Alumna Shares Scientific Research at SUU

Published: March 28, 2017 | Author: Lexi Carter | Read Time: 2 minutes

With support from a recently awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship, Claire Cleveland plans to create more science-based outreach opportunities geared toward the general public. A Southern Utah University alumna and current geosciences doctoral student at Penn State, Cleveland is fascinated with communicating technical scientific information to a large audience. To support and share her research, Cleveland will be presenting in Cedar City March 30 - April 1 to students, faculty and the general public.

Cleveland attended Smith College in the early 1990s, where she received a chemistry degree. After college, she worked various jobs in business and management. In 2007 she was working as assistant general manager of Brian Head Resort. Despite a successful career in business, Cleveland wanted more out of life and decided to return to school. Her passion for the outdoors led her to double major in biology and geology at SUU, where she graduated in 2015.

“I had no idea that SUU would be so engaging and offer such a challenging and rewarding developmental experience to me,” said Cleveland when asked why she chose SUU for her undergraduate degree.

As a current PhD student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Cleveland is involved in multiple projects, ranging from intensive research in evolutionary paleoecology to maintaining the SMARTS (Science Made Accessible and Relevant Through Stories) program, a workshop that provides resources to make science more accessible and less intimidating to middle school students.

On March 30, Cleveland will present her research experience and graduate school tips to current students at SUU in the College of Science and Engineering. As an alum of the biology and geology departments, Cleveland has firsthand experience in research and how SUU orchestrates long-term projects among students.

Cleveland also plans to teach an ‘Abstract Writing for Scientists’ workshop on March 31 for students and faculty.

For the general public, Cleveland is hosting a Science Listening Campaign on April 1. This video project consists of people sharing their stories about science and its role in policy. She is looking for stories focused around the impact of science-based policy and how it has affected job stability, sustainable lifestyles, and how science has played a role in the mortal safety of a person’s life.

The story-sharing event will take place April 1 at two locations - The Pastry Pub (86 W Center St) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and at SUU’s Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History (First floor of the Science Addition Building) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come prepared to have your story videotaped.

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