Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2016

AUTHORS: Dr. Stephanie Ogren*,Grand Rapids Public Museum

ABSTRACT: The city of Grand Rapids is evolving and embracing the Grand River that flows through the city center. The Grand Rapids Public Museum with over 250,000 visitors annually, is well suited to inform the public on local and regional watershed research and restoration specifically related to threatened species within the Grand River Watershed. The Museum aims to inspire curiosity and equip the public with information necessary to make informed decisions related to watershed conservation and restoration. Scientists rarely focus on outreach and engagement of the public at large; rather we may give scientific presentations at specialized meetings, publish in technical journals or possibly use blogs. The Grand Rapids Public Museum has developed an interactive and inventive prototype exhibit that focuses on regional issues while demonstrating local socio-ecological connections and current research on lake sturgeon. By providing this learning opportunity the public museum is positioned to expand the perspectives and level of engagement of community members who previously had little exposure or reason to engage. The lake sturgeon exhibit provides an accessible forum that inspires questions and curiosity while informing museum visitors about local watershed issues and research. Along with the interactive display the museum has developed a tour and educational programs that immerse participants within the local connections for this threatened species. This programming translates scientific research into fun and exciting information which allows visitors to establish a connection to their watershed and in turn apply a more knowledgeable and vested perspective when considering decisions regarding the watershed.