DRI / DIRECTORY / MEGHAN COLLINS
Meghan Collins Profile Photo
Meghan Collins [she/her]
Associate Research Scientist, Science Communication
E-Mail 
Meghan.Collins@dri.edu
Campus 
Reno Campus
Full Resume / CV 
Download
Division 
Earth and Ecosystem Sciences

I joined DRI in June 2015. There are two dimensions my work: the first is to advance the ways that science and scientists meaningfully translate the results of research to society, and the second is to create partnerships to involve people in DRI science. As faculty of science communication, I have one foot in research and one foot in practice. My work is synergistic with scientists in many fields, and I look for ways to elevate science and engage students and community members meaningfully in our work through internships, citizen science, and other immersive experiences.

As part of my science communication efforts, I have worked with science teams to develop novel methods of risk communication, including for weather and wildfire smoke. I lead the engagement strategy of several citizen science programs including Mountain Rain or Snow, #Ashfall Wildfire, and Stories in the Snow. From 2016-2022, I co-hosted the Science Distilled lecture series in collaboration with the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. I have also been involved as an science communicator in a range of other programs, including Native Waters on Arid Lands and the microplastics research program at DRI.

I also work to create experiential career-based experiences for students in higher education. I launched the Research Immersion Internship program in 2021,and I co-lead the statewide Education and Workforce Development component of the research infrastructure-building NSF EPSCoR Track 1 award.

My education and professional experience is interdisciplinary. My undergraduate and Masters degrees are in environmental science, emphasizing science communication and policy. I enjoy teaching at the community college level, and I am passionate about fostering a stronger culture of mentorship at my research institution. I was the founding chair of DRI’s committee on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in 2020-2021.

I also serve as Strategic Plan Implementation Lead at DRI in collaboration with our Vice President for Research. http://www.dri.edu

Keywords

Science communication; community/citizen science; research-driven development of communication tools; education & workforce development; and inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA)

 

Publications
2024
VanderMolen, K.A., Son, Y., Kimutis, N., Collins, M. J., Wall, T. U. (2024). Identifying risk information needs of rural communities impacted by wildfire smoke: A mental models approach, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 100, Article No. 104182, 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.104182

2023
Collins, M. J., Jennings, K. S., Arienzo, M. M., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A. (2023). Community Observers’ Distinct Role in Advancing Meteorology and Climate Science, Sixth Oregon Climate Assessment, Corvallis, OR. Oregon Climate Change Research Institute: Oregon State University, https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1161

Heggli, A. E., Hatchett, B. J., Tolby, Z., Lambrecht, K., Collins, M. J., Olman, L., Jeglum, M. (2023). Visual Communication of Probabilistic Information to Enhance Decision Support, American Meteorological Society, BAMS Article, E1533 (September 2023)

Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A., Aggett, G. (2023). Crowdsourced Data Highlight Precipitation Phase Partitioning Variability in Rain‐Snow Transition Zone, Earth and Space Science, 10 (3), e2022EA002714. Wiley Online Library

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nieminen, S., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A., Jennings, K. (2023). Effective Engagement While Scaling Up: Lessons from a Citizen Science Program Transitioning from Single-to Multi-Region Scale, Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. Ubiquity Press

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nieminen, S., Hatchett, B., Nolin, A., Jennings, K. (2023). Effective engagement while scaling up: Lessons from a citizen science program transition from single- to multi-region scale, Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 8 (1)

2022
Harrold, Z., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Davidson, J. M., Bai, X., Sukumaran, S., Umek, J. W. (2022). A Peristaltic Pump and Filter-Based Method for Aqueous Microplastic Sampling and Analysis, ACS ES&T Water, 2 (2), 268-277, American Chemical Society, 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00270

2021
Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K. (2021). Enhancing Engagement of Citizen Scientists to Monitor Precipitation Phase, Frontiers in Earth Science, 9, 68

2020
Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J. (2020). Tahoe Rain or Snow Citizen Science Precipitation Phase Data, Mendeley Data, 1, 10.17632/gfkkvvm7w8.1

2019
Lambrecht, K., Hatchett, B. J., Walsh, L., Collins, M. J., Tolby, Z. (2019). Improving Visual Communication of Weather Forecasts with Rhetoric, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0186.1

Collins, M. J., Schumer, R., Peterson, B. (2019). DRI Cybersecurity Internship: Final Report 2019, Final grant report prepared for the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology.

