Indiana Dunes, Science, and YOU!! Bringing Research to the Public at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Date: April 9, 2015
Contact: Wendy Smith, 219-395-1987

On Saturday, May 2, the public is invited to talk with local scientists, learn about their research within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and spend time with them out in the field! Participants will discover how research is used to solve real-life dilemmas and see how scientists use inquiry in their investigations. They may even try their hands at using scientific tools! “Indiana Dunes, Science, and YOU!” is geared toward individuals, families, and students; and researchers will use language that is easy to understand. Presentations will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center Auditorium on State Road 49 just south of US Highway 20 in Chesterton, Indiana.
 
Featured scientists from Indiana University, Purdue University, and the United States Geological Survey will make presentations on their research and lead field trips highlighting their investigations. Research topics include:

• The Shifting Sands of Mount Baldy
• Pitcher's Thistle: Saving a Federally Threatened Species?
• Plants Projected to Fare Well with Climate Change
• Using Microbiology to Help People and the Environment: A Look at Shoreline Water Quality
  

Following the research presentations, the public will be invited to join scientists in field locations around the park. Carpooling is encouraged. This presentation is sponsored by Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Great Lakes Research and Education Center. Pre-registration is encouraged and space is limited. To register, contact the Great Lakes Research and Education Center at [phone].
 
www.nps.gov/indu

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 407 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.