Episode 145: Calling All Citizen Scientists! How To Make A Big Impact On Your Next Adventure With Adventure Scientists

Summary

Rewilding Earth Podcast: Episode 145 Summary

Title: Calling All Citizen Scientists! How To Make A Big Impact On Your Next Adventure With Adventure Scientists
Host: Jack Humphrey
Guest: Greg Trinish, Founder of Adventure Scientists
Release Date: March 28, 2025

---

Introduction

In Episode 145 of the Rewilding Earth Podcast, host Jack Humphrey welcomes Greg Trinish, the visionary founder of Adventure Scientists. This episode delves into the transformative role of citizen science in conservation, showcasing how everyday outdoor enthusiasts can contribute significantly to scientific research and environmental preservation.

---

The Power of Citizen Science

Greg Trinish emphasizes the untapped potential of citizen scientists in addressing critical environmental issues. Early in the conversation, Greg highlights the disconnect between passionate individuals and organized conservation efforts:

Greg Trinish [00:07]: "We talk about, oh, we're saying the same thing, same people, we go to the same film festivals and it's always the same. But man, the choir is not mobilized enough."

He advocates for mobilizing the engaged and concerned public to participate in scientific data collection, transforming personal adventures into impactful conservation actions.

---

Overcoming Adversity: Greg’s Personal Story

Greg shares a harrowing personal experience that underscores his commitment to citizen science. While working in Uganda to study disease transmission between humans and gorillas, Greg encountered severe eye infection from fieldwork:

Greg Trinish [03:17]: "I was blind for weeks from Gorilla Scat. It was brutal."

Despite the setback, this incident fueled his passion for enabling others to contribute to science safely and effectively. Greg’s resilience exemplifies the dedication required in citizen science endeavors.

---

Success Stories from Adventure Scientists

Adventure Scientists has spearheaded numerous impactful projects. Greg recounts pioneering studies that showcase the organization's significant contributions:

1. Mount Everest Plant-Fungi Symbiosis Study:

   • Greg Trinish [22:10]: "We sent two climbers up to collect moss at 21,260ft, discovering five fungi that enable plants to thrive in nutrient-poor environments."
   • This discovery led to the creation of Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies, which enhances crop yields globally without synthetic fertilizers.

2. Illegal Timber Poaching Tracking:

   • Greg Trinish [25:02]: "We've created genetic reference libraries for nine tree species, enabling law enforcement to trace illegal timber back to its origin."
   • Adventure Scientists' data collection has been instrumental in prosecuting poachers, with significant legal victories in the United States.

3. Harvard Medical School Collaboration:

   • Greg Trinish [23:54]: "We helped collect bacterial samples from 110 countries to trace antibiotic resistance genes, crucial in combating a threat that could kill 50 million people annually by 2050."

These projects illustrate the diverse and far-reaching impact of citizen science facilitated by Adventure Scientists.

---

The Importance of Data in Conservation

Greg underscores the critical role of data in tackling global environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. He explains how vast amounts of data are available but often remain unutilized:

Greg Trinish [05:04]: "The world is awash in data... there are still massive amounts of data that, if in the hands of problem solvers, could make a tremendous difference."

By organizing and harnessing this data through citizen science, Adventure Scientists bridges the gap between scientific research and practical conservation solutions.

---

Challenges Faced by Adventure Scientists

Despite its successes, Adventure Scientists grapples with the overwhelming demand for its programs:

Greg Trinish [11:47]: "We're a small organization and limitations are always there for sure. The more money we have, the more resources we can do."

Greg discusses the constant balance between high demand for volunteer participation and the organization’s capacity to manage and support its initiatives. He highlights the importance of philanthropic support to expand their impact.

---

Future Goals and Vision

Looking ahead, Greg envisions a world where every outdoor activity contributes to conservation efforts. He shares Adventure Scientists' plans to enhance their platform, making it easier for individuals to integrate citizen science into their adventures:

Greg Trinish [32:27]: "Platform.adventurescientist.org... you can tell us where you're going, you can look up projects, and add that to your trips."

This initiative aims to streamline volunteer participation, ensuring that scientific data collection becomes a seamless part of recreational activities.

