, which would have massive rippling effects on opportunities for students to even get their foot in the door. how does that make you feel as both a scientist managing your lab, managing grants, and as an educator mentoring students and wanting to pass down the nurturing that you had? 

ck: this funding is your lifeline. like, that’s how you supply. that’s how you pay students during the summertime. that’s how you get supplies for your lab. so a lot of it can be daunting, but then i figured that we just have to remember historically, there was a time when hbcus had no government funding.  there was a time when we were still producing great scientists and no agency recognized us. so, i think that in some instances, we can’t be codependent on these entities in the government. 

we assume that they’re there to support us. we assume that they have the best agendas and that they are supposed to do what their mission says they are supposed to do: to protect humanity and protect the environment. but that’s not always the case. 

i feel that us as a people… we have that in our genetics. we know what it is to not even be considered human. we have to realize that it wasn’t too long ago that the government didn’t consider us human. it wasn’t too long ago that we didn’t have a government. it wasn’t too long ago when you as a woman couldn’t even do any of this.

try to just separate yourself and realize that you’re in this storm that’s going on, but we have a certain amount of protection. in biology, we say that organisms can go into spore mode when times are rough and conditions are hard. and then as soon as conditions are favorable, they become viable. i feel like that we’re already founded on those principles of not being included and not having enough and still making do. 

i just got an nsf grant recently. until now, most of what i’ve established has been on my own, and that is harder, but it gives you a sense of knowing that your house is built out of brick, right? when the big bad wolf comes around, they can’t blow you down, because you’ve already made your own bricks at tuskegee.

sl: that’s a beautiful answer. i hadn’t thought about that perspective. even now, hbcus like tennessee state university aren’t receiving money they are owed from the state of tennessee. 

ck: hbcus were often funded by churches in the past. a lot of hbcus were funded through the african methodist episcopal church so it’s it a total community effort. i think that that’s what [we] as a culture have lost. we’ve lost the interdependence when our community sustained all of our institutions, our education, and health care that was created because we weren’t a part of the government institution.

we had to create our own homes, that’s what reconstruction down here in the south was. so when we talk about this new renaissance maybe that’s happening now, i think maybe it’s like a new reconstruction, and the question is now, “how do we re-establish and reconstruct ourselves if the government is not just failing us but failing everybody?”  

sl: lots of people think scientists and researchers are taking their money and then not doing anything that impacts them, when in reality the research we’re doing is for them and to improve quality of life. so how do you think this plays into this whole funding dynamic, and do you perceive any solutions for improving science communication?

ck: when you become a scientist, you must ask, “who is your audience?” if your primary audience is private industry companies or the government, they have a different priority and agenda. if your audience is families, if your audience are women and children, they all have different agendas. so that really dictates how you communicate. 

so currently, a lot of it is commercialism. a lot of it is advertisement. and, a lot of it is teaching from a stance of disparity. meaning that even when i teach class, you have to talk about the water crises and the soil crises and everything is from a crisis perspective. but why is that? whose agenda is it to try to make it seem there’s not enough? it’s not enough land for you. it’s not enough food for you. it’s not enough soil for you.

we also have to be mindful of the agenda behind training a generation of young people that there is never enough. if you’ve always been trained that there’s not enough — when in reality, there’s plenty — how will that impact future scientists research, experiments, and interests? 

sl: do you have any words of encouragement for students who are maybe looking at this current situation and wondering, “is it time to pivot? do i need to pick another lane?” 

ck: you’re gonna be dealing with change if you are in science. whatever type of science you decide you’re going to be in, it’s going to be rigorous; it’s going to be challenging; and it’s going to be constant change. that’s the nature of the field. for some people, that’s stimulating. but for some people, they don’t like that fast pace. they don’t like that hustle and bustle.

so learn about yourself more than anything in education. more than you learn about the climate, more than you’re learning about the environment, more than you’re learning about biology or chemistry, you’re actually learning about yourself, right? and you’re learning about your limits and the things that inspire you, or that you disgusts you. you’re having your beliefs challenged, and then you’re learning new things that you appreciate that you weren’t exposed to before. so, that is what the education is for. it’s the investment in you, in your brain, and in your heart.

