In the news: Cosplaying for science and AIS prevention

Posted November 1st, 2024 in Aquatic Invasive Species, Featured
Cosplaying for Science

In September, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) team helped plan and run the Cosplay for Science event in Urbana, Illinois. The goal of this gathering was to teach kids and families about invasive species using a Dungeons & Dragons approach. Over 100 attended this first-time event.

As part of the festivities, Karter Burgdorf, IISG AIS outreach assistant, helped teach attendees about the importance of raising public awareness about invasive species.

You can learn more from University of Illinois graduate student Avalon Feiler’s descriptive blog post on the university news site. Here is a sample:

“It’s a blazingly sunny September Saturday afternoon at Riggs Beer Company, a family-friendly brewery located on the edge of Urbana. It’s not surprising to see crowds of families basking in the dog days of summer with their food truck lunches and locally brewed pints of beer. Unexpected, however, are the patrons donning medieval and fantasy garb, accompanied by young children, some in princess dresses and others carrying around foam swords.” 

These aspiring adventurers are here on a quest, recruited to take part in a training regimen to combat the incursion of invasive species from the Feywild, a magical plane that exists adjacent to our own that is full of weird and wonderful wildlife. Or, at least, that’s the lore a mix of Illinois graduate and undergraduate students, alumni and colleagues are presenting, hoping to attract people to a new and unique scientific outreach event.

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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer. In partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant brings science together with communities for solutions that work.

IISG Instagram

Register Now for HASTI 2026! The early bird registration rate expires tomorrow!

We’re excited to be presenting The Watershed Game at the conference. The game is a hands-on activity that helps educators and students explore water quality, land use, and community decision-making.

✅ Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow educators and bring new tools to your classroom!
📅 Event Details & Registration at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17885439465422924
Register Now for HASTI 2026! The early bird registration rate expires tomorrow!We’re excited to be presenting The Watershed Game at the conference. The game is a hands-on activity that helps educators and students explore water quality, land use, and community decision-making.✅ Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow educators and bring new tools to your classroom!📅 Event Details & Registration at the link in bio.

Keeping on top of your farm finances can be a daunting task, but knowing what numbers to track, what the numbers mean, when to spend, and when to save can be critical for the long-term health of your aquaculture business finances.

This webinar series will provide you with an overview of practical information for managing your farm’s finances. All webinars begin at 12pm ET. Registrants will be sent a webinar recording. All recordings will be added to a YouTube playlist on Ohio Sea Grant and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant YouTube pages.

Learn more at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18086606177002403
Keeping on top of your farm finances can be a daunting task, but knowing what numbers to track, what the numbers mean, when to spend, and when to save can be critical for the long-term health of your aquaculture business finances. This webinar series will provide you with an overview of practical information for managing your farm’s finances. All webinars begin at 12pm ET. Registrants will be sent a webinar recording. All recordings will be added to a YouTube playlist on Ohio Sea Grant and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant YouTube pages.Learn more at the link in bio.

Educators—this is for you!
Unlock the potential of Great Lakes education with the latest issue of the Center for Great Lakes Literacy newsletter. Explore exciting opportunities like vessel-based learning, an aquaculture competition, and classroom-ready resources on maritime heritage, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and more!

Learn more at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17992595087736811
Educators—this is for you!Unlock the potential of Great Lakes education with the latest issue of the Center for Great Lakes Literacy newsletter. Explore exciting opportunities like vessel-based learning, an aquaculture competition, and classroom-ready resources on maritime heritage, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and more!Learn more at the link in bio.