Indiana Academy of Science

06/11/2026

Welcome, Jennifer! 💙
As our new Academy President, Jennifer Kowalski, Ph.D. brings the kind of love for science that started in a high school biology classroom and never stopped growing. A Biological Sciences Professor at Butler University, she's spent her career advancing discovery and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

From joining in 2011 to earning the IAS Fellow distinction and serving across multiple committees, Jennifer has been showing up for this community for more than a decade. We can't wait to see where she takes us next.

We sat down with Jennifer to hear about her path into science, her vision for the year ahead, and what she'd tell any Indiana scientist who's never heard of IAS.
👇 Learn more about Jennifer in her own words below
🔗 Read Jennifer's welcome letter → bit.ly/ias-president-2026

06/10/2026

The 2026 is NEXT SATURDAY (June 20) at Harmonie State Park and sponsorships are now open! 🌿 Every year, 100+ scientists, students, and volunteers come together to document Indiana's biodiversity.

Your support helps make that happen.

👇 Explore sponsorship opportunities starting at just $25+
🔗 Learn more and lock in at bit.ly/BioBlitz26-Sponsor

06/05/2026

Dinosaurs ruled the Jurassic...but what lived in their shadow? 🦕🦖

Join us next Friday (June 12) for Science With a Twist | Clues from the Past: Fauna of the Jurassic Mile, where paleontologists Dr. Joseph Frederickson and Laura Rooney from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis give us a first look at the fauna emerging from one of North America's most significant fossil sites: the Jurassic Mile.

🗓 Friday, June 12 | 6–8 PM
📍 Krannert Hall, Indianapolis
🎟 Free for IAS members | $5 for non-members
🍻 First drink's on us! (but only if you register in advance)
🔗 Register at bit.ly/SWAT-June2026

ℹ Science With a Twist (SWAT) is a casual, monthly science + networking event featuring short, accessible talks followed by open discussion. No background in science required...just curiosity!

06/04/2026

Thank you, Luis! 💙
As Academy President this past year, Luis A. Palacio brought the same energy he brings to everything—a deep commitment to science, education, and opening doors for the next generation.

From student member to lifetime member, his journey with the Indiana Academy of Science spans more than a decade of showing up for this community.

We're grateful for your leadership, Luis, and we know your impact—in the Academy and across Indiana's science community—is far from finished.

Drop a thank you in the comments and help us send Luis off right. 👇

06/04/2026

This is exactly the kind of work our Indiana bioinventory grant exists for. The Central Indiana Land Trust's native bee survey turned up a rare, potentially federally protected species—twice. We're proud to help make that possible through our partnership with the Indiana Land Protection Alliance - ILPA. 🐝

Learn more about our grants at indianaacademyofscience.org/academy-grants

05/29/2026

Congrats to our 2026 INSPECT Fellow Annika Jorgensen! She has been placed at the Indiana State Department Office of Energy Development.

She is a second year PhD student at IU Bloomington studying geochemistry and paleoclimate in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. Her research aims to reconstruct various aspects of the water cycle 50 million years ago to better understand environmental responses during periods of high CO2 concentration. Additionally, Annika is working towards a PhD minor in climate policy as she am passionate about bridging scientific research and evidence with policymaking.

Congratulations to all of our INSPECT Fellows!

05/22/2026

Did you know Indiana is home to ~450 native bee species?! 🐝 We're excited to partner with Indiana Native Plant Society and Central Indiana Land Trust on a bioinventory grant supporting native bee survey work at the one-of-a-kind Betley Woods preserve.

Check out the article below to learn more 👇

Have you been out for a hike at this beautiful preserve and come across a pair of hanging wooden boxes with tubes stuffed in them? Maybe you thought, “What the heck is going on here?” Well, you’re in luck, because the answer is simple. Bees! I would venture to say that the first image conjured

05/21/2026

Save the date for next year’s annual meeting!

05/12/2026

Congrats to our 2026 INSPECT fellow, Sarah Seto!

They are an ABD PhD candidate in Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, with a focus on child development, family communication, and community based research.

“This fellowship represents an exciting opportunity to learn how scientific evidence can shape state level transportation and safety policies, and to build skills in legislative engagement and interagency collaboration. I am especially looking forward to contributing to work on public safety and behavioral research. I’m attaching my personal statement from the original application as well.”

Stay tuned for more INSPECT fellows!