you can’t feel pressure to try to solve history, systemic racism, environmental damage, or war, you know what i mean? you just have to know that in your daily practice, that you must lead with your heart, use critical thinking, lead life with integrity, and try to be honest. that’s the little wave you can make in this big ocean.

the film, directed by gabriela cowperthwaite, follows the life of a captive orca whale involved in the death of a trainer and raises evocative questions about the ethical implications of keeping large, intelligent animals in human care habitats. through interviews with former trainers and emotionally charged footage, “blackfish” catalyzed a widespread conversation about animal welfare, transparency, and the role of aquaria in both education and entertainment. 

the documentary’s cultural impact was immediate and far-reaching. following its debut at the sundance film festival and subsequent broadcast on platforms such as cnn and netflix, “blackfish” reached millions of viewers and ignited a viral media movement. attendance and revenue at similar facilities declined rapidly. in 2014 alone, the aquarium featured in the film lost nearly 1 million guests. by 2015, its net income had dropped 84% compared to the same quarter the year prior. 

a sea change for aquarium facilities

but the film’s impact was far deeper than just economic. it fundamentally altered how the public viewed aquariums and zoos, placing intense pressure on institutions to reevaluate their practices and messaging. in some cases, that pressure led to substantial reforms.

in 2016, seaworld announced the permanent end of its orca breeding program and later that year california passed the orca welfare & safety act, prohibiting captive breeding and performances involving orcas. canada followed their lead in 2019, banning the breeding and performative display of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) under the ending the captivity of whales and dolphins act. 

while these efforts were celebrated by many, some outcomes proved more complicated than intended and are believed by expert zoologists to have stemmed from misinformation. for example, the orca breeding ban, though well-intentioned, has drawn criticism from animal care experts who argue that it now prevents these animals from engaging in important natural behaviors, such as forming long-term social bonds and raising calves. in stopping breeding entirely, institutions must now prevent orcas from mating — which then introduces its own ethical challenges. 

similarly, laws that target animal-focused “performances” with the goal of eliminating exploitation unintentionally restrict presentations that offer not only mental and physical stimulation for the animals, but also valuable conservation messages for the public. such policy decisions, though often rooted in compassion, don’t always reflect what is best for the animals themselves. 

“many of the animals that they would love to be released would not survive in the wild,” said eric anderson, doctor of veterinary medicine and director of animal health and welfare at mystic aquarium. “to push for that is not putting the animals’ best interest or welfare first and foremost. it’s putting a belief or a political agenda first […] the animals should always be the highest priority.”

a focus on ‘animal wellbeing’

over the past decade, the association of zoos and aquariums (aza) — the highest standard of accreditation for the industry — implemented substantial updates to its accreditation standards and related policies. the updated guidelines highlight “animal wellbeing” over basic care, strengthen animal ambassador protocols, and prioritize conservation-based public education. in response to the shifting landscapes, aza also prioritized transparency and openness between their facilities and the public — for much of their beneficial work was not being recognized. 

these increasingly stringent guidelines represent significant change from the inside. accredited institutions hold themselves to higher ethical and scientific standards than ever before — distinguishing them from facilities that operate without such oversight. “only about 10% of the licensed animal exhibitors in the united states are accredited by aza,” said jenn dinenna, aza’s vice president of accreditation programs. “it’s a small number, but people are starting to recognize it — and it is a gold seal of approval.”

still, forgotten in the midst of policy debates and animal activism is an undeniable truth: the animals in accredited aquaria are not there for entertainment, but because they need lifelong care. as anderson stated, “it doesn’t matter if it’s a one-inch minnow or a 2,500-pound beluga whale, we will treat them all the same and give them all the same level of welfare.” whether an animal was born into human care, transferred between facilities for specialized care, or rescued for health reasons and deemed unreleasable, aquariums often serve as their only safe alternative. 

