News and Announcements
We are dedicated to providing current and accurate information about the Konza Environmental Education Program and Konza Prairie Biological Station. If you need more information or would like photographs, or if you would like to interview a member of our staff, please contact us directly.
Environmental Educator
Jill Haukos
785/587-0381
konzaed@ksu.edu
Director
Dr. John Briggs
785/587-0441
konza@ksu.edu
Welcome Jill Haukos Our New Environmental Educator
In January 2012, Konza Prairie Biological Station welcomed a new Environmental Educator to the Konza Prairie Environmental Education Program, Jill Haukos. Jill comes to us from Lubbock, TX with a BS degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from South Dakota State University and an MS degree in Zoology/Environmental Education from Texas Tech University. Originally from South Dakota she is not new to the prairie environment, just new to Kansas. She is looking forward to learning and working on Konza and will be a tremendous asset to KEEP in the years to come.
KEEP 15th Anniversary Celebration Events
2011 marked the 15th Anniversary of KEEP and there were a number of events that celebrated this achievement.
"The Tallgrass Prairie and Me", student poetry and artwork exhibit, displayed at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, UMB Theatre, KSU, December 8-11. Public reception was held on December 11 from 2-4 p.m. with refreshments and an art activity.
"The Konza Prairie:Earth, Wind and Fire! 1971-2011", a display at the Hale Library, 5th Floor, KSU, October through December. Open Monday- Friday 8am-5pm. sponsored by K-State Libraries and the Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections.
"Green Fire", the story of Aldo Leopold and the land ethic, a film showing at Hale Library, Hemisphere Room, KSU, October 26 at 3:30 p.m. sponsored by K-State Libraries, Konza Prairie Biological Station and the Friends of Konza Prairie for the 15th Anniversary of the Konza Environmental Education Program.
Kansas State University, Division of Biology, News & Events
(Read more at http://www.ksu.edu/biology/news.html)
K-State's Konza Prairie was voted one of the'Eight Wonders of Kansas Geography'
January, 2010. Kansas State University's Konza Prairie Biological Station was one of 24 finalists in the Eight Wonders of Kansas Geography competition, sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The competition was an extension of the foundation's Eight Wonders of Kansas. (Read more at
http://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/geography.php?id=10)
K-State's Konza Prairie a Candidate Site for Scientists From Across the Country to Study the Effects of Global Change
July, 2008. Manhattan -- A Kansas State University grassland holds the potential to help
scientists better understand the effects of global change on the earth's ecosystems.
K-State's Konza Prairie Biological Station has been selected as a candidate core site for
the proposed National Ecological Observatory Network, also known as NEON. (Read more at
http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/jul08/neon71408.html)
Ecologist Returns to K-State as New Director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station
June, 2008. Manhattan -- The allure of the tallgrass prairie is nothing new to Kansas
native John Briggs, the new director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station and professor
of biology at Kansas State University. In fact, Briggs finds the prairie addicting. "It
just gets into you," he said. Briggs was hired as the first nationally recruited director
of the Konza Prairie Biological Station. (Read more at
http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/jun08/briggs62608.html)
Konza Prairie remains one of Kansas' near-pristine and rare vistas
May, 2007. Manhattan -- This time of year a vast ocean wave of emerald covers
the Konza Prairie. "We're on the western edge of the original tallgrass
prairie," said Valerie Wright, Education Director for the Konza Prairie
Biological Station. The original tallgrass prairie stretched about
four million square miles from Canada to Texas. And now? (Read more at
http://www.49abcnews.com/news/2007/may/31/konza_prairie/)
Konza Prairie makes National Geographic special feature
April, 2007. A special feature in the April issue of the National Geographic magazine
explores the tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the heartland of the United States. Written
by Verlyn Klinkenborg, “Splendor of the Grass” is centered around the Flint Hills of Kansas,
home of the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program. (Read more at
http://www.lternet.edu/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=130)
K-State Konza Prairie Environmental Educator Receives Award
February, 2007. Manhattan -- The Kansas Association for Conservation and
Environmental Education has selected Kansas State University's Valerie Wright,
Konza Prairie Biological Station environmental educator and naturalist, for
the association's Award for Excellence in Conservation and Environmental
Education, preK-16 educator category. (Read more at
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/newsreleases/feb07/wright22107.html)
KEEP Website Given Study Sphere Award of Excellence
July, 2006. StudySphere selected the Konza Environmental Education Program
website as one of the best educational resources on the Web.
StudySphere is one of the Internet's fastest growing sites of educational
resources for students, teachers and parents. StudySphere has scoured the
Internet to select only the finest sites to be included within its listing
of educational links.
Alumnus' Gift, National Science Foundation Grant Helping Renovate K-State
Konza Prairie Barn
February, 2006. Manhattan -- Kansas State University is giving an old barn at
the Konza Prairie Biological Station a second life thanks to the generosity
of an alumnus and other funding sources. A historic limestone barn on the
native tallgrass prairie preserve south of Manhattan will be renovated to
make more room for research scientists. (Read more at
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/NewsReleases/konzabarn22006.html)
Newfound Grasshopper Takes to the Trees on Konza Prairie
April, 2004. Manhattan -- Grasses typify the Great Plains, so it's
not surprising that more than 108 species of grasshoppers are at home on the
range in the central United States. However, a grasshopper that doesn't
love grass lives in Kansas too, a recent discovery at Konza Prairie Biological
Station shows. This newfound hopper prefers trees. (Read more at
http://www.k-state.edu/konza/keep/about/hopper.pdf)
Life, Research on a Tallgrass Prairie, the Konza Prairie
June, 2002. Since it was established in 1971, the Konza Prairie Biological
Station has developed into a research facility that attracts scientists from
throughout the world, according to station director David Hartnett, professor
of biology at K-State. "The Konza Prairie Biological Station has become a
magnet for scientists from many institutions who are interested in doing
research in grassland ecosystems," Hartnett said. (Read more at
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/Webzine/konza/index.html)