---

Getting Involved: How Listeners Can Participate

Greg encourages listeners to join the citizen science movement through various platforms and projects:

• Adventure Scientists: Visit adventurescientists.org to explore volunteer opportunities and support the organization.
• SciStarter and other Platforms: Engage with a wide range of projects that suit different interests and skill levels.
• Mobile Apps: Utilize tools like Merlin Bird ID and Ebird to contribute data effortlessly during outdoor activities.

He emphasizes that every contribution, no matter how small, can drive meaningful change:

Greg Trinish [28:23]: "Doing citizen science and actually going out... and advancing our understanding of these issues... is a powerful way to make a lasting change in the world."

---

Inspiring Community and Legacy

Throughout the episode, Greg pays homage to conservation pioneers like Michael Sule and Jane Goodall, highlighting the legacy and ongoing efforts that inspire Adventure Scientists:

Greg Trinish [21:39]: "Jane Goodall just got the Presidential Medal of Freedom... their legacies are going to live on for an awful long time."

He underscores the importance of community-building and maintaining a spirit of fun and dedication in conservation work.

---

Conclusion

Episode 145 of the Rewilding Earth Podcast presents a compelling case for the power of citizen science in environmental conservation. Through Greg Trinish’s experiences and the impactful work of Adventure Scientists, listeners are inspired to transform their outdoor passions into valuable scientific contributions. The episode serves as a call to action, inviting everyone to participate in the collective effort to rewild and protect our planet.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Trinish [00:07]: "The choir is not mobilized enough. And I know y'all listening want to help and I know you care deeply about these issues."
• Greg Trinish [03:17]: "I was blind for weeks from Gorilla Scat. It was brutal."
• Greg Trinish [05:04]: "Citizen science and actually going out... is a powerful way to make a lasting change in the world."
• Greg Trinish [32:27]: "Platform.adventurescientist.org... you can tell us where you're going, you can look up projects, and add that to your trips."

---

For more information and to get involved, visit adventurescientists.org and explore the opportunities to become a citizen scientist today.

Transcript

[Greg Trinish]

We talk about, oh, we're saying the same thing, same people, we go to the same film festivals and it's always the same. But man, the choir is not mobilized enough. And I know y'all listening want to help and I know you care deeply about these issues. Doing citizen science and actually going out.

[Unknown Co-host]

And advancing our understanding of these issues, providing information that can be used to.

[Greg Trinish]

Really move the needle towards a solution.

[Unknown Co-host]

I can't think of a better way.

[Greg Trinish]

Of civic engagement of being part of a movement. And it's such a powerful thing to.

[Unknown Co-host]

Go out and use your time and.

[Greg Trinish]

Your outdoor skills and your experience and.

[Unknown Co-host]

Make a lasting change in the world. That is awesome.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Foreign.

[Podcast Host]

You'Re listening to the Rewilding Earth.

[E]

Podcast in this episode of the Rewilding Earth Podcast, I talk with Greg Trinish, founder of Adventure Scientists, a non profit organization focused on mobilizing outdoor enthusiasts to collect field data for scientific research. Greg shares compelling stories about impactful projects, including a groundbreaking study on plant fungi symbiosis on Mount Everest and tracking illegal timber poachers. We also talk about the importance of citizen science in tackling global issues like climate change and biodiversity loss, while highlighting the fun and community aspects of conservation efforts. Greg also discusses the future of Adventure Scientists platform, aiming to further engage volunteers in scientific data collection. Be sure to visit rewilding.org pod and look up episode 145 to find links to citizen science apps, organizations and tools you can use to get involved in meaningful conservation work that makes a big impact.

[Unknown Interviewer]

So I saw your article in San Francisco Chronicle talking about citizen science and then I read up on your organization and then I agreed. Heck yes, you ought to be on the Rewilding Earth podcast because people have a really strong desire, especially our listeners, to really get our hands in the dirt and go. And so anytime I get a chance to bring somebody on who can help catalyze such a thing, I jump at the chance. So thank you for being here.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, absolutely. That's exactly what we're about. And it's just so easy to say, oh, the world is screwed and we can't do anything about it. But I'm excited to be one of many great organizations that are providing a counter narrative there.

