Putting Knowledge into Action Through the Urban Oasis Program

NAME: Michelle Frankel

LOCATION: Miami Beach, FL

ORGANIZATION: Audubon of Florida

Dr. Michelle Frankel believes that knowledge is wasted when not put into action. As a conservationist with an aversion to waste, conservation action has been the driving force in Dr. Frankel’s work and life.

As founder of the New England chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology, Frankel helped mobilize a passionate group of professors and students to address conservation issues in the region. As the coordinator of the North American component of the Migrating Birds Know No Boundaries program, she developed a curriculum that brought Israeli, Palestinian, and North American students together to find solutions to protect shared natural resources. Through her varied experiences working with people, Dr. Frankel understands that conservationists need to pay better attention to what moves and motivates people to give of their time, their money, and their votes.  In her current dual role as conservation biologist and development officer with Audubon of Florida, Dr. Frankel has the unique opportunity to integrate diverse perspectives and help guide the direction of Audubon of Florida’s Bird Conservation Program.  

With her TogetherGreen Conservation Fellowship, Frankel will launch “Urban Oases,” a citizen science program focused on improving the quality of stopover habitats for birds along major migration pathways in Florida. If successful, this program will achieve greater community involvement through the volunteering of citizen-scientists, provide insights into which species of plants are most beneficial as food sources for migrating birds, and highlight the conservation functions of urban green spaces and botanical gardens nationwide.

By encouraging the application of helpful knowledge to meaningful action, Dr. Frankel hopes to reinforce the idea that the well-being of plants, wildlife, and people are inextricably linked.