Yellowstone was the first national park ever created anywhere in the world, with a history spanning more than 150 years. And although it remains one of the least human-altered landscapes in the United States, the impacts of climate change are already becoming visible across this iconic conservation area. EPI students learn about this impacts through participatory science while collecting data for ongoing research

For the past three years, Joe has closely observed the flowering process of a serviceberry tree (Amelanchier alnifolia) outside his office. As he explained during the webinar, something as simple as watching leaves and flowers emerge in early spring can be a powerful way to do climate science.

What are the odds? Two childhood friends once traveled to Mexico together on an EPI trip, and years later, fate brought them back together, this time as coworkers. In this interview, they share what that journey meant to them, how their paths crossed again, and what it's really like to work alongside someone who's been part of your story since the beginning.

I am an anxious traveler and an overpacker. I don’t get out of the country much, and I get SUPER motion sick on planes. Despite all of this, I found myself on a flight to Costa Rica in the middle of March. Here’s how it went

Chandra Dunbar and Birgid Niedenzu are bringing the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems into their classrooms. By joining EPI’s professional development, these educators traded traditional lectures for hands-on research in Costa Rica and Mexico. Now, their students are solving real-world problems with urchins and sea turtles, sending engagement "through the roof". Discover NGSS-aligned PD that slashes prep time and reignites your passion for teaching.

Climate change is reshaping life at Costa Rica’s Pacuare Reserve. Rising sand temperatures skew sea turtle hatchlings toward all females, and coastal erosion threatens nesting sites. EPI students witness these impacts firsthand, joining nightly beach patrols, collecting data, and learning how science and conservation practices help protect endangered turtles.

Citizen science is rewriting what we know about Yellowstone’s wildlife. Two groundbreaking studies—powered by data collected by students and volunteers—reveal that bison are ecosystem engineers and that large herbivores defy the old grazer-browser labels. From DNA metabarcoding of scat to tracking bison herds, these discoveries show how community-driven science is transforming conservation and inspiring the next generation of ecologists—thanks in part to the fieldwork of EPI