[Unknown Interviewer]

I'd love to learn more about being blind for weeks from Gorilla Scat just to start the show off with a bang. I really need to know more about that story. You just glossed over it in the article and I'm like, wait a minute, there's backstory here. We got to hear more about this.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, that was brutal. So we were in Uganda and I was, I was working with a group there that studies how disease is transferred.

[Unknown Co-host]

From humans to gorillas.

[Greg Trinish]

And so as a result I was.

[Unknown Co-host]

Going out to their nests.

[Greg Trinish]

So I didn't really know much about.

[Unknown Co-host]

The gorillas before I was there.

[Greg Trinish]

But every night they go and they.

[Unknown Co-host]

Make a new nest in the forest out of leaves and sticks.

[Greg Trinish]

And then before, when they get up in the morning, they do their business.

[Unknown Co-host]

Next to the nest and then they.

[Greg Trinish]

Go about their day, which is mostly just eating. But we were collecting these gorilla scats and after about a day and a half, after I was done doing that, I did it for three, four days. And then after I was done, my eye just became infected pretty quickly and started getting worse and worse. I was in Uganda and tried to find an optometrist and couldn't really find the right person. So somebody decided to give me steroids.

[Unknown Co-host]

To put in the eye, which just.

[Greg Trinish]

Made the infection stronger. So when I got home, so we flew home the next day and by this point I had started to have a little bit of white on my eye, on the cornea and. And then, yeah, it was really bad. I wouldn't say I was completely blind, but I could barely see out of the eye. And to this day my prescription is now different in, in my right eye. After dealing with that, wow, I started.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Thinking about citizen science and people going out and collecting data and things. But this, you seem like you've had a little bit of a dalliance with adventure science because that, that's not where the stories stop, with landslides and being charged by hippos. You're not asking people to go get charged by hippos or get poop. I are you?

[Greg Trinish]

We certainly don't want anybody to get poop. I, no, no, I'm not. Listen, like there are people who are out there doing crazy adventures, well, on their own. And we want those people to come and collect data for us. Absolutely. We also have space for people who are out on very tame day hikes and maybe are getting dive bombed by.

[Unknown Co-host]

The occasional crow or raven or something.

[Greg Trinish]

But that's, that's the only adventure really required to join us at Adventure Scientists.

[Unknown Interviewer]

What's the gap like in the problem that you're trying to solve? And what are we talking about here in terms of the potential for people to help?

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, it's absolutely massive. And the truth is the world is awash in data.

[Unknown Co-host]

Now we can look at remote sensing data.

[Greg Trinish]

We can now look at just about.

[Unknown Co-host]

Every single tree on Earth and get.

[Greg Trinish]

The carbon stock and water stock of that tree. There is so much data in the world and the reality is there are still massive amounts of data that if in the hands of problem solvers, decision makers, managers, could make a tremendous difference. And so as you look at any.

[Unknown Co-host]

Given issue, whether it's the harmful algal.

[Greg Trinish]

Bloom issue, biodiversity loss, climate change, there in each of these different fields, there are absolutely ways that we can accelerate.

[Unknown Co-host]

And amplify solutions to these issues.

[Greg Trinish]

And that's the most fun part of my job, is I get to go and meet with these problem solvers, incredible.

[Unknown Co-host]

People working at the forefront of each.

[Greg Trinish]

Of these issues and ask them, hey, what would an army of trained people do for you? How could we accelerate your impact?

[Unknown Co-host]

How could we get you to a solution more quickly?

[Greg Trinish]

And watching them light up and then test, start to geek out with me on their science and what it is they're doing, that's the most fun part about what I get to do.

[Unknown Interviewer]

What was the lay of the land like before you started Adventure Scientists? Which by the way, anybody can check [e-mail] I've always heard stories, anecdotal stuff that here and there, where scientists would just wish out loud to have more data or to have more volunteers. As soon as I get on your website, I'm like, ah, this is exactly where you shake hands if you're a volunteer and you get to find people who are doing work that really needs to be done and they really need your help. Is it rare? Are you one of the first or was it always just like I described? People just find what they can find and there was no real organization before?

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, I think the citizen science as a field obviously goes way back. We're talking about even some of the first Creed explorers, John Tyndall and Darwin and people like that. These were these. They didn't have formal education or training. They just loved, loved and had a passion for the outdoors and for adventure and, and made some incredible discoveries. And then we've got citizen science projects where people even like the first weather.

