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.

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