You’re Gonna Die Out There

An Ultramarathon Support Emu

Hey hey Nature Nerds! This week we're still long-distancing while Jen is on the mainland. But no worries, Jen shares some science news about the largest bat colony in the world and then Megan talks about Kununurra and the tragic, yet inspiring story of Turia Pitt.
Organization to Support: Miriwong Language Nest
http://mirima.org.au/
The Miriwoong Language Nest began as a pilot program in 2013, before being rolled out formally in 2014. The program creates an immersive environment and uses immersion techniques to enable young children to learn Miriwoong and exposes them to new language experiences. It is based on a model developed by the Maori in New Zealand and the Language Nest at MDWg is one of the first to operate for Indigenous languages in Australia.

A Rotating Hide-A-Wall for the Skulls of Your Enemies (or Artifacts)

Hey Nature Nerds! This week, Jen is off island, but we figured it out (kind of) to bring this fun episode where Megan gives you the deets on the Praying Mantis pet Market. Then Jen tells us the tragic story of Michael Rockefeller and the head hunting of Papua New Guinea. Hold on to your heads and enjoy!
Organization to Support:
Wildlife Conservation Society of Papua New Guinea: png.wcs.org
WCS is the longest established international conservation organization operating in Papua New Guinea and has been undertaking conservation work in the country since the 1970s. Today, WCS Papua New Guinea program (WCS PNG) employs more than 60 staff based at four offices around the country. WCS works with local communities on a wide range of conservation issues in a variety of locations spanning coral reefs to mountain rainforests.
WCS PNG’s vision is: “Gutpela sindaun, gutpela solwara, gutpela bus”, which translates to, “Empowered people with healthy forests and seas”. This vision fits within WCS’s global vision which “envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth”.

Extreme Climate Fitness Tracker with Siri

Welcome back Nature Nerds! This week Jen tells us about an amazing 20 pound Guard Cat, Bandit, for Science News. Then Megan tells us about the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster. Bundle up and enjoy!
Organization to Support: https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/
The American Himalayan Foundation was founded in 1981 by a small group of climbers who were drawn to Nepal for the mountains, but returned again and again for the people. They wanted to respond to the pressing problems of this magnificent but very poor part of the world, where many still struggle without healthcare or education, thousands of young girls live in danger of being trafficked, and traditional ways of life are fast disappearing. AHF exists to bring positive, tangible change to people’s lives.
"I don’t believe any nongovernmental organization could possibly do as much, with as little contribution as the American Himalayan Foundation. They are extremely efficient. There is no bureaucracy. There is no waste. And the most important thing is they know the people there and have known them for decades, so there is an absolute perfect efficiency in making the most out of every dollar contributed.”
– President Jimmy Carter

Some Fancy Cufflinks to Store Your Activated Charcoal

Hey all you Nature Nerds! This week Megan shares some not really new-new science news on walking sharks. Then Jen starts off with the story of the life of Elizabeth Blackwell (thanks to listener and Patron, Val Webb, for this suggestion!), and finishes with info on the top 10 most poisonous plants! Enjoy!
Organization to Support: Society of Ethnobiology https://ethnobiology.org/
The Society of Ethnobiology is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the relationships of plants and animals with human cultures worldwide, including past and present relationships between peoples and the environment.
They are committed to scholarly research and to inclusive relationships with communities with whom they work and with colleagues around the world.

Data’s Zip Line ala Goonies

WE'RE Back Nature Nerds! After a loooooooong hiatus we crunched out this episode! We hope you enjoy as this week Jen talks about the re-branding of hornets who commit bee killing and then Megan talks about Cape Disappointment, The Graveyard of the Pacific, and the tragic ending of the SS Valencia. Get your life jackets ready!
Organization to Support: The Maritime Museum of British Columbia
https://mmbc.bc.ca/
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia is on the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, specifically the songhees and esquimalt nations, who have been on these lands and waters for thousands years.
Outreach efforts:
Since early 2019 we have offered free programming to vulnerable and marginalized groups in the Greater Victoria region. We do this with funding provided by Foundations such as the Victoria Foundation and the Hamber Foundation, with operational support from government grants.
Museums have the ability to create a sense of belonging and well being within a community, and more often than not, at-risk populations are the most in need of this. We work with community partners who assist in providing for people’s basic needs, like food and shelter, to deliver our programs and services free of charge to help provide for people’s need to belong in their community. By providing programming and tours to vulnerable and marginalized groups we help people integrate back into the community where they can feel that sense of belonging.

My Humps TM: Pop-Up Inflatable Female Camel

Thanks for your patience, Nature Nerds- travelling and posting is a fun challenge! This week Megan talks Virtual Reality murder, then Jen tells us all about Camels with their lovely lumps!
Organization to support: Wild Camel Protection Foundation
www.wildcamels.com
The sole aim of the Wild Camel Protection Foundation is to protect the critically endangered wild camel (Camelus ferus) and its habitat in the fragile and unique desert ecosystems in the Gobi desert in north-west China and south-west Mongolia. It is the only charitable environmental Foundation in the world which has this exclusive objective.

A Sorcerer of the Maldives

Hey there Nature Nerds! This week Jen tells us about the plight of the Koalas. Then Megan talks the top 5 tsunamis! Thank you to listener, Christine, for this suggestion! <3
Organization to Support: The Pacific Tsunami Museum
www.tsunami.org
Through education and awareness, we believe that no one should die due to a tsunami. The goals of the Museum are to promote public tsunami education and to preserve history. The Museum serves as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in past tsunami events.

Some Glitter Toe Caps for those Murderous Talons

Hey Nature Nerds! This week Megan shares some science news about the tiniest artificial intelligence and then Jen tells us some fascinating stories of "Big Scary Birds!" We hope you enjoy and thank you to listeners, Jen's mom, Julie <3, and Kalene (sp?) and her boyfriend, Chase! Enjoy!
Organization to Support: Bush Heritage Australia
https://bushheritage.org.au
Bush Heritage Australia is an independent not-for-profit that buys and manages land for conservation and works in partnerships with Aboriginal people and the agricultural sector, to protect our irreplaceable landscapes and our magnificent native species forever.
Bush Heritage has Emus on many of their reserves. They’re protecting emu chicks by reducing feral cat, fox and pig populations. They remove internal fences and reduce competition from stock and feral herbivores.

Some RGS Swag

Hi Nature Nerds! This week Jen tells us about the plight of the earth's largest living organism, Pando! Megan then takes us through the life and adventures of Percy Fawcett and his final expedition in search of the Lost City of Z! Thanks to long time listener, Mel, for this suggestion!
Organization to Support: Amazon Watch
https://amazonwatch.org/
Amazon Watch is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of Indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin. We partner with Indigenous and environmental organizations in campaigns for human rights, corporate accountability and the preservation of the Amazon’s ecological systems.

A Good Ol’ MapQuest Map

Hey Nature Nerds! This week Megan talks dolphin urine- fun! Then in preparation for her family trip to the mainland, Jen talks all things Grand Canyon!
Organization to support: Grand Canyon Conservancy@grandcanyon.org
Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, meaning we are focused solely on the park’s priorities as shared with us by the Park’s Superintendent and National Park Service team. This year we celebrate 90 years of protecting and preserving Grand Canyon.