for some, a second chance at life

these institutions not only house animals — they rehabilitate and monitor them, continuously  innovating their practices to meet animals’ evolving needs. an accredited aquarium’s value lies not only in the captivating and beautiful experience they offer guests, but also in the quiet, complex work that goes on behind the scenes. “we’re a nonprofit here. we’re not here to make millions of dollars,” anderson said. “our mission is education, conservation, and the welfare of these animals.”

for an animal like charlotte, living at the aquarium is a second chance at life. charlotte is a male (yes, that’s right!) green sea turtle, or chelonia mydas, who was brought into mystic aquarium in 2008 — almost 17 years ago. after getting struck by a boat, he was left completely paralyzed in his hind flippers and with a condition informally known as “bubble butt.” in other words, he has air bubbles trapped in his back end. 

the combination of his new circumstances led to an array of problems regarding his swimming and buoyancy, which is why you can typically only see charlotte swimming ‘face down.’ as such, veterinary and husbandry experts in the aquarium have deemed him “unreleasable.” 

the goal of any rescue and rehabilitation program is to reintroduce the animals back into their natural habitat. most rescued animals are successfully returned to their home in a matter of months after receiving diagnostics and treatments. 

from tragedy to triumph

however, this is unfortunately not the case for all animals. in some cases, the release of an animal is unlikely to be successful due to its physical condition or behavior — and may even be detrimental to that animal’s wild population. in those situations, a decision to deem the animal “non-releasable” must be formally approved by government agencies, such as noaa or u.s. fish and wildlife — ensuring that this designation is held to federal standards and not made unilaterally by any one facility.

“you could release (the animal) knowing that it’s probably going to die, or you deem it non-releasable, and you provide a facility that provides care for it for the rest of its life,” anderson said. “and it becomes basically an ambassador for the species, for the situation(s) that these animals face in the wild, which are often human created situations.” whether it’s entanglement in fishing gear, disease exposure, or boat strikes, every animal admitted into care carries valuable insight into the dangers facing their population.

charlotte is one such ambassador. although survival in the wild would be difficult for charlotte due to his inability to swim and float properly, he continues to thrive in the aquarium today. thanks to the exceptionally attentive and personal care that charlotte receives, he has not only begun to regain some movement in his back flippers, but is in the process of being fitted for a weighted harness that would allow him to swim horizontally, something he has not done in a long time.  

aquarium research benefits: time and access

the work of aquariums like mystic extends far beyond the walls of their habitats. while animal ambassadors such as charlotte offer a visible and emotional connection to conservation for the visiting public, much of their impact occurs behind the scenes — in research laboratories, veterinary clinics, classrooms, and even policy rooms. accredited aquaria are not just home to captivating habitats and care, but engines of science and learning. 

what makes these facilities’ work so critical and unique is time and access. unlike short-term field studies, accredited aquaria offer experts uninterrupted, long-term access to individual animals. this allows for precise monitoring of natural behavioral development, health trends, responses to medication, and reproductive patterns over years or even decades.

these insights, which are substantially harder to obtain in the wild, help researchers understand not only how to treat and support animals under human care — but also how to translate that knowledge into strategies that support their species’ counterparts, non-invasively, in the wild. 

just as importantly, these animals are not passive test subjects. participation in any research or medical procedure is voluntary. trainers work closely with animals over time to condition them to cooperate with non-invasive sampling or wellness checks. but if an animal isn’t in the mood or declines a behavior that day, such as getting into a blood-draw position, they are not restrained or forced. “we’ll just try again tomorrow,” one veterinary team member explained. this mutual trust ensures that animals remain comfortable and respected throughout every interaction.

take, for example, charlotte’s position as an animal ambassador at mystic aquarium. thanks to the first-hand knowledge he provides, researcher ebru unal is developing innovative methods for non-invasive sampling and analysis of environmental dna (edna). this edna is genetic material that animals naturally shed into their environment. 

from a single water sample, researchers can detect which species are present in that body of water, monitor changes in their population size over time, and even identify pathogens like fibropapillomatosis (fp) that threaten vulnerable species such as sea turtles. most importantly, this technology eliminates the need for physical contact or direct interference with wildlife for studies, making it a tool that is both effective and ethical. 

