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 management • geology and landmark designations • global park connections • science communication via rural radio • conservation biology, mosquito control, Hawaiian honeycreepers • coastal change, barrier islands, climate risks, data limitsThis podcast features conversations with National Park Service scientists, program managers, and science communicators about how research and evidence inform stewardship of U.S. national parks and related protected landscapes. Across episodes, the focus is on the intersection of natural systems, human communities, and management decisions, with attention to the real-world constraints of translating data into action.
A recurring theme is how scientific programs and partnerships are organized to protect significant places and resources. Listeners hear about efforts that recognize and support nationally important natural areas, including geologic sites, and how such designations connect to ongoing research and monitoring. The podcast also places U.S. park science in an international context, describing how the national park model and associated scientific collaboration extend beyond U.S. borders through global connections and knowledge exchange.
Several episodes highlight applied conservation challenges where rapid environmental change and introduced threats put species and ecosystems at risk. The show discusses work aimed at preventing extinction of vulnerable wildlife through innovative techniques, illustrating how modern tools and cross-agency cooperation can be used in sensitive environments.
The podcast also explores coastal and island dynamics, emphasizing that landscapes such as barrier islands are inherently mobile and shaped by storms, sea-level change, and long-term geomorphic processes. These stories examine what science can reveal about risk, adaptation, and the limits of prediction—especially when human development and infrastructure are placed in changing environments.
Another throughline is science communication: how information reaches people who live far from reliable internet or phone service, and how community-based media like radio can carry scientific knowledge across large rural regions. Overall, the content blends ecology, geology, climate and hazard realities, policy and program design, and public communication to show “the stories behind the headlines” in park science.
| 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 |