This year, the National College Sea Grant Program is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, and during the month of April we, along with the 32 other programs, are reaching out to our former (and current) Knauss Fellows to find out how their experience has shaped their career and impacted their lives.

So what better way to start then by chatting with our first-ever fellow, Molecular Ecologist and Fish Conservation Geneticist (and University of Illinois alumnus!) John Epifanio.

 

What do you remember most about your fellowship time?

While the fellowship really helped me in my career by affording me a more realistic view of how policy is developed, there are a few less formal aspects of my fellowship year that remain most memorable.  First, I was genuinely fortunate to work for U.S. Senator John H. Glenn on Great Lakes issues.  To work for an American hero in itself is pretty neat.  He was in every way, the “real deal.” More importantly, the experience taught me a great deal about how public stature and personal capital can be used on behalf of a pretty worthy causein this case, the Great Lakes ecosystem.  Second, I met my future spouse through the Knauss Fellowship program (she and I were both part of the class of ’90).  I like to think that in this regard, the fellowship keeps on paying dividends. Last, I developed a handful of long-standing friendships that have endured the years and distance.

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What was the most useful skill or knowledge that you got from the experience?

I think the most useful skill I received from the fellowship was to focus the way I write and communicate complex issues.  As scientists we are often trained to exhaustively cover a topic an inch wide and mile deep.  In working with policy, this level of coverage is a luxury that demands distilling an entire body of literature into a single bullet point on a memo (Oh, and by the way, the boss wants it yesterday!).

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How has it played a role in your career or your life?

In many ways, the fellowship is a bit of an exclusive club.  I mean this not in a snooty way that results from some greater virtue or qualification on my part, but rather in a way that having been part of the fellowship program carries a bit of cache.  When I meet others who have been in the program, there is an immediate bond and acknowledgement that we were really part of something speciala unique opportunity and sideline pass for the total “D.C. experience.”

 

 

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🌊 Boost Your Great Lakes Literacy in 3 Easy Ways!1️⃣ Read the Great Lakes Literacy Principles2️⃣ Join a Sea Grant professional learning event3️⃣ Explore Great Lakes educational resources📬 The summer edition of the Center for Great Lakes Literacy newsletter supports all three—and more!Perfect for educators, environmental leaders, and curious minds.👉 Subscribe today and dive into a world of Great Lakes learning: https://conta.cc/3ZtrIKc or the link in bio.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your teaching skills and connect with fellow educators! Join us for a two-day, water-themed workshop on August 8-9, 2025, at the Dunes Learning Center located in Indiana Dunes National Park. Open to all 5-12th grade formal and non-formal educators, this event offers a chance to explore the natural world, network, and receive exclusive access to the newest Project WET Educator’s Guidebook: Water in Earth Systems.The registration deadline is July 18th.Learn more at the link in bio.
📣 Aquaculture Teacher Workshop – June 2025🗓️ June 26–27, 2025📍 Purdue University – John S. Wright Forestry Center🕐 Starts June 26 at 1 PM | Ends June 27 at 4:30 PM🌿 Optional Pre-Tour: June 26, 10:30–11:30 AMExplore Aquaculture & Aquaponics in Action!Perfect for science teachers looking to bring hands-on, real-world STEM into the classroom.What’s Included:✔️ Facility tours at Purdue & nearby✔️ Build-your-own aquaponics system (FREE to take home!)✔️ Hands-on labs & classroom integration ideas✔️ $250 stipend for travel or classroom supplies✔️ Open to formal and non-formal educatorsLearn how aquaculture is a powerful tool for engaging students in science, sustainability, and food systems!Spots are limited – register early!Learn more at the link in bio.
IISG is hiring a part-time pollution prevention outreach assistant. IISG’s pollution prevention team addresses water quality issues affecting the Great Lakes coasts and the inland waters of Illinois and Indiana, specifically focusing on contaminants of emerging concern like pharmaceuticals, microplastics and marine debris, and PFAS. This outreach assistant will support the pollution prevention team by developing outreach activities and engaging with communities to share that knowledge.Learn more and apply at the link in bio.
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