DRI / DIRECTORY / MEGHAN COLLINS
Meghan Collins Profile Photo
Meghan Collins [she/her]
Associate Research Scientist, Science Communication
E-Mail 
Meghan.Collins@dri.edu
Campus 
Reno Campus
Full Resume / CV 
Download
Division 
Earth and Ecosystem Sciences

I joined DRI in June 2015. There are two dimensions my work: the first is to meaningfully translate the results of DRI science outwardly, and the second is to create ways to involve people in DRI science. My work is synergistic with faculty in many fields, and I look for ways to elevate science and engage students and community members meaningfully in our work through internships, citizen science, and other immersive experiences.

As part of my science communication efforts, I co-host the Science Distilled lecture series in collaboration with the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. I also lead the engagement dimension of citizen science programs including Mountain Rain or Snow,#Ashfall Wildfire, andStories in the Snow. I havealso been involved as an educator/science communicator in a range of other programs, including Native Waters on Arid Lands and microplastics research program at DRI.

My education and professional experience is interdisciplinary. My undergraduate and Masters degrees are in environmental science, emphasizing science communication and policy.I enjoy teaching at the community college level, and I am passionate about fostering a stronger culture of mentorship at my research institution. For the last two years, I have chaired DRI’s committee on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility.

Keywords

Science communication; community/citizen science; research-driven development of communication tools; education & workforce development; and inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA)

 

Publications
2023
Collins, M. J., Jennings, K. S., Arienzo, M. M., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A. (2023). Community Observers’ Distinct Role in Advancing Meteorology and Climate Science, Sixth Oregon Climate Assessment, Corvallis, OR. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute: Oregon State University, https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1161

2022
Harrold, Z., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Davidson, J. M., Bai, X., Sukumaran, S., Umek, J. W. (2022). A Peristaltic Pump and Filter-Based Method for Aqueous Microplastic Sampling and Analysis, ACS ES&T Water, 2 (2), 268-277, American Chemical Society, 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00270

2021
Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K. (2021). Enhancing Engagement of Citizen Scientists to Monitor Precipitation Phase, Frontiers in Earth Science, 9, 68

2020
Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J. (2020). Tahoe Rain or Snow Citizen Science Precipitation Phase Data, Mendeley Data, 1, 10.17632/gfkkvvm7w8.1

2019
Lambrecht, K., Hatchett, B. J., Walsh, L., Collins, M. J., Tolby, Z. (2019). Improving Visual Communication of Weather Forecasts with Rhetoric, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0186.1

Collins, M. J., Schumer, R., Peterson, B. (2019). DRI Cybersecurity Internship: Final Report 2019, Final grant report prepared for the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology.

2018
Collins, M. J. (2018). Evaluation of the Faculty-Faculty Research Partnership Program. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, DRI Publication No. 71001.

Collins, M. J. (2018). Evaluation of the Force of Water – Terminal Watersheds program, Grant Report submitted to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

2013
McGinnis, M., Collins, M. J. (2013). A race for space: Science, values, and aquaculture planning in New Zealand, Coastal Management, 41 (5), 401-419

2011
McGinnis, M. (Ed.) Collins, M. J. (2011). The role of marine science and scientists, In Oceans Governance: The New Zealand Dimension: Wellington, New Zealand

Conference Proceedings
2023
Collins, M. J., Tolby, Z., Lambrecht, K., Wadhwa, I., Hatchett, B. J., Heggli, A. E., Olman, L. (2023). Advancing probabilistic forecast communication: A partnership with five Western US NWS forecast offices for improved visualizations and graphics. American Meteorological Society: Denver, Colorado

Bocinsky, K., McCarthy, M. I., Collins, M. J., Emm, S., Fitzgerald, K. M., Hebb, V., Jensco, K., Kirchoff, I., Teegerstrom, T. (2023). Strengthening the Role of Climate Hubs in Indian Country: Introducing the Native Climate Project. American Meteorological Society: Denver, Colorado

2022
Arienzo, M. M., Ortega, L., Collins, M. J., Harrold, Z. R., Frey, E., Kozloski, R. (2022). Stormwater drainages as a source of microplastics to Lake Tahoe: A pilot citizen science study. AWWA: Anaheim, CA

Jennings, K., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A. W., Aggett, G. (2022). Rain and snow are surprisingly difficult to predict near freezing-citizen scientists fill in the gaps. Frontiers in Hydrology: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A., Sturtevant, J. (2022). Recruitment, engagement, and retention of citizen scientists for precipitation phase observations in rain-snow transition zone. Frontiers in Hydrology: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Arienzo, M. M., Harrold, Z. R., Collins, M. J., Davidson, J. M., Bai, X., Sukumaran, S., Umek, J. W. (2022). A peristaltic pump and filter-based method for aqueous microplastic sampling and analysis. SYMPOSIUM ON MICROPLASTICS ANALYTICAL AND REFERENCE STANDARDS — OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE MICROPLASTIC SCIENCE: Online