2018
Collins, M. J. (2018). Evaluation of the Faculty-Faculty Research Partnership Program. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, DRI Publication No. 71001.

Collins, M. J. (2018). Evaluation of the Force of Water – Terminal Watersheds program, Grant Report submitted to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

2013
McGinnis, M., Collins, M. J. (2013). A race for space: Science, values, and aquaculture planning in New Zealand, Coastal Management, 41 (5), 401-419

2011
McGinnis, M. (Ed.) Collins, M. J. (2011). The role of marine science and scientists, In Oceans Governance: The New Zealand Dimension: Wellington, New Zealand

Conference Proceedings
2024
Heggli, A. E., Hatchett, B. J., Tolby, Z., Lambrecht, K., Collins, M. J., Jeglum, M. E. (2024). Visual Communication of Probabilistic Information to Enhance Decision Support, J13.5. AMS 104th Annual Meeting: Baltimore, MD & Online, January 28, 2024-February 1, 2024
https://ams.confex.com/ams/104ANNUAL/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/437208

Yu, G., Jennings, K., Hatchett, B., Nolin, A., Hur, N., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Nieminen, S. (2024). Crowdsourced Data Aid in Understanding Rain-Snow Transitions in Mountain Regions of the United States. Water Science Conference: St. Paul, MN, June 24, 2024-June 27, 2024

2023
Collins, M. J., Tolby, Z., Lambrecht, K., Wadhwa, I., Hatchett, B. J., Heggli, A. E., Olman, L. (2023). Advancing probabilistic forecast communication: A partnership with five Western US NWS forecast offices for improved visualizations and graphics. American Meteorological Society: Denver, Colorado

Bocinsky, K., McCarthy, M. I., Collins, M. J., Emm, S., Fitzgerald, K. M., Hebb, V., Jensco, K., Kirchoff, I., Teegerstrom, T. (2023). Strengthening the Role of Climate Hubs in Indian Country: Introducing the Native Climate Project. American Meteorological Society: Denver, Colorado

Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K., Nieminen, S., Garrett, J., Golub, E., Hatchett, B. J., Hur, N., Powell, K., Yu, G. (2023). Assessment of citizen scientist engagement, retention, and the role of super-users for precipitation phase monitoring. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA

Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Frey, E., Movius, M. (2023). Quantifying Microfiber Emissions from Clothes Dryers. SETAC North America 44th Annual Meeting: Louisville, KY

Hur, N., Jennings, K., Golub, E., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Hatchett, B. J., Johnson, J., Garrett, J., Yu, G., Nolin, A. (2023). Rain or Snow?: Processing Crowdsourced Observations of Precipitation Phase to Uncover the Complexity of the Rain-Snow Line. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA

2022
Arienzo, M. M., Ortega, L., Collins, M. J., Harrold, Z. R., Frey, E., Kozloski, R. (2022). Stormwater drainages as a source of microplastics to Lake Tahoe: A pilot citizen science study. AWWA: Anaheim, CA

Jennings, K., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A. W., Aggett, G. (2022). Rain and snow are surprisingly difficult to predict near freezing-citizen scientists fill in the gaps. Frontiers in Hydrology: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K., Hatchett, B. J., Nolin, A., Sturtevant, J. (2022). Recruitment, engagement, and retention of citizen scientists for precipitation phase observations in rain-snow transition zone. Frontiers in Hydrology: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Arienzo, M. M., Harrold, Z. R., Collins, M. J., Davidson, J. M., Bai, X., Sukumaran, S., Umek, J. W. (2022). A peristaltic pump and filter-based method for aqueous microplastic sampling and analysis. SYMPOSIUM ON MICROPLASTICS ANALYTICAL AND REFERENCE STANDARDS — OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE MICROPLASTIC SCIENCE: Online

Jennings, K. S., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nolin, A. W., Hatchett, B. J., Garrett, J., Johnson, M., Sturtevant, J., Aggett, G. (2022). Machine Learning Suggests a Limit to Rain-Snow Partitioning Accuracy when Using Near-Surface Meteorology, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, IL

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nieminen, S., Hatchett, B. J., Jennings, K., Nolin, A. W., Sturtevant, J. (2022). Scaling from regional to national: Evaluating the engagement strategy of Mountain Rain or Snow, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, IL

