Stori Oates Email & Phone Number

Juneau, Ak, Us

Juneau, Alaska, United States

IBSS Corporation Contractor – in support of NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Auke Bay Laboratories education and outreach efforts. Develop communications activities and materials to raise awareness and visibility of the National Marine Fisheries Service's scientific mission. In particular, develop social media, press releases, internal and external newsletters, and web content to assist scientists in the Auke Bay Laboratories Division convey their research to a broader public audience. Establish and maintain partnerships with key stakeholder groups, including the fishing industry, Alaska Indigenous communities, local schools, universities, other federal and state agencies, and the general public. Organize and manage annual education and outreach events for Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau and in other Alaska communities in collaboration with stakeholder groups. Organize and facilitate science education and communication workshops for educators. Collaborate with scientists and classroom teachers to co-design place-based culturally responsive K-12 curricula. Co-develop internship opportunities with NOAA scientists and partner organizations for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students and provide support and training opportunities for mentors and interns during internships. To date, I have written 10 webstories/blog posts, co-authored one manuscript, developed or redesigned 10 NOAA Fisheries activities and curriculum modules, led 6 educator workshops, coordinated support and professional development opportunities for 10 mentors and 12 interns, and managed or participated in 45 STEAM events serving more than 3000 students, families, educators, and stakeholders.

San Francisco Bay Area

Designed and implemented the Marin Academy Research Collaborative (MARC), a pioneering program in transdisciplinary education. This two-year program engages a diverse group of high school students in cutting-edge science and engineering research. Students generate a novel research question, conduct a rigorous literature review, develop hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and learn how to present in public and publish their work. Students collaborate with mentors from various institutions (e.g., government, industry, non-profits, universities) to tackle complex, authentic, and relevant issues in contemporary society. Many of these projects have far-reaching implications for local and global communities and improving the world around us. In just five years, the MARC program grew from a pilot with five students to a highly competitive program with 25 applicants for only ten spaces. Responsible for creating communication materials for internal and external audiences, maintaining the program website and student blogs, designing curricula, delivering content, facilitating on-site research, recruiting and managing mentors, and coordinating and publicizing outreach events.

San Francisco Bay Area

Science educator with a proven track record of providing students with hands-on inquiry-based learning and real-world problem-solving collaboration opportunities with constituents in the community. Regularly engaged in professional development to improve outreach, identify areas of opportunity, and implement innovative lessons. Organized and synthesized scientific data and information into student-centered curricula for in-person, hybrid, and remote learning models. Organized and led overnight outdoor experiential field trips. Mentored underserved students of color in the Marin Academy Study Coach Program. Partnered with Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force and River Otter Ecology Project to involve students in community science programs. Courses taught include Experimental Design, General Biology, General Chemistry, Environmental Science, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Independent Research I & II, and Oceanography.

San Francisco Bay Area

Served as public liaison to advance the mission of engaging the community in supporting conservation and restoration by linking river otter recovery to the health of watersheds through education, research, and community science. Worked collaboratively to meet the needs of River Otter Ecology Project members and constituents, established policies and organizational goals for the Executive Director to implement, organized outreach events for the Executive Director and board members to interact with stakeholders, and engaged in strategic planning that encompassed key message development, target audiences, goals and objectives, tactics, and measurable outcomes. Provided scientific expertise and shepherded scientific studies from inception to completion. Supervised field and lab work, coordinated data collection and management, and provided technical advice. Duties also included writing grants and technical reports, giving presentations, training volunteers, and networking with outside agencies and scientists. Developed curriculum and outreach events for the Hands-On High School education program. Engaged underserved student populations in place-based, project-based learning to increase awareness and support of environmental stewardship and natural resource management.

Monterey Bay Area

Designed and led multi-agency research projects focused on key issues affecting marine wildlife in California. Established strong collaborative partnerships with state, county, city, and private organizations and individuals and served as the primary point of contact for stakeholders. Successfully worked with diverse constituencies towards a common goal of improved natural resource management, despite opposing viewpoints and agendas. Regularly led discussions and participated in working groups to gain compliance from individuals skeptical of policies and regulations. Shared results with stakeholders at scientific meetings, in peer-reviewed publications, and through outreach events. Additional responsibilities included developing and implementing testing procedures and protocols for target species, coordinating data collection, data management and analysis, report writing, and creating communication products for stakeholders. Projects included: Risk Factors for Shark Bite Mortality in Southern Sea Otters; Development of a Remote Temperature Monitoring System to Optimize Care for Oiled Sea Otters; Investigation of Mortality Patterns of Southern Sea Otters; Using Thermography and Thermal Microchips to Improve Oiled Seabird Rehabilitation; Investigating Chronic Aspergillus Exposure as a Possible Cause of Gull Mortality at the Urban-Wildlife Interface of San Francisco Bay, Marine Mammal Pathology and Biotoxin Testing for the Central California Coast; Monitoring and Mitigation to Address Fecal Pathogen Pollution along the California Coast.

Monterey Bay Area

Collaborated on various research projects including cyanotoxin transfer from land to sea otters; antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from sea otters; spatial and temporal patterns of sea otter exposure to natural seep and anthropogenic oil sources; wild and domestic sheep health and disease information website. Responsible for writing grant proposals, scientific reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and data collection, entry, validation, and processing. Managed oiled wildlife readiness and response at the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center and was responsible for all supply and equipment inventories and maintenance. During spill events, duties included intake, stabilization, washing, conditioning, and husbandry of oiled birds and sea otters.

Monterey Bay Area

Translated complex scientific concepts into easy-to-understand-modules for a non-biology major student population. Developed and prepared microbiology, physiology, and general chemistry lab activities. Duties included assisting students with labs, preparing selective and differential media, maintaining bacterial and fungal cultures, using pure culture and aseptic techniques, autoclaving, preparing various chemical solutions and reagents, lab safety, and proper disposal of biohazardous materials and chemical waste. Responsible for inventories, ordering, and maintaining all supplies and lab equipment.

Monterey Bay Area

Accumulated 367 flight (in air) hours participating in South West Fisheries Science Center surveys along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Surveys were conducted to estimate population abundance and distribution of small and large cetaceans, pinnpeds, and sea turtles. Trained new observers in data collection and observing techniques, and participated in daily or monthly line-transect surveys as an observer or data recorder.

Honolulu, Hi

Worked closely with National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists and management personnel to coordinate responses to live and dead stranded Hawaiian monk seals (HMS) on the main Hawaiian Islands and Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Oversaw interns, managed HMS health and disease databases, analyzed health data, and prepared samples for analysis. Spent three months at a remote field camp on Lisianski Island to oversee necropsies and collect tissue samples for health and disease studies.

Monterey Bay Area

Worked closely with local agencies to coordinate responses to dead stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in Monterey and neighboring counties. Trained MLML students and volunteers to respond to dead stranded animals and record baseline data. Collected carcasses for future examination, and led necropsies on pinnipeds, small and large cetaceans, and sea turtles. Projects included histopathology of a stranded short-finned pilot whale, and documentation of a Peruvian beaked whale in Monterey Bay, CA (northern-most record).

Master Of Science (Msc), Marine Sciences

Activities and Societies: Beach COMBERS, Wind to Whales Surveys, Elephant Seal Monitoring Program (PRNS)I investigated survival.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Biology, General

Activities and Societies: Environmental Studies Minor, President of Grass Roots Environmental Efforts Now! Club