Mizzou School of Natural Resources

Our environmental sciences degree in the Mizzou School of Natural Resources prepares students for careers as broadcast meteorologists, water quality specialists, environmental lawyers, soil scientists, ecologists and more. We offer hands-on learning where students practice forecasts in the Weather Analysis and Visualization (WAV) Lab with professional meteorology modeling, forecasting and graphics equipment, and a green screen. Hear from recent graduate Sophie Sallot, B.S. '24, on the value of her degree.

While Missouri may be landlocked, the Mizzou School of Natural Resources is diving deep into ocean research! Michael Byrne, associate professor of wildlife ecology, has been studying shortfin mako sharks — one of the fastest predators in the sea. “I love mako sharks, so I spend a lot of time looking at mako shark tracking data. A decade of satellite tracking data from sharks tagged off the west coast shows what looks like an invisible fence line in the ocean, where they rarely travel south through the North Equatorial Current at around 12 degrees latitude,” Byrne said. That pattern sparked his curiosity. Why would these highly mobile sharks — capable of traveling vast distances worldwide — rarely venture further south in the eastern Pacific? One day, Byrne compared shark tracking maps from NOAA, the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Nova Southeastern University with a map of dissolved oxygen levels. That’s when it clicked. “Mako sharks are the Ferraris of the shark world,” Byrne said. “They are very fast, and they have a high metabolic rate. That high performance comes with high oxygen demands. They are also endothermic, meaning they maintain their body temperature several degrees above the surrounding water. This helps with their speed but could potentially lead to overheating if they stay in very warm water for extended periods of time.” His study revealed that both water temperature and oxygen levels limit where mako sharks can travel. Byrne's research provides critical insights for conservation. Byrne worked on this project with an interdisciplinary team of scientists from institutions around the country including the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Rhode Island. Their work sets the stage for future research on marine life. From the Midwest to the deep sea, #Mizzou is making waves in wildlife research! Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5_BnEig #CAFNRinnovation #MizzouResearch

WHO goes there? 🦉 Students taking ornithology – the study of birds – had a special visit from some feathered friends from MU’s Raptor Rehabilitation Project (RRP)! Volunteers with RRP, Natural Resources graduate student Haley Steinke and Natural Resource Science and Management sophomore Melissa Drainer, led a discussion and showcased educational birds that are part of the project. Our ornithology course is focused on the structure, identification, habits and importance of regional birds, and class visits from RRP gives our students the chance to understand and observe live birds. RRP is a service and education organization of Mizzou College of Veterinary Medicine that focuses on rehabilitation and release of wild raptors. The organization also educates the public with their educational birds, who are unable to return to the wild safely due to various injuries.

Mizzou undergraduates, grad students and post docs can still register for Show Me Research Week! 🐯 Present your work and increase your science communication skills by explaining your project to a wide variety of audiences during your time slot on April 14-18. Registrations close on March 19, so get them in soon! Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gwmHk5HD

We’re one month away from Trivia in the Wild! 🐯 Alumni, students, faculty, staff and supporters are invited to our annual trivia night on April 11 - We’re looking forward to a night of games, prizes and fundraising for student scholarships! Join us at Riechmann Indoor Pavilion at Stephen’s Lake Park – Get your team together and secure your spot today - https://lnkd.in/d6fHwwjx

Time to get outside and get out in the industry! 🏓 Last week, PRST students spent their sunny Friday exploring a new local spot – The Kitchen Grill and Games! At this professional development day, students learned about the process of planning, developing and running this new family-friendly venue from its team – which featured Mizzou and PRST Alumni! After a tour of the recently opened facility – including the restaurant, ice rink and pickleball courts – our students experienced The Kitchen’s fun offerings of outdoor pickleball and games! This visit also gave students a chance to hear about internship and job opportunities at this spot in town.

Check out this spotlight on our Parks, Recreation, Sport and Tourism degree program!

Last week we hosted Career Planning Week here at SNR! ✏️ Staff and guest speakers hosted five career development workshops designed to boost student’s confidence, refine their communication skills and help them prepare for the CAFNR and A&S Spring Career Fair this Wednesday. Our workshops covered topics including building resumes, mock interviews, LinkedIn preparation, and career services and resources available on campus. Throughout the week, we welcomed professionals from around Columbia for all our degree areas, giving our students the chance to network and hear about opportunities in their field! The Spring Career Fair is March 5 from 12-4 PM at Mizzou Rec Center!

Shaping the future of our parks and recreation! 🏕️ Last week, PRST students had the chance to attend this year’s Missouri Parks and Recreation Association Conference & Expo in Branson! Our students embraced the conference’s theme to “Get Out There” by connecting with potential employers, networking with peers from across the state and growing their public speaking skills. The students also facilitated sessions by being room hosts to introduce speakers and topics, and helped put on the Mizzou PRST Alumni Live Auction and Raffle to raise money for student scholarships! Thirteen students were awarded scholarships from the Missouri Parks and Recreation Trust Scholarship Fund at the MPRA Awards Banquet at the conference – Congrats to our students for their hard work and recognition! 

Congrats to graduate student Noah Simmons on being selected for the Mizzou 18 Award! 🏆 Each year, this award honors 18 graduate and professionals students for their collaborations, research and leadership on campus.