New Website

A couple months ago, my dentist replaced a worn out amalgam-mercury filling with a spiffy white composite that looks and works better, and treats the environment better. Once I got home, the time in the chair and preceding dread faded fast. And so shall it be with EPI’s new website! With new technology and materials we’ve got something that looks better, works better, and will better enable us to affect positive change.

One thing the EPI staff really values—and I know this because yesterday we wrapped up our annual staff retreat—is the innovative and dynamic nature of this organization. We deliver a solid educational service in part because we respond to the world around us with innovative strategies to stay relevant. We’re definitely not a group prone to idleness and decay. Welcome to our latest output!

Since our last site launch (over three years ago), EPI has gone through some significant changes. First and foremost, we are working with a lot of students. In fact more than 3500 students have participated in our programs in the last four field seasons. If you’re one of them, here’s a cyber high-five (from some guy named Rob). Second, our alumni are changing the world around them (Check out http://ecology.ehclients.com/students/testimonials/). Third, we have expanded our programming beyond our core field-based programs, and now offer trainings, workshops, activities and outreach events for our student and teacher communities.

EPI’s fundamental basis is science education. We teach through involving students in real science where they make a difference and collaborate with local people. All of this takes place in some of the most amazing places on earth, like the world’s first national park, the islands that inspired the Theory of Evolution, nesting grounds for the world’s largest turtle, and a place that Jack Cousteau called “the World’s Aquarium”.

The EPI experience is rich and life-changing.

This new website celebrates the impact that EPI has in our participants’ education and their lives. Let me explain very clearly where EPI stands on this: we involve students in hands-on scientific research and conservation; we bring together students from different cultures to meet and learn together; we teach science. We also give students time and space to process and think about these experiences—sometimes through art, poetry, and discussions. The students decide if and how they may apply that learning to their daily lives.

Many of our 5000+ alumni have gone on to pursue careers in science or education, assist on conservation projects in their communities, or make changes in their lifestyle, in response to their EPI experience. These students are making concrete differences in their homes, their communities, and the ecosystems where they live. I think that speaks to the effectiveness –and inspiration—of our programs, our teachers, and the locations where we operate.

Like my new filling, we’re hoping that our new website looks better, works better, and treats the environment better than our old one. It was a lot of work, there were even moments of dread, but it’s almost done and so far, we’re very pleased with the look and feel.

One more thing… As I was leaving his office, my dentist told me that the new filling material was really tough stuff, and so when my bite wasn’t quite lining up right, I had to go back and he took a little off the top. No problemo, and now it works perfectly. We’ll need your help to make sure that’s the case with this new website. Share your stories, tell us what you like, and… if by chance something doesn’t feel quite right, or maybe it’s just plain wrnog—will you please let us know?

Thanks for being a part of our work,

Scott Pankratz
Executive Director