Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Insightful conversations about science, nature, culture, and complex issues in our national parks. Hear the stories behind the headlines. Produced by Park Science magazine, a digital magazine of the National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/parkscience.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ National park science and policy • conservation programs and geologic landmarks • international park collaboration • science communication via rural radio • invasive mosquitoes and Hawaiian honeycreeper protection • barrier-island dynamics, coastal development risksThis podcast features conversations with National Park Service staff, scientists, and science communicators about how research and evidence inform stewardship of national parks and related protected places. Across the episodes, the focus is on the intersection of science, nature, and culture, with attention to the practical realities of managing dynamic landscapes and addressing complex issues that surface in public discussions.
A recurring theme is how science programs and partnerships support conservation outcomes and decision-making. The podcast highlights the ways national-scale initiatives identify and recognize significant natural features, promote geologic and ecological understanding, and connect research to management needs. It also explores how the U.S. national park model relates to international collaboration, describing global connections in park science and how ideas and practices travel across borders.
Several episodes emphasize conservation challenges that require innovative approaches and careful evaluation. Listeners hear about efforts to protect vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems, including applied techniques aimed at preventing extinctions and addressing threats that can be intensified by environmental change. The podcast also examines coastal and island environments where natural processes such as erosion and shifting shorelines can conflict with human development, underscoring both the value and the limits of data when communities face risk.
Another throughline is science communication: how information about parks and research reaches audiences, especially in remote regions with limited connectivity. The show considers how trusted local media, such as community radio, can help translate scientific work for the public and broaden participation in conversations about place-based environmental issues.
Overall, this podcast presents park-related science as an ongoing, collaborative endeavor—spanning geology, ecology, climate and landscape dynamics, policy contexts, and communication—grounded in real-world examples from across the National Park Service and its partners.
| Episodes: |
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A Landmark Program Celebrates a Milestone 2025-Aug-29 18 minutes |
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How America's "Best Idea" Went Global 2025-Jan-15 22 minutes |
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Tuning in to Science: How to Reach Remote Communities through Radio 2023-Dec-29 18 minutes |
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Mosquitoes Are Key to Hawaiian Honeycreeper Survival 2023-Dec-29 23 minutes |
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Swept Away 2022-Dec-30 17 minutes |