‘accreditation is 24/7, 365’

in other cases, accredited aquaria support field recovery directly. veterinary and ‘animal rescue program’ (arp) staff often assist in wildlife rescues, stranding responses, or develop clinical protocols that are later adopted into practice for wild populations. they also contribute to species conservation by applying the expertise gained from long-term cases to recovery efforts outside the aquarium walls, bridging the gap between rehabilitation and direct ecosystem care. 

however, this work is not unregulated. the association of zoos and aquariums (aza) holds its members to the highest ethical and scientific standards. “all of our institutions must be participating in conservation programs,” dinenna said. “because that’s the real point. zoos and aquariums don’t exist to show animals to the public. they exist to share the love of animals and for us to learn about these species so that we can help their counterparts in the wild.” 

every five years, accredited institutions undergo a full audit of their care, research, safety, and transparency practices. but excellence is expected every day. “accreditation is 24/7, 365,” dinenna said. “it’s not easier just because you’ve been accredited longer… there is accountability built into our process.” however, beyond protocols and checklists, modern aquaria are also redefining what it means to prioritize animal well-being. aza’s standards now require annual welfare assessments that go far beyond physical health. 

“now we’re really, really focused on the individual well-being of every animal in the collection,” dinenna said, noting that facilities are now catching subtle signs of distress or discomfort before they escalate. “they’re identifying small, little things that they notice in their animals that if they went completely unnoticed for too long, could turn into a bigger health concern.” 

the whole picture

anderson described the same evolution. 

“we look at the whole picture – the healthcare, the nutrition, the behavior, the environmental enrichment, the water quality – and wrap it into a whole picture of ‘how is that animal doing?’” he said. “that’s how we’re trying to evaluate ourselves and the situation that each animal is in each day to make sure that we are doing the best we can for them so the animals can thrive.” both experts also explained how they measure each animal’s wellbeing from a set of outputs mainly centered around: is the animal behaving as it normally would in its natural environment? 

this culture of care produces results. sea turtle rehabilitation programs at aza-accredited aquaria, such as new england aquarium, have reached survival rates exceeding 80%.  these rescued animals are not just surviving, they are being re-released and thriving. in some cases, these animals are tracked after release to monitor their success or inform teams in case of any future issues or an untimely death. 

beyond lifelong care, rehabilitation, and research, aza-accredited aquariums actively contribute to species recovery through structured, collaborative programs like species survival plans (ssps), which manage the breeding and genetic diversity of endangered populations across facilities. these programs ensure long-term survival for species that may no longer have sustainable populations in the wild. at mystic aquarium, for example, these animals include african penguins, panamanian golden frogs, and california sea lions. 

additionally, through aza’s s.a.f.e. (saving animals from extinction) program, accredited facilities work together around priority species to combine resources, research, fieldwork, and public outreach. they apply knowledge gained from animals under their care to protect biodiversity at a larger scale. 

together, these programs demonstrate that accredited aquaria are not ‘keepers’ of wildlife. they are structured, collaborative, and proactive pillars of conservation ensuring their efforts are meaningful and measurable. 

another substantial portion of their effort is focused on educating the public on their work, including topics ranging from the biology and nature of the animals to conservation efforts and changes visitors can make in their everyday lives. 

after all, while concern surrounding aquaria following the film was understandable, the backlash undeniably left many people skeptical of all animal care facilities – including those whose missions are rooted in science, ethics, and long-term conservation. however, the distinction does matter. aza-accredited aquaria operate under the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental responsibility, and scientific contribution.

they do not exist to exploit animals for entertainment, but rather to protect species, educate the public, and advance our understanding of their natural habitat. supporting accredited facilities is about recognizing the critical work that happens behind the scenes. to dismiss them entirely is to ignore the lifelines they provide for science itself and the species in their care. 

so what can you do? 

