Network for Good
Memes can be used for good – in this case, for educating people about conservation through research, writing, and photography – so seize the memes for conservation
Proposal Summary
This project will fund my research, writing, and photography focused on conservation issues in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). With a background in environmental planning, the Endangered Species Act, and conservation policy, I aim to produce a series of in-depth conservation articles accompanied by professional photography. The primary barrier to completing this work has been time and financial resources.
Project Plan
If funded, I will spend five to six weeks in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem between May 2026 and early 2027. The plan is to complete three field visits of approximately two weeks each, scheduled across late spring/early summer, fall, and winter. This seasonal approach will allow me to document ecological conditions, wildlife, and land use issues throughout the year while conducting interviews with scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and photographers working in the region.
All funds will be used for travel, lodging, and field expenses.
Project Outcomes
The goal is to produce six in-depth conservation articles (two per season) focused on major conservation and public lands issues in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the American West. These articles will be donated to conservation organizations and publications working to protect western landscapes and wildlife. Short-form articles and updates will also be published throughout the research process on my website and across social media.
In early 2027, I will also produce a final photographic artwork representing the project and the 6529 community that supported it, and this will be donated to the 6529 art collection.
Research & Interview Network
Planned interviews and collaboration will include journalists, renowned wildlife photographers, conservation organizations, environmental law experts, and wildlife biologists working in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the American West. Feel free to contact me for a specific list of interview targets, as well as symposiums, conferences, and forums I will attend throughout the next year.
Research Topics
Key topics may include:
- Conservation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- Public lands use and protection
- Habitat connectivity and wildlife migration
- Private land conservation incentives
- The Endangered Species Act in the American West
- Water scarcity, wetlands, and western waterways
- Chronic Wasting Disease and ecosystem impacts
- Predator conservation and public perception (wolves, bears, and other predators)
- Lost keystone species in western grasslands ecosystems
- How the 6529 funding model supported conservation work
Timeline
Six total articles are proposed, with tentative deadlines:
- August 1, 2026
- December 1, 2026
- April 1, 2027
Each article is estimated to require approximately 20 hours of research and 10–20 hours of writing, in addition to field photography and editing time.