2024 Environmental Communications Awards Competition Winner
Grand Prize
Entrant: University of Delaware and the Mainspring Agency
Person in Charge: Ben Hemmings, Director; Jon Cox, Executive Producer
Media Contact: William Arnold, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota
The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) spans the north central portion of North America and is a unique environmental, ecological, economic, and cultural landscape. The thousands of small wetlands it containsare unique hydrologically (they are connected by groundwater only), and are a critical refuge for birds migrating on the North American Central Flyway. . The wetlands serve to clean water by processing nutrients and degrading pesticides. This landscape is also under severe threat due to climate change and agricultural activities. Wetlands are filled to expand cropland, destroying vital ecological services. Climate change will affect the precipitation in the region, altering the ephemeral nature of the wetlands. Additionally, warming may result in making these wetlands carbon sources instead of sinks, which could exacerbate the effects of climate change.
Despite the importance of the PPR landscape both ecologically and economically, this region is relativelyunknown to most people in the US and Canada and is thought of as “flyover country”. The wonder of the landscape is also not appreciated. Thus, our goal was to increase the awareness of this extraordinary and important landscape and the communities that reside there. Target audiences are the public, non-profit conservation organizations, and the scientific community.
Our team highlighted the critical importance of the PPR through a compelling documentary film designed to inform audiences within and outside of the scientific community. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=use7Ggp5aDw) We employed a variety of filmmaking techniques to bring attention to this rarely seen unique landscape. Dramatic drone footage and close-ups of amphibians and birds captured the grandeur and beauty of the region, emphasizing its significance as a vital habitat for a diversity of wildlife species.
To provide a comprehensive view and engage our audience, we interviewed scientists and a first- generation graduate student who actively participated in research within the PPR. Their insights offered a deeper understanding of the region's ecological importance and the environmental challenges it faces. Additionally, we featured a rancher whose family has been stewards of this land for generations, showcasing their efforts in conservation and sustainable land management practices on this fragile ecosystem.
We captured the human connection to the PPR from the perspective of a long-time resident and coffee shop owner, illustrating thesignificance of recreation and its impact on the environment's overall health. By incorporating these diverse voices and perspectives, our documentary aims to educate, inspire, and mobilize audiences to protect and preserve this invaluable natural resource. Audiences are directed to our project website (https://www.prairiepotholeproject.com/) with photographs of the region and descriptions of the research. The film has been advertised via social media channels and presented at scientific conferences. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Metrics of engagement:
- The film was at the American Chemical Society Spring 2023 Meeting, Indianapolis, IN screened in a session focused on environmental education and chemistry in film
- Social media shares from team members and their home academic departments have garnered over 5000 views leading to engagements with the website and videos.
- Homepage of lead researcher where video is displayed receives ~500 views per month
Components of the Communications Portfolio
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=use7Ggp5aDw
Website: https://www.prairiepotholeproject.com/
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