you can begin by being an informed visitor. choose to support institutions that are accredited by aza and, therefore, prioritize the well-being of the animals, transparency, and conservation impact. your support directly helps to fund the critical work that these organizations do. but beyond visiting, stay engaged. attend public lectures, join beach cleanups, take part in citizen science initiatives, or volunteer when the opportunity arises. while these actions may seem small, collectively they sustain the mission of these institutions. 

equally important is how you talk about these issues. in a time where misinformation is rampant, understanding the difference between entertainment-based and ethical conservation facilities is essential. use your voice to advocate for responsible, science-driven animal care — and share what you’ve learned with others. 

in the end, supporting accredited aquaria is about defending the future of conservation. the animals in their care represent more than just survival. they represent stories of resilience, collaboration, and hope. it is with continuous and conscientious support that we make sure those success stories, like charlotte’s, never end. 

the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship program was made possible with support by michael lech, david freeman, and the berl brechner fund.

as a planet forward mystic aquarium fellow, one of my favorite places to visit was the milne ocean science and conservation center’s rehabilitation unit. there, aquatic creatures call this space a temporary home while receiving world-class care and attention.

throughout the summer, i had the pleasure of meeting a wide variety of animals being looked after by the teams at mystic. the milne center also housed our intern office, where my co-fellow and i spent time editing stories between field shoots. for me personally, the rehabilitation space became a quiet place of both curiosity and wonder.

one section of the building is dedicated to newly arrived animals quarantining before joining one of their new mystic homes. 

hidden in plain sight

it was on one special tuesday that i wandered into the room and noticed what looked like an empty habitat — just crystal clear water and fine white sand.

i thought, “is there even anything in here?”

just as my impatience almost made me walk away, a tiny stalk-like creature popped out. at first, i saw only their heads — a pale greenish color with big black-and-yellow eyes. then i noticed others joining the staring contest. some hovered close to the sand’s surface, while others stretched a little farther. slowly, they revealed long, thin bodies covered in delicate black spots.

i was mesmerized. once my eyes adjusted, i realized more than 20 were peeking out at once. 

tiny eels are important for reef systems

a quick chat with the fish and invertebrate team confirmed what i was witnessing: a new colony of spotted garden eels. i was told this species was known for being very skittish, so i stood still to get the best look of them.

native to the sandy slopes of the indo-pacific, spotted garden eels (heteroconger hassi) offer a fascinating glimpse into reef system resilience. they’re known for their distinct burrowing behavior — and, in my professional media intern opinion, they’re just adorable.

naturally, i grabbed my camera and tried to capture the quiet magic of this moment. i thought their unusual look would make for a great video story highlighting the importance of these tiny reef animals.

in the video above, you’ll find zany close-up footage along with five fast facts about this small but mighty species.

the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship program was made possible with support by michael lech, david freeman, and the berl brechner fund.

as a planet forward mystic aquarium fellow, my summer has been spent alongside the teams working to protect ocean ecosystems — from early morning seal releases to editing story drafts by night.

along the way, co-fellow ceci sécola and i’ve been learning how to translate science and data into clear, compelling stories that inspire action. below, i’ve chosen to highlight four days that capture the rhythm, heart and mission of this fellowship.

testing tuesday

we spent the day with mystic aquarium’s research team at the university of connecticut–avery point campus. overlooking the long island sound, the labs hum with quiet focus and salty air.

we shadowed research scientists tracy romano, laura thompson, susan smith, and danielle lavoie. together, they create a dynamic team pushing the bounds of marine biological research. they also helped fact-check much of the science in our summer stories. from analyzing african penguin guano to measuring hormone levels in beluga whales, their work underscores the value of mystic’s animal ambassadors. each animal represented data, discovery, and deep care for its species.

one highlight was meeting the bright students in the national science foundation’s research experience for undergraduates (reu) program. watching them in action reminded me how this kind of work builds the foundation for the conservation wins we do see. getting to meet this cohort of future scientists was a professional and personal delight for me.

working wednesday

our morning kicked off with the videography team. senior video producer elana deslandes-murphy and tom shaw of vantage productions welcomed us on set. they were filming a promotional shoot for mystic’s new educational california sea lion show. watching them capture the energy between victoria shaw, senior trainer in the marine theater, and their lovely sea lions taught me a lot about shot angles — and patience.