[Unknown Co-host]

Patterns and the first ways that we.

[Greg Trinish]

Traced weather across the globe was through telegraph and people just saying to the.

[Unknown Co-host]

Next town over, hey, you're about to get a storm.

[Greg Trinish]

We just got it and it's moving your way. Maybe not quite all those words on the telegraph. Citizen science has been around a really long time and there have been some.

[Unknown Co-host]

Projects that are ongoing for decades and decades now.

[Greg Trinish]

Things like the Christmas Bird Count, Project Aware is a great diving project and those Are, like you said, really one off very focused projects.

[Unknown Co-host]

There really hasn't been an organization like.

[Greg Trinish]

Ours where a scientist can come to us and say, hey, I need data to solve this problem. If I had 100 people, 200 people, a thousand people who were trained to go out and get this data, I.

[Unknown Co-host]

Could do something really powerful with it. So that hasn't existed before.

[Greg Trinish]

And then for an organization to then take that and build out a community effort in a citizen science program like we do. I'm not aware of any other organizations that have done that.

[Unknown Co-host]

Around the same time that we started.

[Greg Trinish]

Back in 2011, it was also the time when things like Inaturalist got started. This is a cool app that you.

[Unknown Co-host]

Can download and what I use it.

[Greg Trinish]

For is it helps me with my plant id.

[Unknown Co-host]

And so every time I see a.

[Greg Trinish]

New plant or even insect on the ground and I get a picture of it, it helps me figure out exactly what it is, which I love. And as an aggregate data set, there's.

[Unknown Co-host]

A lot of really powerful information in there.

[Greg Trinish]

And then there's a group called Sci.

[Unknown Co-host]

Starter, which is another. This is more of a platform where.

[Greg Trinish]

Anybody can post a project and then volunteers can get on there.

[Unknown Co-host]

But what we do at Adventure Scientists.

[Greg Trinish]

Is really curate these projects bespoke. We're working with the researchers, often with coalitions of researchers who are saying, hey.

[Unknown Co-host]

We are really concerned about the reforestation issue. We don't have enough seed across the United States to replant after large scale forest fires.

[Greg Trinish]

So what would it take to go out and figure out where trees are.

[Unknown Co-host]

Putting out large numbers of cones and what's called a masting event?

[Greg Trinish]

So trees don't just put out the.

[Unknown Co-host]

Same number of cones each year.

[Greg Trinish]

They have what are called masting events. And we'll put out huge numbers of cones in every three years. For some species, it's really unpredictable. But if we could send out hundreds of scouts to go say, okay, this is where the lodgepole pine is putting out tons of seed. This is where the ponderosa pines and you can go through the list of conifers and then say, this is where.

[Unknown Co-host]

We need to collect the seed from, all of a sudden, the seed stocks.

[Greg Trinish]

In the United States could drastically improve.

[Unknown Co-host]

And we are grossly short on what we need for reforestation.

[Greg Trinish]

Other examples, I could go on and on here, but other examples are, you know, we have an illegal timber poaching issue.

[Unknown Co-host]

Believe it or not, even in the.

[Greg Trinish]

United States, a billion dollars are stolen out of forests each year. Internationally, that number soars to $150 billion.

[Unknown Co-host]

And the research community, then the law enforcement community and the forestry community that.

[Greg Trinish]

Works on this issue told us that if they could get samples from thousands.

[Unknown Co-host]

Of trees across the range of each.

[Greg Trinish]

Different species, that they would be able.

[Unknown Co-host]

To trace the origin of a piece of wood back to that tree. And within 20 kilometers, it's incredible technology. So to be able to go out.

[Greg Trinish]

And organize an army of.

[Unknown Co-host]

In our case, we did about 350.

[Greg Trinish]

People per species to go out and.

[Unknown Co-host]

Collect these thousands of samples. We've made that possible for our partners.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Wow. Then that starts making you think this could really get out of hand. Does it get overwhelming at times? Because you're talking about a huge need and how much of that can your organization handle?

