Project Dragonfly

08/27/2026

Wrapped up Borneo 2026! Our students worked with local researchers at the Danau Girang Field Centre and dedicated villagers of the Kinabatangan region to become familiar with primatological field methods and their applications. They developed new ways to engage communities worldwide in saving orangutans and other wildlife. With lots of possible field studies to choose from, instructor- and student-led discussions of key course topics were a daily inclusion of this EE, alongside exploration and hiking in the local environment.

Thank you to our instructors and partners for making this EE Summer course possible.

08/25/2026

What does Dungeons & Dragons have to do with ecology? More than you think. Join Kevin Matteson (former Project Dragonfly Associate Director), Rachel Arbor '23, Mike Haughwout '23, and Cassie Klein '23 as they use real-world science and organisms to explain what your favorite D&D monsters are derived from. Check out : https://sites.google.com/view/the-ecological-bestiary/homepage

08/21/2026

Paraguay 2026 crossed off the list! Look at those amazing views and smiling faces. Our students visited this hidden gem in the heart of South America to explore its extraordinary and understudied ecosystems. Working with one of our global partners, Para La Tierra (a grassroots conservation non-profit, founded by a Dragonfly graduate), our students gained a diverse set of skills essential for effective eco-leadership. From assessing wildlife populations to developing public exhibits and fostering local ingenuity, our students had a busy and fulfilling time.

Thank you to our instructors and partners for making this EE Summer course possible.

08/21/2026

As Miami's annual day of giving comes to a close, we wanted to extend our heartfelt appreciation to those who have already participated!

Still hoping to contribute? Please visit the link at the bottom of this post to help further our goal of providing essential student support through expanded scholarship opportunities and new initiatives focused on promoting our students’ growth and development as conservation leaders and professionals. Remember, every gift counts, no matter the size!

Because our students learn online and at field sites around the world, Project Dragonfly envisions a different kind of "move-in" experience. Imagine:
✈ Landing in another country and stepping onto an Earth Expeditions field site – perhaps researching wildlife in Borneo or exploring biodiversity in the Galápagos – where students connect directly with local conservation efforts and where their classroom is the natural world, or
🔎 Entering your new Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) zoo or botanical garden home, not just as a visitor but as an active investigator, engaging in hands-on conservation learning.

These are the powerful "move-in" moments for our students: moments filled with the excitement of new places, the wonder of discovery, and the anticipatory thrill of real-world learning. As our students dive into their conservation journeys, we invite you to celebrate their dedication and help us continue their vital work in conservation education!

https://www.givetomiamioh.org/s/916/22/landing-int.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=17616&cid=33746&ecid=33746&crid=0&calpgid=9087&calcid=18947

08/20/2026

Incredible news! Thanks to your generosity, we're over halfway towards our matching gift goal. Our campaign is all about participation; please join us in giving — any size gift would help! Plus, your gift could go twice as far: the first $1,000 raised for Project Dragonfly during will be matched. Let's make every dollar count for our students. Feel free to share this with others ready to give as well.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/2kzc9ujs to donate.

08/20/2026

Congratulations to AIP graduate RJ Hawkins '25 on his work documenting the first North American river otter in the Bronx in 100 years! Check out the NYT article as well as the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society article below.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/nyregion/otter-bronx-river-nyc.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

A North American river otter has been documented in the Bronx along the Bronx River for the first time in approximately 100 years, WCS’s Bronx Zoo announced today. https://bit.ly/4g6EHdt

08/20/2026

is finally here! Today, we come together and celebrate our students’ exciting "moments" spent this summer at zoos, botanical gardens, and conservation field sites across the U.S. and the globe!

Your gift will directly transform lives while bringing diverse new perspectives and experiences into the Dragonfly community. Just as people working together make a positive difference for the planet, every individual gift, no matter the size, contributes to our collective impact. As we enter our 31st year of empowering conservation leaders, our goal is to inspire at least 31 people to donate to kickstart our next chapter. Even better, the first $1,000 raised for Project Dragonfly during will be matched—meaning your gift could go twice as far!

https://www.givetomiamioh.org/s/916/22/landing-int.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=17616&cid=33746&ecid=33746&crid=0&calpgid=9087&calcid=18947

08/19/2026

"I'm going on an adventure!" - Bilbo Baggins. It is with a sad but excited heart that we bid a very fond farewell to our Associate Director Kevin Matteson. He is off to work in a position in his hometown as Associate Professor and Director of the EcoFarm at Antioch College. Kevin was with Project Dragonfly for 15 years, taught more than 46 classes, instructed or co-instructed 19 Earth Expeditions courses, and taught more than 860 students. And that is just a drop in the bucket of what he has done for and with us over the years. While we don't want to see you go, Kevin, we know that the next great adventure is right out your door.

08/19/2026

What inspires people to give? Well, if you asked Dragonfly's Connie Malone, she'd say it's a thank you to her colleagues.

Connie, the graduate student services manager for Project Dragonfly, donates to Dragonfly annually as part of the campaign, supporting student scholarships and emergency assistance.

Connie's philanthropy doesn't stop there. Over the years she has supported Opening Minds Through Art, the Greg Crawford Miami Spirit Fund, the Hefner Museum of Natural History, and Miami’s natural areas.

“Donations don’t have to be large to count,” she said. “It’s that collective effort that matters. We have a greater impact when we work together.”

Join us for this year's , where you can double the impact by having your gift matched, just like Connie did! Read her full interview, "Supporting the people behind Miami's programs" at:
https://www.givetomiamioh.org/s/916/22/landing-int.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=24797&cid=51228&ecid=51228&crid=0&calpgid=4816&calcid=9345

08/17/2026

“My graduate work with Project Dragonfly has strengthened my practitioner voice and deepened my commitment to community-centered conservation. After graduating, I plan to become a wildlife biologist and rehabilitator and work toward developing a community-based wildlife sanctuary that engages youth, families, locals, and volunteers with endangered species through shared stewardship.” - Kiara Triggs

Last year, thanks to your donations, we were able to award 14 scholarships, support 4 Global Conservation Fellows, and support 3 students with the Dragonfly Emergency Fund. Each contribution goes directly to the Dragonfly Student Fund, and this year donations are going further than ever before.

is only three days away! Every gift counts, no matter the size, and the first $1,000 raised for Project Dragonfly during will be matched—meaning your gift could go twice as far. Additionally, the Miami University Foundation will match gifts from all Miami faculty, staff, and emeriti.

You can donate at: https://www.givetomiamioh.org/s/916/22/landing-int.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=17616&cid=33746&ecid=33746&crid=0&calpgid=9087&calcid=18947