that afternoon, we regrouped for an intern seminar focused on ocean education outreach. we swapped stories and brainstormed new project ideas. later, we edited footage and refined our story pitches. these midweek check-ins are where creativity meets caffeine — or, on good days, a frozen del’s lemonade. a true new england staple.

teamwork thursday

our day began super early with our first zooops meeting. held before the aquarium opens promptly at 9 a.m., this monthly huddle brings together all animal care departments. big picture updates, gentle reminders, and collaborative energy filled the room. ceci and i also presented our first batch of fellowship videos. the experience was was both nerve-wracking and energizing.

the day continued at the milne center for ocean science and conservation, where we joined mystic’s education and conservation team. each thursday, we help run outreach programming with campers, and this time we tagged along on a field trip to bluff point state park. there, kids learned about invasive species, tried crabbing and casting, and waded through lessons that hit close to home.

fabulous friday

we ended the week with the animal rescue and veterinary teams — and it may have been one of the most unforgettable days of the summer.

at sunrise, we joined a gray seal release. watching a healthy, once-stranded seal shuffle back into the waves is emotional every time. it’s the kind of moment that collapses months of care into seconds of movement.

later, we shadowed senior veterinarian molly martony on her rounds. from harbor seals to rainbow boas, the diversity of patients kept us on our toes. we even joined a check-up on an anderson’s crocodile newt.  i also saw the biggest frog i’ve ever seen: an african bull frog with the presence of a bouncer and the calm of a monk.

just as we were wrapping up, the day took a turn. an urgent call came in: a risso’s dolphin had stranded in jamestown, rhode island. we joined martony, veterinary technician erica palmer, and the animal rescue team as they quickly responded. these emergencies don’t come with scripts. what i witnessed was instinct and preparation woven together. the team moved swiftly — with care, purpose, and coordination. it was a powerful reminder of what makes this place so special — not just the animals, but the people who show up for them, again and again. that’s the message ceci and i aimed to highlight throughout our fellowship stories.

closing thoughts

this week — like many at mystic — was shaped by conservation, teamwork, and a common goal. it showed me that storytelling is stronger when it’s rooted in responsibility. and that progress for the blue planet doesn’t just happen alone, but through shared purpose, consistent care, and the power of a team.

the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship program was made possible with support by michael lech, david freeman, and the berl brechner fund.

two george washington university students get a full behind-the-scenes experience the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship in connecticut this summer, from feeding beluga whales to learning about the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of abandoned african penguin chicks. 

the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship, which intentionally partners a scientist and a storyteller, challenges students to transform scientific marine research into visual and engaging journalism.

this year’s fellows and storytelling tour guides are dre pedemonte, a graduating senior in english and journalism, and cecilia sécola, a rising junior pursuing a b.s. in environmental and sustainability sciences on a pre-veterinary track.

a partnership of science, storytelling

“they’ll have access to all aspects of our mission, front of house, back of house,“ said allison d. tuttle, chief zoological officer at mystic aquarium. “we’re going to show them everything: how we inspire our guests, how we educate and engage the public, our citizen science efforts, our world-class animal care, and our conservation research.”

the inaugural planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship was jointly announced by planet forward founding director and gw alliance for a sustainable future executive director frank sesno and tuttle at april’s planet forward summit.

the aquarium and the students

the mystic aquarium is a non-profit organization with a mission “to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education and research.” it’s also an active participant in the association of zoos & aquariums’ species survival plan.

pedemonte is a first-generation peruvian-american college student who brings curiosity and creativity to her work. she works across mediums — writing, film, music, and digital media — to explore new narratives about people, culture, and the planet. 

sécola, who grew up in puerto rico, credits her experiences there for instilling a deep passion for marine conservation and a strong desire to engage her community through outreach and involvement. she hopes to become a marine veterinarian dedicated to the care and conservation of aquatic wildlife.

