Staff Profile: Melanie Napoleon
How long have you been at Shedd?
8 years
What is your role at Shedd?
Director of Great Lakes Conservation
What compelled you to work in conservation?
My progression of education led me to Shedd to work to protect our Great Lakes. As a kid growing up in the Great Lakes region I always enjoyed nature and loved to explore the outdoors. In high school I was energized by the 20th anniversary of the revitalization of Earth Day in Chicago. In college I received my Environmental Biology Degree and went on to get my Masters in Evolutionary Biology because I was interested in animal behavior.
Why did Shedd start a conservation program for the Great Lakes?
The phrase that comes to mind is think global, act local. We house the world’s waters here at Shedd and are aware of the infinite global environmental concerns. We engage in worldwide conservation efforts, but feel a strong responsibility to protect the waters in our own backyard. Chicago is the largest city on the Great Lakes and Shedd is situated right on Lake Michigan. With our trusted voice it is a natural fit to communicate to the public about how they can help the environment.
How does the Great Lakes conservation program support Shedd’s mission?
At Shedd we work to empower and inspire people to protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes for families, wildlife, and future generations. We recognize the importance of spreading the word about how special the Great Lakes ecosystem is and why we need to protect it.
How does the Local Waters Gallery at Shedd help generate interest in protecting the Great Lakes?
When people have an opportunity to see the animals they connect with the living world in a unique and special way. The local waters gallery tells a story of the importance of protecting our native wildlife and 20 percent of the world’s freshwater. When people see the gallery they will see what is at stake if we don’t protect our ecosystem. We all share this natural resource so what happens to the local animals also happens to us.
What exhibit or animal at Shedd should visitors not miss?
People should not miss the invasive species exhibit in the local waters gallery. It is an interesting look into some of the more charismatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region like the asian carp, round goby, and zebra mussel. There are more than 180 invasive species in the Great Lakes region now, and they are causing real harm to the local ecosystem. So for those of us who don’t scuba dive, here is a chance to see what these fish look like under water.
Join Shedd for a Beach Sweep on Aug 14 from noon-1 p.m. at 12th Street Beach. Visit our facebook page for further details.
Posted by Christina Bloomquist, web contributor
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