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, we're a small organization and limitations are always there for sure. I hate to make it so simple, but the more money we have, the more resources we have, the more we can do. That's what it comes down to. And so it's a matter of finding philanthropic donors who are really interested in what we do. We do have a partial fee for service model as well. So a lot of the projects we do are this more of a contract type thing. But yeah, it gets overwhelming with the need. What's so exciting though is that we are focused on projects where there's a tangible theory of change where something's really going to improve if we take on this project. And so to be able to look across the landscape of different scientific needs.

[Unknown Co-host]

And pick out those ones that are.

[Greg Trinish]

Really moving the needle for solutions, that's actually really inspiring and overwhelming in a good way. Right. Like that's the. What I love about adventure scientists and what we get to do is we get to pick and choose these projects that if we collect these data, it.

[Unknown Co-host]

Unlocks some future solution.

[Greg Trinish]

Now that still might take a decade.

[Unknown Co-host]

To come to realization, but when we.

[Greg Trinish]

Can find those, it's a really powerful thing. And then on the volunteer side, it's.

[Unknown Co-host]

Hard because we often do have to turn away volunteers. We have wait lists on many of our projects.

[Greg Trinish]

We just launched one today and had a 1300 person interest list. And we can accommodate the majority of those, but not every single one of them. Yeah, there's some projects, it's funny, that just attract a ton of attention and people just are on wait lists for days and weeks even before they can get in. And then on other ones, we really.

[Unknown Co-host]

Got to pound the pavement and give.

[Greg Trinish]

Speeches and make sure people are hearing about us and work really hard for that. So it's just a mix as to which projects we get going and how people hear about it. And we're lucky enough to get picked up on the Rewilding podcast. That's going to hit a lot of listeners and they're going to learn about what we do and increase our volunteer numbers for sure.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Your title for the article asked a question. Feeling powerless in the fight against climate change. And you could have the same exact title and just change it to biodiversity loss. Yeah, you could change it to all kinds of topics. And. And people are always writing in, asking, what can I do in my area? How do you organize volunteers who are willing if you don't have anything in their area at the time?

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, it's a great question. So, first of all, just staying engaged.

[Unknown Co-host]

In these conversations, we often are hosting webinars and have conversations with scientists, and.

[Greg Trinish]

That'S a way that you can stay tuned in.

[Unknown Co-host]

We have volunteers who love to travel.

[Greg Trinish]

And explore new places. And so our current projects, we've got one in California. We've got one today that we launched in six, six eastern states. So we get some good coverage. But you're right, it's not always that we've got something in hyperlocal areas for people, but that's where the broader citizen science movement is a really powerful way.

[Unknown Co-host]

For anybody to get involved.

[Greg Trinish]

And the projects, what you'll find out there on places like SciStarter and sit side.org is another. The projects you'll find out there range from purely educational, where it's more about getting kids out and having an experience.

[Unknown Co-host]

In the woods, all the way through.

[Greg Trinish]

To really meaningful data collection. Now, Adventure Scientists is really on the extreme end of that spectrum where we're looking for the projects that have the most impact, where we can really focus a group of skilled people towards one common issue and really move the needle for that issue. But other organizations will have anything along that spectrum and great ways to get involved.

[Podcast Host]

You're listening to the Rewilding Earth Podcast. Did you know we also publish insightful and inspirational content from leading Rewilding scholars, poets, artists and organizers from around the world? You can visit rewilding.org and sign up for our weekly digest to receive brilliant, fresh insights on everything Rewilding. You'll find over a decade of articles and news from the front lines of Wildlands protection and all kinds of restoration efforts. Check us [e-mail] and don't forget to share it with friends.

[Unknown Interviewer]

I was going to ask you too, about Cornell's Ebird. I've actually felt pretty darn Useful as a citizen scientist by doing the migration checklist on there. What is that the kind of thing you're talking about? Even when there's nothing else really going on, you can still do stuff like that, right?

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, absolutely. Ebird is a great one. Honestly, like even just using the Merlin bird app, which any of us who are out there a lot, I have.

[Unknown Co-host]

Almost certainly come across now if you.

[Greg Trinish]

Haven'T, get on there because it'll identify all the bird sounds for you and then you can actually correct them if you know differently, if you think it's a different species.

[Unknown Co-host]

And just having those recordings helps train.