follow along

sécola and pedemonte are embedded into the team at the aquarium from early june through the end of july, reporting weekly on happenings and sharing what they’ve learned, as well as publishing a longer story about the important work being done by the scientists at the completion of their fellowship. 

follow them on planet forward’s instagram and read more here on planetforward.org. 

the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship program was made possible with support by michael lech, david freeman, and the berl brechner fund.

these intertidal objects form an ecological installation that protects eroding shorelines while providing shelter for sea life. designed by object territories, a design firm based in brooklyn and hong kong, the installation is being tested in the waters off randall’s island as a nature-based solution to coastal erosion. the project will soon expand to the coastline off nearby governors island as part of an initiative that will provide entrepreneurs with real-world labs for testing prototypes that address climate-change solutions.

a living lab for testing

the trust for governors island, which operates and manages much of the island, welcomes entrepreneurs to use the 172-acre island and its two miles of waterfront and helps funding innovative projects through its annual climate solutions challenge.

clare newman, ceo of the trust for governors island, says the trust is positioning the island as leader in piloting climate solutions for the new york city region. “let people come and try stuff,” newman said. “you’re not testing in isolation in a lab, but in a real-world environment and you can see how people respond.”

last year, object territories was one of six winners selected for the trust’s challenge on water abundance. in addition to $10,000 in grant support, the winners will have access to the island to develop and demonstrate their projects.

access to these kinds of living labs is critical for object territories, as the firm seeks to improve upon their intertidal objects. their prototypes first came to life in hong kong. the city hired the team, along with several others, to design coastal armoring units and sea wall panels. this effort kick-started their initial research and resulted in two different prototypes that were tested in the hong kong harbor: the octahedron and the rock pool, a miniature tidal pool that siphons water and sea life in and out.

the intertidal objects are a constant work in progress. “each time we try to improve by adding elements, like increasing the surface area with more dents to help self-shade or applying different textures,” said marcus carter, co-founder and architect of object territories.

when the team discovered, for instance, that larger holes made it easy for predators to come pick off baby oysters, they added smaller concavities that oysters can wedge in until they grow big enough to push out and have a better chance of surviving. they also applied different textures to the forms that make it easier for barnacles and algae to attach, enhancing the aquatic ecosystem and adding new voids for fish to lay eggs in.

“we also made sure that the objects could be placed in any orientation, forming a visible, almost gordian texture,” carter said. what stays the same in every installation, however, is the geometrical form, which easily integrates in existing stone sea wall structures.

working with nature, protecting by design

according to the new york city mayor’s office of climate and environmental justice, climate change is causing cloudburst events, coastal storms, and sea level rise to become more frequent and intense. in addition to creating a habitat for sea life, the intertidal objects offer a nature-based solution to help protect shorelines from the devasting ecological impact of coastal erosion and storm surges.

figuring out how to better protect new york city has been part of the public conversation since hurricane sandy hit new york in 2012. flooding became a reality for residents throughout the city and raised the question of how to fortify shorelines in ways that are not at war with nature, unlike the bulkheads or seawalls that have long been used to protect people and property. these traditional concrete structures may address immediate threats, but are inflexible to the faster changing climate and they can cause problems elsewhere, like loss of biodiversity and habitat degradation.

by contrast, the intertidal objects can be integrated into hard existing stone sea walls and promote a living shoreline. “they are only one ingredient in a very layered landscape,” carter said. they add an extra dimension to an existing sea wall, transforming it to a smart structure that not only protects the coastline, but also creates bio habitats. “or you can stack them like lego’s to build an artificial coastline,” carter said.

resilient defenders

providing object territories with access to governors island offers another opportunity: public education. in addition to being an ideal location to situate and experiment with their objects in the water, the island provides ample locations to showcase the concrete forms on land. visitors can see, touch and learn about the forms, which could give rise to potential collaborations with landscape-architecture firms.

the intertidal objects will soon be tested and placed in the existing stone coastline at governors island, gradually becoming camouflaged within and inhabited by new communities of aquatic creatures in the tidal waters of the east river.