Jennings, K. S., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nolin, A. W., Hatchett, B. J., Garrett, J., Johnson, M., Sturtevant, J., Aggett, G. (2022). Machine Learning Suggests a Limit to Rain-Snow Partitioning Accuracy when Using Near-Surface Meteorology, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, IL

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nieminen, S., Hatchett, B. J., Jennings, K., Nolin, A. W., Sturtevant, J. (2022). Scaling from regional to national: Evaluating the engagement strategy of Mountain Rain or Snow, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, IL

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nieminen, S., Hatchett, B. J., Jennings, K. S., Nolin, A., Sturtevant, J. (2022). Scaling from regional to national: Evaluating the engagement strategy of Mountain Rain or Snow, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, Illinois

Lambrecht, K., Hatchett, B. J., Olman, L., Collins, M. J., Tolby, Z., Heggli, A. E., Wadhwa, M. (2022). Identifying Community Risk Thresholds to Encourage Equitable Communication of Geohazards in Five Communities, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, Illinois

2021
Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K. (2021). Tahoe Rain or Snow: Monitoring Precipitation Phase through Citizen Science. NV NASA Programs Statewide Virtual Meeting: Virtual, April 30, 2021

Ortega, L., Collins, M. J., Harrold, Z. R., Frey, E., Arienzo, M. M. (2021). Citizen science sampling for microplastics in Lake Tahoe, California: Preliminary results.. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: New Orleans, Louisiana

Jennings, K., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nolin, A., Hatchett, B. J. (2021). Citizen science highlights precipitation phase partitioning uncertainties in rain-snow transition zone. AGU Fall Meeting 2021: New Orleans, LA

2020
Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Jennings, K. (2020). Strategies employed for successful participant engagement in ‘Tahoe Rain or Snow’ citizen science to improve rain-snow partitioning. AGU Fall Meeting: Online

Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Davidson, J. M., Frey, E., Movius, M. (2020). Are clothes dryers a source of microplastics to the atmosphere?. AGU Fall Meeting: Online

Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J. (2020). Comparing Satellite Estimates of Precipitation Phase to Citizen Science Observations. AGU Fall Meeting: Online

Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J. (2020). Comparing Satellite Estimates of Precipitation Phase to Citizen Science Observations. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Virtual

2019
Collins, M. J., McDonough, F., Juchtzer, J. W., Arienzo, M. M., Dean, J. (2019). Stories in the Snow: Crowd-Sourced Snow Crystal Images to Identify Tahoe Winter Cloud Structures. Annual Western Snow Conference: Reno, NV, April 16, 2019-April 18, 2019

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Harrold, Z. R., Bradford, Z., Frey, E. (2019). Case Study on Developing a Citizen Science Protocol for Microplastics in Lake Tahoe. AGU Fall Meeting

Harrold, Z. R., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Bai, X., Davidson, J. M. (2019). Introduction to High Volume Sampling: A novel method for sampling microplastics in diverse aqueous systems. AGU Fall Meeting

Collins, M. J. (2019). Native Waters on Arid Lands — Partnerships for Education and Actionable Science. Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Pacific Region Conference: Toppenish, WA, October 15, 2019-October 17, 2019, Hosted by Yakama Tribe

2017
Ramsey, B. A., Collins, M. J., Lutz, A. D., McCarthy, M. I. (2017). The Use of Traditional Knowledge in Increasing Community Resilience and Food Security. Second Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition: Prior Lake, Minnesota, September 17, 2017-September 20, 2017

Collins, M. J. (2017). Two-World Walking in STEM: A Reflection and Listening Session. Native Waters on Arid Lands–Tribal Education Forum, November 12, 2017

Collins, M. J. (2017). Faculty-Faculty Research Partnerships. First Americans Land Grant Consortium Conference, November 5, 2017

Collins, M. J., Grebliunas, B., Jasoni, R. L. (2017). STEM research as a means to a different end: How can research partnerships at TCUs serve as a channel for career readiness and community capacity building?. American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Professional Research presentation, September 23, 2017

2016
Collins, M. J., Arnone, J.A. III (2016). Broadening Access? K-12 Teacher Perceptions of Virtual Learning and a Pilot Virtual Lab Using Real Science Data from DRI’s EcoCell Facility. 101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America: Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 11, 2016

Collins, M. J. (2016). Ecology and Cyberlearning: Inherent Paradox or Rich with Potential?. 101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America: Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 11, 2016, Organizer of this oral session which featured ten speakers on the topic.

White, J., Collins, M. J. (2016). Disentangling Pedagogical Methods and Instructor Traits in Higher Education Geography Courses. Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers: San Francisco, CA, March 29, 2016-April 2, 2016

Collins, M. J., White, J. (2016). Disentangling pedagogical methods and instructor traits in higher education geography courses. Association of American Geographers: Reno, NV, March, 2016.