Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D

conservation educator, carnivore ecologist, melts in hot weather, mad baker, the kids are now in charge, she/her

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Looking forward to sharing my work with a new audience!

[NLRA @NewfoundRegion]

We're co-hosting another Red Barn talk tonight with @nhaudubon at 7pm. @MirkaZapletal will talk about her work with carnivores and climate change! Parking at Ash Cottage. Please note the Red Barn is now a private residence, there is NO bathroom access. https://t.co/mjWXxZGOqa

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Before this crow threw a big enough fit to force the eagle out of the tree, it yelled, dive bombed, and (something I haven't seen before) pecked REALLY LOUDLY on the branch right above the eagle's head- @corvidresearch is that a common behavior?

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

@katrina_hucks Congratulations!

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Really excited to announce that, after sooooooo many years, I passed my dissertation defense today! I know things about carnivores and rodents in coastal Louisiana 🙂

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

@Matt_Postler As I recall, a compelling argument for his inclusion in my curriculum- that was a great presentation :)

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

@kuintzle Still in final dissertation editing, but 1st baby after field work ended, 2nd almost 3 years later- I started my PhD at 35, so both pregnancies 'geriatric'. I felt like every time I brought #1 to work, lab, or a conference, I was taking a stand. Worth it, but so difficult.

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

@hood_naturalist Red-breasted nuthatch

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

I have watched 'The Dance of the Hours' from Fantasia so many times, and I just now realized that the ostriches are male

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Just back at my desk after giving the afternoon star show in the planetarium- there won't be good viewing tonight, but hopefully the audience can get outside in a few days to see the real night sky instead of a projection #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Just did some "quality control testing" of our shuttle lander simulator- you know, so it's working perfectly for guests ;) I can confirm that the narrator is still a bit harsh if you waffle on the landing... #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Rainy day so we should be relatively busy on a day we're open to the public- this is the sight that greets me when I go in to work #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Just taught one of our semi-monthly programs for home schoolers- we're learning about the Earth's atmosphere and I used this cool @NWS activity drawing isobars on clear tray lids to help them visualize things in 3-D (remote viewing made things tricky) #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Yup, still counting plant species, but it's going faster now that I am in year 50 of the model- some of my study sites will just be water at that point.. #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Woohoo!

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

More counting modeled plant species this morning, but at least I'm on a different scenario- this one represents the best case in Louisiana's 2017 coastal master plan #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Next week I'll be talking at @ScienceCenters about @msdiscoverycntr's virtual celebration of women in STEM as part of an @IfThenSheCan grant- Got to get my slides ready! #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

New educator starts today, so I'm ready for her orientation... remotely. It's a little weird training someone for a museum outreach position like this, but we're pivoting as we can #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Spending the next few hours counting plant species modeled in my study sites, so this is my view #ScienceAThon

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Break time! About to switch between administrative work and GIS mapping, so I'm stopping to smell the cookies- I find my brain transitions better between big tasks if I have some down time in between- plus my tummy thanks me every time 😉 #ScienceAThon #dayofscience

[Mirka Zapletal, Ph.D @MirkaZapletal]

Working to include more diverse presenters in our monthly webinar series and just scheduled our new awesome education specialist to talk about her research- want to know more about jumping earthworms, anyone?! 😁 #dayofscience #ScienceAThon