Why Raptors at the Clark Planetarium

HawkWatch International makes the claim that we can conserve entire ecosystems simply by focusing on the birds of prey that live in them. Join Education and Outreach Director Melissa Halvorsen and special guest, Goose the Peregrine Falcon, as they weave together three stories that make the case for protecting these charismatic birds as indicators of ecosystem health.

About Melissa
Melissa credits her love of animals to early years spent following her biologist father around in the field whenever she wasn’t in school. After pursuing a B.A. in English from Weber State University, she began working as an interpretive ranger for the National Park Service. It was doing this work that helped her realize she could unite her love of storytelling and the natural world by working as an informal environmental educator. Since then, she has worked for state and national parks, nature centers, schools, zoos, and aquariums. She is currently the Education and Outreach Director at HawkWatch International.

Melissa has certifications in Environmental Education from Utah State University and Instructional Design from the University of Utah. Melissa is excited to share HawkWatch International’s mission with the world and hopes to reach new audiences with creative approaches to teaching and learning.

When Melissa has spare time, she likes to read, play complicated board games, and start craft projects she never intends to finish. She has a fantastic husband, two incredibly smart (and nerdy) children, and lots of adorable pets.

About Science Utah
Clark Planetarium’s Science Utah Lecture Series is dedicated to bringing the latest scientific discoveries and discussions to the public, for free, by offering engaging lectures led by Utah-based scientists and researchers working in various fields.

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please reserve only the number of tickets you will use. Click here to register.