the pilot will also monitor the objects on both locations under starkly different water conditions: the brackish water surrounding randall’s island and the faster-moving waters at governors island, closer to the mouth of the harbor. engineered to support natural spaces, the intertidal objects may soon add an essential layer of protection for new york shores, the people, and sea life.

these are the words of sarah stroup, ph.d., director of the conflict transformation collaborative at middlebury college, spoken as she closed out day 1 of the 2025 planet forward summit, held april 17 and 18 in washington, dc. 

hearing people’s stories, through deep listening and by extending curiosity, is a key way to connect with others, help find common ground — and find a path to understanding. and that connection, forged through the power of storytelling, was a theme heard throughout the 12th annual summit. 

more than 300 in-person attendees and students from 50-plus colleges and universities joined planet forward at the george washington university for two days of inspiring talks, invigorating panels, and enlightening workshops centered around this year’s summit theme: “the climate divide: new narratives to transform the crisis.”

the 2025 event was presented in association with the conflict transformation collaborative, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to addressing and combating the increasing levels of divisiveness present in much of the world today. 

stroup and netta avineri, ph.d., both leaders in the collaborative, kicked off the summit by explaining that everyone experiences conflict, but that it doesn’t need to be a scary thing. in fact, stroup said, conflict can actually be productive — if we approach it the right way.

“you may have heard the phrase, ‘facts don’t change minds, stories do,’” stroup said. “this insight that stories can foster curiosity and complexity informs all sorts of interventions, like solutions journalism. if we are able to shift the stories that we tell, we can take a step toward more constructive conflict.”

our panels on thursday brought together students, storytellers, and scientists for discussions about navigating conflict, communicating complex data, preserving and respecting traditions, and connecting with people with different perspectives.

a keynote from environmental filmmaker bilal motley highlighted the importance of citizen journalism and recognizing the value of your unique perspective and voice as an environmental storyteller. 

“use what you have,” motley said. “use what you have and tell these stories … you are the answer.”

thursday’s discussions all had one central idea in mind: conflict doesn’t need to be something that we shy away from, especially if we’re equipped with the tools to deal with it in a productive manner. while many attendees began the day viewing conflict as something to be avoided because it made some feel uneasy, most left thursday’s discussions with a much more optimistic outlook on their abilities to approach it productively and constructively.

during thursday’s programming, planet forward also announced two new student experiential learning initiatives. 

first, a partnership between mystic aquarium and the gw alliance for a sustainable future that will send two gw students to mystic, conn., for an 8-week science storytelling fellowship at the aquarium this summer.

“[the fellows] will have access to all aspects of our mission,” said allison d. tuttle, chief zoological officer at mystic aquarium. “we’re going to show them everything: how we inspire our guests, how we educate and engage the public, our citizen science efforts, our world-class animal care and our conservation research. it’ll be a smorgasbord of elements for them to explore, reflect on and choose from. then, they’ll create a piece to tell the story of their choosing.”

the second is a storytelling expedition to the ted turner reserves in new mexico, where a group of students will join planet forward for five days of honing their visual storytelling skills in the remote and wild landscapes of the southwest.

day 1 of the summit ended on a high as the storyfest winners were announced, each of whom will be joining planet forward and lindblad expeditions on a storytelling adventure to the galápagos islands this summer. 

day 2 of the summit began with an inspiring keynote from renowned climate activist and author bill mckibben.

“the fossil fuel industry has so much money and so much power that they were able to figure out how to keep their business model going even when it became clear that it was ruining the earth,” mckibben said. “in the absence of billions of dollars, the only currency that will work is the currency of movements of getting people together to get things done … we can do that work, but only if we build momentum, and that, at some level, is a process of telling stories.”

mckibben’s talk was followed by workshops that engaged students and attendees on a range of topics from creating careers in a changing climate, to centering cultural storytelling in filmmaking, to presenting data in an easily digestible, audience-first manner.

this year’s summit brought together some of the best and the brightest in the worlds of storytelling, science, and conflict transformation. the two days of inspiring conversations instilled in the audience a renewed hope that we can use our voices to continue moving the planet forward.