Kayla Coldsnow, Ph.D.

NATURE lab

During the Fall of 2018, I began working with the Sanctuary for Independent Media on their urban ecology initiative, the NATURE lab. Through this program, I helped organize the schedule for a weekly visit from Troy Middle School Students and hosted my own, hand-crafted workshops on topics like freshwater ecosystems, science careers, composting, and waste. It was exciting to bring science education to improve people’s lives and inspire younger generations to pursue careers in science.

Biobus Tool Time

I had the amazing opportunity to work with 4th and 5th graders from the 5 Troy elementary schools during spring 2018. I helped teach them about the world around them. Some days we did hands-on workshops where the students measured pH and salinity, looked at organisms under the scope, or learned how to tie knots like an ecologist. Other days we collected roly-polys and did experiments, or learned how to make zooplankton tows.

Harlem Academy

During the summer of 2017 and 2018, the Relyea lab hosted the Harlem Academy from NYC for an afternoon. I organized the event for 10 7th and 8th graders. The hands-on afternoon included an introduction to the threats to freshwater ecosystems, learning about common organisms and their salinity tolerance, generating hypotheses, seeing where we complete experiments inside and outside, and then sampling a mock experiment. The 2017 students enjoyed it so much that many came back in 2018!

MiSci Science Festival

The Museum of Innovation and Science hosts the Science Festival of the Capital Region every year. In 2017 and 2018, I had the opportunity to represent the Jefferson Project. I brought some cool organisms, different types of road salt, a microscope to look at a diverse zooplankton sample, and a wheel to spin, learn about science, and earn candy! Kids ages 1 to 18 and their parents enjoyed learning about fresh water, the organisms around them, and what humans are doing to these vital ecosystems.

Science and Engineering Fair

In 2017, 2018, and 2020, I served as a judge for the Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair. This event allows middle school and high school students to present the research they worked on in collaboration with a nearby sponsor. The projects range from creating electricity with a potato to investigating microplastics in Lake George to developing drones for silo inspection. Regardless of the project, it is always impressive to see how much kids know and can accomplish.  

Undergraduate Research Fair

The Center for Biotechnology and  Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) hosts an undergraduate research fair each year to showcase the research happening in the building and to encourage students to get involved with research early in their careers. I represented the Relyea lab in 2016 and 2017. I showed students organisms in freshwater ecosystems and discussed what a position in the lab was like during the semester and summer months.

Site Visits

Many grade schools students, local college classes and employees, and other members of the public visit the Relyea lab to see where we complete our research. This gives me the opportunity to effectively communicate my research to a wide range of audiences. The people are always amazed to see the large mesocosm fields and the experimental communities up close.