Project Dragonfly

06/18/2026

Calling all Dragonflies to let us know if you'd like to join us in Winter 2027 for The Bahamas EE course!

That's our Bahamian conservation partner and expert Ancilleno "Leno" Davis trumpeting a large conch shell in celebration of learning, collaboration & conservation. Thanks to GFP student Julia Grasso for capturing the special moment!

Science and Perspective

06/17/2026

Jessica Ullyott, a graduate from the Advanced Inquiry Program and founder of Nature Needs SD, has officially earned the unique designation as an official “Clean California Community” from Caltrans’ Clean CA initiative. The designation reflects Jessica's role as a leader in California's Zero Litter movement to keep all parts of the state as clean, healthy, and beautiful as possible.

Jessica says, "Project Dragonfly helped to prepare me in my ability to create Nature Needs SD. Now I have rallied hundreds of volunteers and neighbors to implement an array of long-term, zero-litter policies in support of litter prevention, beautification, and environmental enhancement."

Congratulations!

06/17/2026

Sharing this from our AIP partner at Missouri Botanical Garden, happy pride!
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that the Greek goddess Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the Olympian gods? This , we can't help but to fawn over our previous blooms of irises and their connection to Greek mythology! 🌈

While the irises are no longer blooming, you can see more colors of the rainbow at Pride Night at Patterns in Nature: LightForm and learn from local organizations throughout the evening. ✨

⭐ Pride Night at Patterns in Nature: LightForm
🗓️ Thursday, June 18 from 6–10 p.m.
🔗 Link in bio to learn more

📸 Karen Fletcher, Tom Incrocci, Nathan Kwarta, Claire Cohen

06/16/2026

06/15/2026

When Kristi Grove took her second Earth Expeditions course to Borneo, she had no idea it would develop into a multi-year project on the Malaysian "Mystery Monkey".

Kristi Grove, now a Global Field Program graduate, who works as a research assistant, had no idea how fascinated she would become with this mystery monkey, which may be a hybrid between the proboscis monkey and a silvery langur. Now almost two years later, Kristi is headed back to Borneo to collect f***l samples, hoping to conduct DNA analysis and solve the mystery!

Learn more about the project: https://youtu.be/-s_xozBZimA?feature=shared

06/12/2026

This week, we're revisiting a Dragonfly Conversations podcast episode with GFP graduate, Dr. T'Noya Thompson. In this episode, T'Noya explains how she transformed her lifelong love for the ocean into a career of deep impact and what inspired her to take her education to the next level with a PhD.

Link in our bio! Check out the podcast on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, or read about it on the Dragonfly Journal: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProjectDragonfly and https://sites.miamioh.edu/dragonfly/dragonfly-conversations/

06/11/2026

YES! We join our friends at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance in being a proud ally to the LGBTQIA+ community and support inclusivity for all! Happy Pride! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
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"At Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, we see every day how diversity helps ecosystems thrive. Just as healthy ecosystems depend on a variety of species working together, strong communities grow when everyone feels welcomed, valued and supported.

As a proud supporter of Denver's LGBTQIA+ community, we're honored to be a Zoo For All. We strive to create a place where everyone can connect with wildlife, nature and each other—not just during Pride Month, but all year long.

Happy Pride from DZCA! 🌈✨"

06/11/2026

Congratulations to GFP graduate Aimèe Henderson, who co-authored the paper, "Evaluation of a field method for qPCR analysis of toxigenic cyanobacteria." The paper, published in Harmful Algae, examined the use of advanced genetic technology in a field setting, as eDNA and genetics are becoming standard conservation practice.

You can read the article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988326000211

06/09/2026

Where are they now, part 3! We hope you're enjoying this series! Comment below who you want to see next ⬇⬇

06/08/2026

Check this out! Former AIP director José Pareja ran into some Dragonflies at the Boston New England Aquarium. Graduates Charlotte Clark '24, Kristen Luise '25, and current student Sarah DiCarlo work full-time at the Sea Turtle Hospital, where they rehabilitate sea turtles.

How awesome it is to see current and past Dragonflies connecting all across the world!