User:Nicfoodie/Karen Vaughan
Karen Vaughan
[edit]Dr. Karen Vaughan (née Castenson) is an Assistant Professor of Pedology at the University of Wyoming, where she researches soil development and wetland biogeochemistry.
Karen Vaughan | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Idaho (PhD)
University of Maryland (MS) University of Delaware (BS) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Pedology |
| Institutions | University of Wyoming |
| Thesis | Pedogenesis at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve |
| Website | http://www.uwyopedology.com/ |
Education
[edit]Vaughan completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware,[1] where she initially became interested in soil science.[2] She says of her career choice, "I didn't chose soil science; soil science chose me."[2] She completed her MS in Pedology & Hydric Soils at the University of Maryland and her PhD in Pedology at the University of Idaho.
Research and career
[edit]After completing her PhD, Vaughan was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service as a federal soil scientist in the Snow Survey and Soil Survey programmes.[3] She made the decision to switch back to academia as she missed the research and teaching aspect of work.[3]
Vaughan is now an Assistant Professor of Pedology in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Wyoming.[1] She teaches both classroom based and field courses.[4] Vaughan is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in soil sciences and has researched how the discipline could attract more diverse scientists.
Science Communication and Art
[edit]In addition to her research, Vaughan is an active science communicator, engaged in several projects that aim to make the field accessible and relevant.[3] She is a co-founder and committee member of the Wyoming Science Communication Initiative (WySCI),[5] a campus-wide initiative that values and supports science communication and engagement.[6]
In 2017, Vaughan was a participant in the "Storytelling Science through Film" workshop,[2] hosted by Wyoming EPSCoR and led by Jane Zelikova and Morgan Heim.[7] The workshop aimed to teach scientists the tools needed to tell their story through film.[7] Vaughan's group in the workshop was assigned the topic "Women in STEM" and their final film "Science for All" explores Vaughan's life as a scientist and a mother.[2]
Vaughan also bridges the gap between science and art by turning soils into watercolour pigments.[8] The colours of the pigments reflect the
Selected publications
[edit]Vaughan, K., H. Van Miegroet, A. Pennino, Y. Pressler, C. Duball, E.C. Brevik, A.A. Berhe and C. Olson, 2019. Women in Soil Science: Growing Participation, Emerging Gaps, and the Opportunities for Advancement in the USA. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 83 (5), 1278-1289. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2019.03.0085
Castenson, K.L. and M.C. Rabenhorst, 2006. Indicator of Reduction in Soil (IRIS): Evaluation of a New Approach for Assessing Reduced Conditions in Soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70 (4), 122-1226. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2005.0130
Useful links
http://www.uwyo.edu/wysci/about/board-karen-vaughan.html
https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/university-wyoming-professor-transforms-soil-art#stream/0
https://oldnwise.com/environment/soil-color-painting-art/
https://500womenscientists.org/updates/2017/3/19/soil-science-chose-me
http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2021/02/uw-libraries-selects-alternative-textbook-grant-recipients.html
https://foodtank.com/news/2017/12/sustainable-soil-scientists/
https://handwovenmagazine.com/beauty-in-soil/
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2136/sssaj2019.03.0085
- ^ a b "Karen Vaughan | Department of Ecosystem Science and Management | College of Agriculture and Natural Resources | University of Wyoming". www.uwyo.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ a b c d "Soil science chose me". 500 Women Scientists. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ a b c noelymargonzalez (2020-02-12). "Meet Dr. Karen Vaughan, Soil Scientist and Creative Science Communicator". Women In Ag Science. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ "Dr. Karen Vaughan". www.uwyo.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
- ^ "Meet WySCI". www.uwyo.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ "What is WySCI?". www.uwyo.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ a b Epscor, Wyoming (2017-02-27). "Wyoming EPSCoR: Communicating Science through Storytelling". Wyoming EPSCoR. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ "Meet the Soil Scientists Using Dirt to Make Stunning Paints". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-11.