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nieminen, S., Hatchett, B. J., Jennings, K. S., Nolin, A., Sturtevant, J. (2022). Scaling from regional to national: Evaluating the engagement strategy of Mountain Rain or Snow, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, Illinois

Lambrecht, K., Hatchett, B. J., Olman, L., Collins, M. J., Tolby, Z., Heggli, A. E., Wadhwa, M. (2022). Identifying Community Risk Thresholds to Encourage Equitable Communication of Geohazards in Five Communities, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, Illinois

2021
Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Jennings, K. (2021). Tahoe Rain or Snow: Monitoring Precipitation Phase through Citizen Science. NV NASA Programs Statewide Virtual Meeting: Virtual, April 30, 2021

Ortega, L., Collins, M. J., Harrold, Z. R., Frey, E., Arienzo, M. M. (2021). Citizen science sampling for microplastics in Lake Tahoe, California: Preliminary results.. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: New Orleans, Louisiana

Jennings, K., Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Nolin, A., Hatchett, B. J. (2021). Citizen science highlights precipitation phase partitioning uncertainties in rain-snow transition zone. AGU Fall Meeting 2021: New Orleans, LA

2020
Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Jennings, K. (2020). Strategies employed for successful participant engagement in ‘Tahoe Rain or Snow’ citizen science to improve rain-snow partitioning. AGU Fall Meeting: Online

Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Davidson, J. M., Frey, E., Movius, M. (2020). Are clothes dryers a source of microplastics to the atmosphere?. AGU Fall Meeting: Online

Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J. (2020). Comparing Satellite Estimates of Precipitation Phase to Citizen Science Observations. AGU Fall Meeting: Online

Jennings, K., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J. (2020). Comparing Satellite Estimates of Precipitation Phase to Citizen Science Observations. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: Virtual

2019
Collins, M. J., McDonough, F., Juchtzer, J. W., Arienzo, M. M., Dean, J. (2019). Stories in the Snow: Crowd-Sourced Snow Crystal Images to Identify Tahoe Winter Cloud Structures. Annual Western Snow Conference: Reno, NV, April 16, 2019-April 18, 2019

Collins, M. J., Arienzo, M. M., Harrold, Z. R., Bradford, Z., Frey, E. (2019). Case Study on Developing a Citizen Science Protocol for Microplastics in Lake Tahoe. AGU Fall Meeting

Harrold, Z. R., Arienzo, M. M., Collins, M. J., Bai, X., Davidson, J. M. (2019). Introduction to High Volume Sampling: A novel method for sampling microplastics in diverse aqueous systems. AGU Fall Meeting

Collins, M. J. (2019). Native Waters on Arid Lands — Partnerships for Education and Actionable Science. Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Pacific Region Conference: Toppenish, WA, October 15, 2019-October 17, 2019, Hosted by Yakama Tribe

2017
Ramsey, B. A., Collins, M. J., Lutz, A. D., McCarthy, M. I. (2017). The Use of Traditional Knowledge in Increasing Community Resilience and Food Security. Second Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition: Prior Lake, Minnesota, September 17, 2017-September 20, 2017

Collins, M. J. (2017). Two-World Walking in STEM: A Reflection and Listening Session. Native Waters on Arid Lands–Tribal Education Forum, November 12, 2017

Collins, M. J. (2017). Faculty-Faculty Research Partnerships. First Americans Land Grant Consortium Conference, November 5, 2017

Collins, M. J., Grebliunas, B., Jasoni, R. L. (2017). STEM research as a means to a different end: How can research partnerships at TCUs serve as a channel for career readiness and community capacity building?. American Indian Science and Engineering Society. Professional Research presentation, September 23, 2017

2016
Collins, M. J., Arnone, J.A. III (2016). Broadening Access? K-12 Teacher Perceptions of Virtual Learning and a Pilot Virtual Lab Using Real Science Data from DRI’s EcoCell Facility. 101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America: Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 11, 2016

Collins, M. J. (2016). Ecology and Cyberlearning: Inherent Paradox or Rich with Potential?. 101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America: Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 11, 2016, Organizer of this oral session which featured ten speakers on the topic.

White, J., Collins, M. J. (2016). Disentangling Pedagogical Methods and Instructor Traits in Higher Education Geography Courses. Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers: San Francisco, CA, March 29, 2016-April 2, 2016

Collins, M. J., White, J. (2016). Disentangling pedagogical methods and instructor traits in higher education geography courses. Association of American Geographers: Reno, NV, March, 2016.