Finding Dragons

Dick Jordan has been a professional biologist and educator for over 40 years, having created several innovative programs to get students engaged in outdoor learning, research, restoration and conservation. Dick has received many grants and awards, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Siemens Award for Advanced Placement and the NABT’s Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. In 2015, he retired from Timberline High School in Boise, giving him more time to whitewater raft, hike, bike and help kids of all ages find their Life Outdoors.

Hannah has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. She has conducted macroinvertebrate research in multiple states and has a passion for education. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Environmental Education in 2018 and has worked in the field since 2015 educating students around the country about the importance of conservation and making a connection to the environment. She loves hiking, photography, and working in her garden.

Kristin Gnojewski is the Community Volunteer Specialist with Boise Parks and Recreation. She has the great privilege of working with volunteers in pollinator gardens, along the Greenbelt, and through community based science programs. Prior to joining the City of Boise, Kristin taught middle and high school science in the Boise area for 15 years. She is passionate about connecting individuals to the natural world through direct outdoor experience and stewardship.

Ethan is currently working towards his PhD through The City University of New York and Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History partner program. His research interests include: resolving the phylogeny of Odonata, the genomic evolution of basal anisoptera, the genomic features of ancient lineages, and the distribution of Odonata throughout urban environments. Ethan earned a Bachelor of Science in “Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology” from Brigham Young University.

Rhema Uche-Dike is a PhD student at The City University of New York and Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. He is from Nigeria, and is interested in dragonfly ecology and evolution.

Manpreet is an Evolutionary Biologist and an Entomologist and her research focuses on insect evolution. She is particularly interested in evolution of insect communities in the Arctic habitats with a special focus on dragonflies and damselflies. Her research helps understand how insects in Arctic habitats have been influenced by the glaciation cycles of the past and how climate change will affect them in the future.