[Greg Trinish]

Their algorithm algorithms too. So just being on there is really cool and helpful. And again, in Natural is another.

[Unknown Co-host]

The National Phenology Network is another where.

[Greg Trinish]

You can go and talk and you can document when plants are budding and when their flowers are emerging. And we're tracking climate change that way. There's the Xerces Society that covers bumblebees and pollinators. So, yeah, there's a lot of great.

[Unknown Co-host]

Programs out there that you can get involved with, even if Adventure Scientist doesn't.

[Greg Trinish]

Have something going on in your area.

[Unknown Interviewer]

I like the name actually, because it. I don't know why, but it reminds me of the first time I heard of a conservation biologist and Sule, Michael Sule, just trying to get scientists to think a little differently about their role if they see something, say something. And that didn't used to be the role for scientists. They stayed in the lab, so to speak, and certainly didn't venture opinions or ideas outside of their. Or as a part of their research. And he changed that whole thing by bringing up the whole idea of conservation biology and it. And. And Adventure Scientist feels the same way. It feels action and motion and things getting done and results that can be reported on.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, first of all, you mentioned Michael Sule and I can't let that slide. Like, he, He's a hero, obviously.

[Unknown Co-host]

And I had the great honor of working with him on an advisory board.

[Greg Trinish]

For what was called the Western Wildlands Network. And John Davis was doing these incredible treks and we worked with him to give him some protocols that he could use to, to document wildlife and particularly grizzly bears and wolverines and things like that as he was moving across the Western Wild way.

[Unknown Co-host]

And I think he did the Eastern.

[Greg Trinish]

Wild Way as well and has gone.

[Unknown Co-host]

On to do other amazing things.

[Greg Trinish]

So shout out to Michael. And he passed in 2020, but was an amazing ecologist and conservation biologist, as you mentioned. And yeah, Adventure Scientists is definitely created in that image and George Schaller another. Just this idea that we love these places and we're there all the time.

[Unknown Co-host]

And giving people some basic training and.

[Greg Trinish]

Tools that they can use to be part of the change and be part of the difference that they wish they could. It's so powerful. It's amazing.

[Unknown Co-host]

And I first felt this really selfish.

[Greg Trinish]

Feeling when I was out on the Appalachian Trail. I hiked that in 2004, and, man, I just. I felt like I was asking myself.

[Unknown Co-host]

The whole time, what is this all about?

[Greg Trinish]

What am I really here for? And when I. It took a minute to get from there to the sciences, but when I started working in the sciences and realized, like, listen, I don't have a PhD, I am very persistent and I like.

[Unknown Co-host]

To do long endurance trips and expeditions.

[Greg Trinish]

And things like that, but I'm not a great athlete. I just love being outside. I love mountain biking, I love skiing.

[Unknown Co-host]

And I was just saying to myself.

[Greg Trinish]

How can I use this outdoor pursuit.

[Unknown Co-host]

And use my time outside to make a real difference?

[Greg Trinish]

And when I was working in these.

[Unknown Co-host]

Biology tech jobs, I was tracking owls.

[Greg Trinish]

And sturgeons and other cool stuff.

[Unknown Co-host]

I was making that difference.

[Greg Trinish]

And then when I started talking to friends about it from the outdoor community and just telling them what I was doing, they just lit up. And. And I saw this beautiful opportunity to get the people who love and care about these places connected with real scientists who need the data, but just either.

[Unknown Co-host]

Can'T get to the places because they're.

[Greg Trinish]

Too remote or far away, or they can't. They don't have the outdoor skills, or they just can't do it at the scale that you require. We had 25 people all at once.

[Unknown Co-host]

All above 6,000 meters, collecting samples for a research named Drago Saharescu from the.

[Greg Trinish]

Biosphere 2 program down at the University of Arizona. And that's. Yeah, he could have gone and done one, but all of a sudden he.

[Unknown Co-host]

Had access to 25 peaks all at.

[Greg Trinish]

Once, all in the same day, and has kept that network going. So it's just this really fun. Also, like, we gotta keep fun at the center of conservation.

[Unknown Co-host]

And too often it's doom and gloom.

[Greg Trinish]

And the world is screwed, and we just, we can feel so down about it.

