This issue includes the following:
Bat Night was a success for education and research
MCICSL participated in national network strategic planning
as well as Summer research opportunitieshttps://digitalcommons.wku.edu/mcicsl_news/1003/thumbnail.jp

Trimboli, Shannon R., Education Coordinator

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Western Kentucky UniversityTopSCHOLAR®MCICS Newsletter Mammoth Cave International Center for Scienceand Learning8-2015MCICSL Newsletter - August 2015Shannon R. Trimboli Education CoordinatorWestern Kentucky University, shannon.trimboli@wku.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/mcicsl_newsPart of the Animal Sciences Commons, Forest Sciences Commons, Geology Commons,Hydrology Commons, and the Plant Sciences CommonsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in MCICS Newsletter by an authorizedadministrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact todd.seguin@wku.edu.Recommended CitationTrimboli, Shannon R. Education Coordinator, "MCICSL Newsletter - August 2015" (2015). MCICS Newsletter. Book 2.http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/mcicsl_news/2Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and LearningMammoth Cave National ParkWestern Kentucky UniversityAugust 2015 HighlightsBat Night was a success for education and researchSaturday, Aug. 29, was our 5th annual Bat Night celebration at Mammoth Cave National Park. The daylong event featured display tables and Jr. Ranger activities during the day and demonstrations of scientifi c research methods in the evening. Over 700 people joined us throughout the day to learn about bats, how scientists study bats, and current bat research at the park. That number is up by over 100 people from last year.The mist netting activities in the evening caught 23 bats representing 8 species, including 2 federally listed species. All of the data from the captured bats will be submitted to the Southeast Bat Diversity Network for their Fall Bat Blitz. A researcher from Western Kentucky University also collected hair samples from the captured bats. The hair samples will be analyzed for mercury as part of an ongoing research project. We want to say a huge thank you to all of the volunteers, researchers, visitors, and staff who contributed to making the event a phenomenal success. We had approximately 40 volunteers, researchers, and NPS / MCICSL staff working the event. In addition to the individual volunteers, approximately 8 organizations, agencies, or universities were represented by those working Bat Night activities. Bat Night is defi nitely a team effort and we couldn’t do it without everyone’s help.MCICSL participated in national network strategic planningMCICSL is part of the national network of Research Learning Centers located within the National Park Service. Representatives of the different Research Learning Centers met in Washington, D.C. Aug. 18-20 to review and approve the network’s new Strategic Framework. Rick Toomey, MCICSL’s Research Director, represented MCICSL. The NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Director and the NPS Associate Director of Interpretation and Education also attended the meeting.MCICSL Education Coordinator graduates from WKU Staff Leadership InstituteMCICSL’s education coordinator position is a WKU professional staff position. Shannon Trimboli, MCICSL’s education coordinator, participated in this year’s WKU Staff Leadership Institute which met once a month from Jan. through Aug. Shannon graduated from the program on August. 19.Summer research season continuesA sample of the many research projects occurring at MCNP this month:• Fall population survey of bats• Exit counts of bats• Condition assessments of bats preparing to go into hibernation• Collecting bat hair for mercury analysis• Mast surveys of hardwood trees• Restoration of saltpeter artifacts • Radio tracking of northern long-eared bats • Determining cave water discharge rates • Foraging of bats in burned and unburned plots • Tick population and disease study • Insect pollination and herbivory of 9 native plant species • Monitoring E. coli and other bacteria in cave water• Cave surveying and mappingFollow our activities on social media.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mammoth-Cave-International-Center-for-Science-and-Learning/842046972539082In the News:Bat Night celebrates bats and bat research August 29 – Mammoth Cave National Park, Aug. 17http://www.nps.gov/maca/learn/news/bat-night-2015.htmGo batty at Mammoth Cave’s annual Bat Night – Bowling Green Daily Times, Aug. 18http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/go-batty-at-mammoth-cave-s-annual-bat-night/article_8dc09e8c-5507-50a9-adb7-c3b7d79080c9.htmlScientists monitor bat health – Glasgow Daily Times, Aug. 31http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/scientists-monitor-bat-health/article_cfe99f3a-5062-11e5-8c79-1b1a8e58aa2c.htmlThey’ve got a bat reputation – Glasgow Daily Times, Aug. 31http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/they-ve-got-a-bat-reputation/article_5cf5c4bc-5063-11e5-b692-87e23968d27c.htmlJob announcement:We are looking for 4 interns to help us monitor Mammoth Cave National Park’s winter bats. More information about the positions and how to apply can be found at: http://www.thesca.org/serve/position/winter-bat-assessment-interns/po-00690659.141920212223Save the dates:Sept. 14, 2015: Deadline for submitting abstracts for the National Cave and Karst Management Symposiumhttp://www.cave-research.org/NCKMS2015/callForPapers.htmlOct. 19-23, 2015: National Cave and Karst Management Symposium, Cave City, KYhttp://www.cave-research.org/NCKMS2015/index.html

MCICSL Newsletter - August 2015

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MCICSL Newsletter - August 2015

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