Project Staff
Nick Hristov
Wildlife Biologist, Filmmaker
Winston Salem State University
hristovni@wssu.edu
Nickolay Hristov, co-PI, has led research teams at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. He has published in the Journal of Mammology on thermal infrared imagery to enhance the understanding of colony size and behavior. Hristov uses cutting edge technologies like motion capture and laser scanning to understand the Brazilian free-tailed bat.
Biologist
Winston Salem State University
allenl@wssu.edu
Louise Allen, Senior Staff, conducts research on colony dynamics at the park. Allen has published on bats’ physiological responses to human-induced environmental change, as well as disease ecology, stress physiology and reproduction in wild vertebrates. She co-leads professional development for iSWOOP.
Martha Merson
STEM Educator, Adult Numeracy Center
TERC
martha_merson@terc.edu
Tracey Wright
STEM Educator
TERC
tracey_wright@terc.edu
Tracey Wright, STEM educator, has done extensive work in professional development with school teachers as well as in informal settings (zoos and aquaria). She has worked on research and curriculum development involving data literacy. Additionally, she has worked on two projects which involve using body motion as a way into learning for visitors in science museums.
Cynthia Char
Evaluator
cindy@charassociates.com
Project advisors include people within and outside the Park Service. Kirsten Leong, Human Dimensions of Biological Resource Management, Sara Melena, Education Specialist, and Tim Watkins, Coordinator of the Research Learning Centers within the National Park Service.
Lending experience and expertise on communicating science to public audiences, we work with science journalist Flora Lichtman of the podcast, “Every Little Thing,” and formerly of Science Friday.
Researchers on informal science learning, Brian Forist, Scott Pattison, and Monae Verbekeare contributing to research on visitors’ interests.