Psi Beta National Honor Society’s Jaye Van Kirk recently participated in an outstanding global program. Van Kirk, a former National President of Psi Beta’s board of directors, took part in graduate studies in Australia this past summer through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. Van Kirk of San Diego, CA, studied coral reef ecology and the conservation of marine systems along the Great Barrier Reef.

Van Kirk is a graduate student with Miami University’s Earth Expeditions, a global program offering graduate courses to people from all disciplines. The program combines web-based learning with field experiences in 15 countries throughout the world. Inspired by her work in Australia, Van Kirk is now conducting a semester-long research project.

Since the program began 10 years ago, Project Dragonfly has engaged more than 1,700 people in firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas. New in 2016 are courses in Paraguay and Galapagos. Dragonfly is located in the department of biology at Miami University, a state university in Oxford, Ohio. Miami was established in 1809 and is listed as one of the eight original Public Ivies.

Like Project Dragonfly on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PrjDragonfly ^[1].

The deadline to apply for 2016 courses is Jan. 28, 2016, at http://www.earthexpeditions.org/15-16_News ^[2]

For a photo of Van Kirk in Australia or additional media information, please contact:

Mary Jo Lahrmann
Project Dragonfly, Dept. of Biology
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056
lahrmamj@miamioh.edu ^[3], (513) 529-8573 ^[4]