Ryan Pickerill

Background

About Ryan Pickerill

I am interested in how science and design can be brought together to get people excited about the natural world and address environmental issues. As the Family Learning Experiences Administrator at the Field Museum, I work to combine education with fun, immersive experiences. These include programs like Dozin' with the Dinos, where guests sleep overnight in the museum. I work with scientists and educators to develop activities and learning opportunities that bring the museum to life throughout the night. As the Education Lead at Burpee Museum of Natural History, I tried to create opportunities for people to learn something entirely new every time they visit, often pulling unique biological specimens from collections to showcase at special events. I was also involved in the reorganization of museum exhibits and resources, as well as the design of new exhibits. In my undergraduate studies, I completed several projects focused on the adaption of ecology to urban settings for environmental and infrastructural benefit, as well as a research project that proposed an opportunity to connect the decline and failure of suburban malls in the American Midwest with reforestation and the forestry industry. As a graduate student, I focused on conservation and restoration as they relate to the places where people live, work, and recreate. Mitigating human-wildlife conflict, reducing the barrier effect imposed by linear infrastructure, and restoring ecological function in urbanized environments have been my particular focus areas.