Knauss Fellow reflects on past year as science communications specialist

Posted June 5th, 2019 in Education, Fellowships
Katie O'Reilly sits at her desk in a fish shirt, holding fish toys, with "Hi, Skype a Scientist!" written on a whiteboard along with a hand-drawn fish.
Katie O'Reilly participated in the "Skype a Scientist" program and connected with classrooms across the world on October 19, 2018.

Each year, graduate students nominated by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Knauss Fellowship turn in a report at the end of their tenure as a fellow. This year, it was time for Katie O’Reilly—a doctoral candidate at Notre Dame and the brilliant @DrKatfish on Twitter—to say goodbye and reflect on her growth and achievements over the past twelve months.

“In true communicator style, I decided to create a web page for my report, 2018 Knauss: A Year in Review,” O’Reilly said. “This truly amazing experience would not have been possible without the support from all of you: everyone at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the Sea Grant Knauss team, my PhD advisor Gary, and especially my Sea Grant mentor Brooke. I cannot thank you all enough for giving me this opportunity to grow in my career.”

If you want a fun and interesting way to dive into the world of a NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Policy Fellow, experience O’Reilly’s year as a fellow through her visual storytelling in 2018 Knauss: A Year in Review.

IISG Instagram

There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!

Learn more & register at the link in bio.

2 0
Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18063625076281979
There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!Learn more & register at the link in bio.

🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists!
We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.

They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.

Full story at the link in bio.

12 0
Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17925527007208099
🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists! We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.Full story at the link in bio.

Ripple Effects is a collection of 8 activities for grades 6–12 that introduces students to aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.

Through research, reporting, and role-playing games, students will:

✅ Explore how non-native species arrived
✅ Understand why they threaten native ecosystems
✅ Investigate their impact on the Great Lakes

Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Great Lakes Literacy Principles, this curriculum is perfect for engaging students in real-world science and stewardship.

🔗 visit the link in bio to learn more

7 0
Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17951809740076508
Ripple Effects is a collection of 8 activities for grades 6–12 that introduces students to aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.Through research, reporting, and role-playing games, students will:✅ Explore how non-native species arrived✅ Understand why they threaten native ecosystems✅ Investigate their impact on the Great LakesAligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Great Lakes Literacy Principles, this curriculum is perfect for engaging students in real-world science and stewardship.🔗 visit the link in bio to learn more