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Surviving Burnout: When Helpers Need Help
Surviving Burnout: When Helpers Need Help

People who fight to make a difference in the world often face burnout. Read on to find some tips for dealing with it!

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What Is This? Solving the Mystery of Oak Apple Galls
What Is This? Solving the Mystery of Oak Apple Galls

Learn more about this common feature of New England forest floors!

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Talking about Pluto with Worcester Magazine
Talking about Pluto with Worcester Magazine

I was interviewed for the anniversary of Pluto’s “demotion,” or as I like to think of it, “PROMOTION” to king of the dwarf planets!

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Color the Universe!
Color the Universe!

I attended the Color the City festival in Worcester, MA on behalf of Aldrich!

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Hi, I’m Melanie, a geographer and science communicator who is passionate about conservation and studying the interactions between humans and nature. I love hiking and stargazing, as well as working to protect both green spaces and the night sky. My work has appeared in various places, like Prehistoric Times Magazine, GeekMom, and the New Worcester Spy, and I’ve been interviewed by news outlets like the Boston Globe, Spectrum News, and Worcester Magazine. I’ve presented my research at the annual meetings of the American Geographers Association and the National Council for Public History, as well as other conferences.

I’ve been a long-time member of the Aldrich Astronomical Society, one of the oldest astronomy clubs in the United States, and currently serve as their community outreach coordinator. In 2020, I received a NASA Space Grant, which I used to write a basic guide to astrophotography for beginners, as well as an Aisiku Fellowship to study the geography of partridgeberries, a native New England plant. I am a NASA Solar System Ambassador, and travel to libraries around New England talking to the public about space. I volunteer at special events at Dinosaur State Park in Connecticut and other museums.

If you are interested in having me speak at your venue, drop me a line!

Most of my work is on a volunteer basis. Want to help support my public programming about conservation and astronomy? Head over to my shop and check out my zines, artwork, and more!

My Shop
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Pluto, Dwarf Planet with a Big Heart: A Looking Up! with Mel Zine
$7.00

First it was a planet. Then it wasn’t. It was shrouded in mystery for decades, but when we finally explored it, we discovered as many new mysteries as we solved. What is up with Pluto, anyway? Why the change in status, and why are people so emotional about it? What makes Pluto so special? Buckle your seatbelts, Space Monkeys, because you are about to learn the answers to these questions and more! This booklet is 24 pages and measures 5.25 by 8 inches and is printed in full color on premium paper. It’s hand-bound with a pamphlet stitch.

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What the Heck Is Arrokoth? A Journey Through the Kuiper Belt: A Looking Up! with Mel Zine
What the Heck Is Arrokoth? A Journey Through the Kuiper Belt: A Looking Up! with Mel Zine
$7.00

When the New Horizon’s spacecraft traveled beyond Pluto, it found...something. Something scientists had never seen before. Something they called...ARROKOTH. What the heck is Arrokoth, and why are scientists so excited about something that looks like a giant potato? Find out in this zine! This booklet is 24 pages and measures 5.25 by 8 inches and is printed in full color on premium paper. It’s hand-bound with a pamphlet stitch.

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Life on Mars? What Perseverance Found: A Looking Up! with Mel Zine
Life on Mars? What Perseverance Found: A Looking Up! with Mel Zine
$7.00

Is there life on Mars? Find out about NASA’s Mars Perseverance mission and what it discovered on a rock of an ancient river bed on the Red Planet! Plus, find out how scientists used the scientific method to rule out possible explanations, and what the next steps might be to find out for sure if there was ever life on Mars! This booklet is 24 pages and measures 5.25 by 8 inches and is printed in full color on premium paper. It’s hand-bound with a pamphlet stitch.

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Aurora Borealis Greeting Card, Print from original oil pastel by Mel
Aurora Borealis Greeting Card, Print from original oil pastel by Mel
$5.00

Do you have an astronomy or nature lover on your mailing list? Send them a greeting card with a print of my “Aurora Borealis” oil pastel painting! The card measures 4.15 by 5.5 inches. It comes with an envelope as well as a note inside with information about aurorae!

