2016 Annual Meeting Panelist Bios
Dr. Harland Patch, Ph.D., Penn State Department of Department of Entomology, Research Scientist, Lecturer, Chair of the Center for Pollinator Research's Arboretum Committee. Dr Hatch has focused his research on different aspects of pollinator biology and has used molecular and bioinformatics tools to understand the complex interactions of behavior, health, and evolution. His master’s research identified the secondary plant compounds sensed by female papilionid butterflies to identify their host plants. Later he conducted research to find pheromone and other olfactory molecular receptors in the moth Manduca sexta. More recently Patch has focused on nutrition sensitive host plant choice and other interacting factors associated with pollinator declines including broad evolutionary patterns at the genomic level in African honey bees. To disseminate the results of this research and the research of some 25 other pollination scientists at Penn State as chair of the Center for Pollinator Research's Arboretum Committee Patch has been involved in creating an unprecedented educational Pollinators' Garden at the Arboretum at Penn State that will reach students, farmers and the general public.
Colleen DeLong coordinates ClearWater Conservancy’s Riparian Conservation Program and Habitat Restoration Projects. She also has the good fortune to work with ClearWater’s volunteer-led, Growing Native Nursery, where locally-sourced native plants are grown for stream buffer plantings, and our Native Garden volunteers, who care for the native plant garden around ClearWater’s office.
She was first inspired to pursue a career in habitat conservation during an environmental science class in 11th grade. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Juniata College and an M.S. in Ecology from Penn State University.
Since 1993, Colleen’s work has focused on habitat establishment and enhancement, along with education and outreach. As a Habitat Biologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, she worked with farmers and other rural landowners to plant native grass and wildflower meadows, stream buffers, and implement many other conservation practices. Colleen also worked with the West Virginia DNR assisting homeowners in the West Virginia WildYards Program to create backyard habitats for wildlife (and people too) and the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites Program, where she helped schools create wildlife habitat and outdoor classrooms for students of all ages.
She was first inspired to pursue a career in habitat conservation during an environmental science class in 11th grade. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Juniata College and an M.S. in Ecology from Penn State University.
Since 1993, Colleen’s work has focused on habitat establishment and enhancement, along with education and outreach. As a Habitat Biologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, she worked with farmers and other rural landowners to plant native grass and wildflower meadows, stream buffers, and implement many other conservation practices. Colleen also worked with the West Virginia DNR assisting homeowners in the West Virginia WildYards Program to create backyard habitats for wildlife (and people too) and the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites Program, where she helped schools create wildlife habitat and outdoor classrooms for students of all ages.