Christine Armiger

Christine Armiger, MS student MS candidate
Conservation Biology
Email Christine

Former Program Manager & Education Coordinator

The Center for Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Fall 2006 Symposium Coordinator

"Banking on Biodiversity: The Ecological and Socio-Economic Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture"

Goals

My goal as a student of conservation biology is to explore ways in which human modified landscapes can be restored so as to support higher levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In 2006, I organized the CTEC fall symposium, “Banking on Biodiversity: The Ecological and Socio-economic Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture.” This symposium is linked to my own research involving the ecological value of small-holder agroforestry systems in Central America.

Education

M.S. Candidate, Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England
August 2005-(anticipated completion July, 2008)
Concentration in Conservation Biology
Thesis: Measuring Ecosystem Services as a Baseline Evaluation for the Conservation Viability of Agroforestry in Southern Belize, Central America

Bachelor of Arts, May 2001, University of Montana - GPA 4.0
Major: Environmental Science, concentration in Biology
2nd Major: Literature and Writing

Employment

Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation, Keene, New Hampshire
Program Manager
January 2007 - January 2008

Hire and supervise staff
Review grant proposals and scholarship applications
Assist with Strategic Development Plan
Prepare and edit grant proposals, biannual newsletter, budget, and year end report

Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation, Keene, New Hampshire
Education Coordinator
March—December 2006

Developed, organized and implemented international symposium entitled Banking on Biodiversity: The Ecological and Socioeconomic Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture
Compiled and edited symposium proceedings
Edited grant proposals and organized educational events
Prepared budget and final report

Medomak Retreat Center—Washington, Maine
Co-Founding Director
January 2003 - September 2006

Co-founded Maine retreat center dedicated to arts, education, community and environment
Established an array of environmental education and outdoor recreation programs
Operated facility, hired and supervised employees
Designed and constructed recreational trail network

Denali Wilderness Lodge—Denali, Alaska
Naturalist and Hiking guide
May—September, 2001

Constructed and maintained low-impact trail system
Organized naturalist program and designed educational media for guests
Guided day hikes and expeditions throughout Wood River Valley
Interpreted geology, ecology, and cultural history of glacial landscape
Delivered evening natural history and ecology presentations

Beaverhead County Community Development Committee, Dillon, Montana
Grant Writer
January—May, 2001

Worked with Forest Service to negotiate integration of recreational trails program in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Prepared grant proposals to promote economic, social and environmental enhancement projects for local community

American Safari Cruises—Juneau, Alaska
Naturalist and Expedition Leader
May—September, 2000

Interpreted natural and cultural history of Alaska's Inside Passage
Guided hikes and expeditions through Tongass temperate rainforest
Delivered evening programs on marine mammals, birds, glaciology and rainforest ecology
Led guests on kayak and zodiac tours through glacial fjords

U.S. Forest Service, Fire Crew—Dillon, Montana
Fire Fighter/Field Worker
May—August, 1999

Fought wildfire and prescribed burns
Prepared forest sites for control burns to reduce catastrophic wildfire and soil sterilization
Removed seedling and mature conifers from aspen stands (USFS aspen restoration project)

University of Montana, Western—Youth Sports Gymnastics Program, Dillon, Montana
Founder, Director and Head Coach
September 1998 - January 2002

Established recreational gymnastics program for boys and girls in Dillon, Montana
Organized holiday events, college sports half-time shows, and community demonstrations

Internships and Volunteer Work

Sustainable Harvest International, Central America
Volunteer and Researcher
May, 2006 - September 2007

Conducted field research on the ecological impact of the SHI farm extension program in Belize
Assisted in the construction of fuel efficient wood stoves, water catchment systems and solar driers
Supervised US student volunteers in tree planting and other service learning projects

AmeriCorps S.E.R.V.E. New Hampshire
Campus Compact Community Service Volunteer

Collaborated with Antioch University New England Faculty to create community event proposal
Engaged volunteers to participate in international sustainable agriculture symposium
Prepared symposium report and recruited new education coordinator for the Center for Tropical Ecology

US Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division, Volcano Village, Hawaii
Field Biologist
May—September, 2002

Nest searching, radio tracking, mist netting and banding palila (an endangered finch-billed honeycreeper inhabiting a relict patch of mamane forest on the west slope of Mauna Kea, Hawaii)
Data entry and statistical analyses at Kilauea Field Station

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, Maryland
Trails Coordinator
1995 - 1998

Designed and constructed trails system throughout Gunpowder State Park
Led community hikes and canoe trips
Organized invasive plant removal work sessions

Academic Event Coordination

Coastal Connections: Linking Research and Education in Tropical Coastal Systems. The Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH. November 3, 2007

Birdsong and Coffee: A Wake up Call. The Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH. February 23, 2007

Banking on Biodiversity: the Ecological & Socio-Economic Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture. The Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH. October 28, 2006

Professional Presentations

Antioch Student Symposium. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH. Measuring Ecosystem Services as a Baseline Evaluation for the Conservation Viability of Agroforestry in Belize, Central America March 29, 2008

The Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation's Tropical Speaker Series. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH. Agriculture and the Maya: Issues of Conservation and Sustainability in the Working Landscapes of Southern Belize. December 6, 2007

“On the Rocks” Science Colloquium. University of Montana, Dillon, MT. A Summer in the Wilderness: Cushy Life on the Alaskan Tundra. November 13, 2001

Denali Wilderness Lodge Evening Lecture Series, Denali, AK. Geo-Ecology of the Alaska and Coast Range. June - September, 2001

“On the Rocks” Science Colloquium. University of Montana, Dillon, MT. Impacts of Ecotourism in Alaska's Inside Passage. January, 2001

North American Interdisciplinary Conference on Environment & Community, University of Nevada, Reno. Being Responsible Educators: Environmental Education and Student Empowerment. February, 2000.

Raptor Research Foundation Annual Meeting, La Paz Mexico. Utilization of Nest Trees and Nest Stands by Northern Goshawks (Accipiter Gentilis) in Southwest Montana. November, 1999

Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Jackson Hole, WY. Being Responsible Educators: Environmental Education and Student Empowerment. October, 1999

Montana Academy of Sciences. Butte, MT. Utilization of Nest Trees and Nest Stands by Northern Goshawks (Accipiter Gentilis) in Southwest Montana. April, 1999

Awards and Scholarships

Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation Scholarship, 2007
Antioch University New England Scholarship, 2006
University of Montana, Western, Out of State Fee Waiver 2000, 1999, 1998
University of Montana, Western Honors Scholarship 2000
University of Montana, Western ES Department Scholarship, 1999
NASA Space Grant, 1999
Susquahannock Environmental Scholarship, 1996
Baltimore County Gymnastics Scholarship, 1996