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Super blown up Chlorociboria aeruginascens, or elf cup! They are usually about an eighth of an inch across. Seen near #thoreausseat
Super blown up Chlorociboria aeruginascens, or elf cup! They are usually about an eighth of an inch across. Seen near #thoreausseat
Hike number 9 of the week was Tetasset Ridge/God's Acre/Deed Rock. I brought the wrong hydration system--should have brought the water backpack but went for a bottle. Definitely needed more water today!! #hikeworcester #hikeworcesterweek @gwlandtrust
Hike number 9 of the week was Tetasset Ridge/God's Acre/Deed Rock. I brought the wrong hydration system--should have brought the water backpack but went for a bottle. Definitely needed more water today!! #hikeworcester #hikeworcesterweek @gwlandtrust
Everyone knows I’m a girl who can’t resist a cool rock. The best part for me about this morning’s hike to Thoreau’s Seat on Asnebumskit was finding this beauty—garnet (among a matrix of other things)! Found right at the
Everyone knows I’m a girl who can’t resist a cool rock. The best part for me about this morning’s hike to Thoreau’s Seat on Asnebumskit was finding this beauty—garnet (among a matrix of other things)! Found right at the seat.
Hike number 8 of the week! This one was at Southwick Pond/Muir Meadow. Only a couple hikes left to complete the @gwlandtrust #hikeworcesterweek challenge! It's not too late to make a pledge--any amount would be really awesome and helpful! https://www
Hike number 8 of the week! This one was at Southwick Pond/Muir Meadow. Only a couple hikes left to complete the @gwlandtrust #hikeworcesterweek challenge! It's not too late to make a pledge--any amount would be really awesome and helpful! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/melanie-meadors
Hike number 7 of #hikeworcesterweek was Thoreau's Seat/Asnebumskit! I took a lot more photos than this, but these are some highlights.
Hike number 7 of #hikeworcesterweek was Thoreau's Seat/Asnebumskit! I took a lot more photos than this, but these are some highlights.
My framing kind of stinks, but here is 5.5 hours of exposure time over several nights with the Eastern Veil Nebula in really light polluted Worcester skies with the #Dwarfmini that was kindly donated to @aldrichastronomical for outreach purposes!
My framing kind of stinks, but here is 5.5 hours of exposure time over several nights with the Eastern Veil Nebula in really light polluted Worcester skies with the #Dwarfmini that was kindly donated to @aldrichastronomical for outreach purposes!
An exhilarating hike at #Kinneywoods! Hike number 6, I think, for @gwlandtrust 's #hikeworcester week!
An exhilarating hike at #Kinneywoods! Hike number 6, I think, for @gwlandtrust 's #hikeworcester week!
Sketch of chicken of the woods from Nicks Woods yesterday.
Sketch of chicken of the woods from Nicks Woods yesterday.
Grabbed a book from the library this afternoon that fits a theme of thought for this week.
Grabbed a book from the library this afternoon that fits a theme of thought for this week.
Hike number 5 of #hikeworcesterweek was at #NicksWoods, which was a fun ramble through the forest. Mushrooms, lichen, historic foundations from a 19th century icebox company, and more! #hikeworcester
Hike number 5 of #hikeworcesterweek was at #NicksWoods, which was a fun ramble through the forest. Mushrooms, lichen, historic foundations from a 19th century icebox company, and more! #hikeworcester
Had so much fun at Bovenzi Conservation Park for hike number 4 of #hikeWorcesterweek! Saw some slugs making babies, LOTS of mushrooms, and much more! Hiking is fun with friends! #hikeworcester #nature #mushrooms
Had so much fun at Bovenzi Conservation Park for hike number 4 of #hikeWorcesterweek! Saw some slugs making babies, LOTS of mushrooms, and much more! Hiking is fun with friends! #hikeworcester #nature #mushrooms
I experimented with watercolor for my Joe-Pye weed picture. Here it is with the colored pencil version I did the other day. Both have their merits. I need to work on leaves though!
I experimented with watercolor for my Joe-Pye weed picture. Here it is with the colored pencil version I did the other day. Both have their merits. I need to work on leaves though!
Super blown up Chlorociboria aeruginascens, or elf cup! They are usually about an eighth of an inch across. Seen near #thoreausseat Hike number 9 of the week was Tetasset Ridge/God's Acre/Deed Rock. I brought the wrong hydration system--should have brought the water backpack but went for a bottle. Definitely needed more water today!! #hikeworcester #hikeworcesterweek @gwlandtrust Everyone knows I’m a girl who can’t resist a cool rock. The best part for me about this morning’s hike to Thoreau’s Seat on Asnebumskit was finding this beauty—garnet (among a matrix of other things)! Found right at the Hike number 8 of the week! This one was at Southwick Pond/Muir Meadow. Only a couple hikes left to complete the @gwlandtrust #hikeworcesterweek challenge! It's not too late to make a pledge--any amount would be really awesome and helpful! https://www Hike number 7 of #hikeworcesterweek was Thoreau's Seat/Asnebumskit! I took a lot more photos than this, but these are some highlights. My framing kind of stinks, but here is 5.5 hours of exposure time over several nights with the Eastern Veil Nebula in really light polluted Worcester skies with the #Dwarfmini that was kindly donated to @aldrichastronomical for outreach purposes! An exhilarating hike at #Kinneywoods! Hike number 6, I think, for @gwlandtrust 's #hikeworcester week! Sketch of chicken of the woods from Nicks Woods yesterday. Grabbed a book from the library this afternoon that fits a theme of thought for this week. Hike number 5 of #hikeworcesterweek was at #NicksWoods, which was a fun ramble through the forest. Mushrooms, lichen, historic foundations from a 19th century icebox company, and more! #hikeworcester Had so much fun at Bovenzi Conservation Park for hike number 4 of #hikeWorcesterweek! Saw some slugs making babies, LOTS of mushrooms, and much more! Hiking is fun with friends! #hikeworcester #nature #mushrooms I experimented with watercolor for my Joe-Pye weed picture. Here it is with the colored pencil version I did the other day. Both have their merits. I need to work on leaves though!