Portraits of Acadia: Catherine Schmitt

Catherine Schmitt, Science Communication Specialist, stands in a salt marsh. NPS photo by Brady Richards

I joined Schoodic Institute as a Science Communication Specialist in 2018. I have been involved with science in Acadia for more than 20 years.

Today I mostly write about research happening in the park - which is a lot, given the 80-plus research projects that happen each year, and the long legacy of scientific work in the region. The diversity of research reflects the diversity of ecosystems in Acadia, which is why I continue to be inspired to work here. Where else can I write about mudflats in the morning and sub-alpine plants in the afternoon?

Catherine smiles in front of a crowd while holding various charts documenting projections of sea level rise. NPS photo by Brady Richards

I am also inspired by the people, National Park Service staff and Schoodic Institute scientists, and the hundreds of volunteers who contribute to science, all of whom care deeply about this place.

It's important that we share stories of what science is happening in Acadia, who is studying what and why, and what we are learning, especially because so much of the research is intended to inform management in some way. There is also more urgency to communicate, given how quickly this place is changing. It's hard to keep up.

– Catherine Schmitt, Science Communication Specialist

Catherine leads a group of college students on a learning activity at a salt marsh. NPS photo by Brady Richards

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