[Unknown Co-host]

But if we make it fun and.

[Greg Trinish]

Give people ways that they can actually see change and be part of that, man, we have so much hope.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Now. You've alluded to another conservation hero along those lines. Dave Foreman always said that we need to focus on fun. People need to have fun doing what they're doing. They're covering all the bases today.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, shouting out a lot of amazing people. And I just want to shout out one more. Jane Goodall just got the Presidential Medal of Freedom last week.

[Unknown Co-host]

I named my daughter after her.

[Greg Trinish]

My daughter's middle name is. Her name's Maris Goodall Trinish and just another amazing hero. So fun to see them getting recognized and that their legacies are going to live on for an awful long time.

[Unknown Interviewer]

What are some cool stories about data that was gathered through your organization's volunteers that has led to really significant stuff.

[Greg Trinish]

Really early on, back in 2011, we sent two climbers, Willie and Damian Bonagas, up to. They had told us they had seen plants up at near Camp 2 on Mount Everest. And we did some research and realized pretty quickly that if that's true, that would shatter the known elevation record for plants by 4 to 5,000ft. So it was really exciting.

[Unknown Co-host]

And we partnered him with two researchers.

[Greg Trinish]

One from Montana State, Tim McDermott and Rusty Rodriguez from the University of Washington and USGS. And we the theory was that there would be fungi living symbiotically with whatever.

[Unknown Co-host]

Plant this was up there. And sure enough, plant was there. We developed a protoc and had those.

[Greg Trinish]

Guys collect moss up at 21,260ft. And in there there were five fungi.

[Unknown Co-host]

Living symbiotically with the moss, enabling it.

[Greg Trinish]

To take nutrients up in this completely nutrient poor environment. And Rusty actually went on to create.

[Unknown Co-host]

A company called Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies.

[Greg Trinish]

They have inoculated millions and millions of.

[Unknown Co-host]

Acres of cropland, including on 10,000 small farms in India.

[Greg Trinish]

So they are doubling crop yields without.

[Unknown Co-host]

The need for synthetic fertilizers.

[Greg Trinish]

And the product does better in the.

[Unknown Co-host]

More marginalized soils that you can apply.

[Greg Trinish]

It in and increases yields dramatically again without MPKs, which as you probably know, are causing harmful algal blooms and hypoxic.

[Unknown Co-host]

Zones at the mouths of rivers all across the world. So this, the promise of this technology.

[Greg Trinish]

Is just so exciting. So that was one of the very first.

[Unknown Co-host]

We worked with Harvard Medical School on.

[Greg Trinish]

A study of animal scats. Just harping back to my love for gorilla poos and all kinds of different poos. But yeah, so they, we collected from about 110 different countries for them and.

[Unknown Co-host]

They are looking for the origins of antibiotic resistance. And so we studied a particular genus.

[Greg Trinish]

Of bacteria called Enterococcus.

[Unknown Co-host]

And the idea here is that if.

[Greg Trinish]

You could figure out the genes responsible.

[Unknown Co-host]

In Enterococcus, it would very likely transfer.

[Greg Trinish]

Over to other types of multidrug resistant infections. And we've Helped them narrow the search for those genes. And they're on their on a path.

[Unknown Co-host]

Towards creating the first genetic interventions for.

[Greg Trinish]

Antibiotic resistance, which if that's left untreated, if that's left unmitigated, that's going to.

[Unknown Co-host]

Kill about 50 million people a year by the year 2050.

[Greg Trinish]

So that's a massive looming threat that we are working with Harvard to get ahead of. And then I've alluded to this already.

[Unknown Co-host]

But we've collected these genetic reference libraries for trees. We've done this now for nine species.

[Greg Trinish]

We just launched our tenth yesterday, or today, rather, hemlock. And this is an effort to document.

[Unknown Co-host]

Again, the fine scale, both chemicals and.

[Greg Trinish]

Genetics that allow you to trace wood to its origin. We've had two cases fought in one in the United States utilizing genetic data.

[Unknown Co-host]

The first of their kind, for illegal timber poachers.

[Greg Trinish]

This is a really big issue. It's shocking, actually.

[Unknown Co-host]

One in three wood products that you.

[Greg Trinish]

Buy internationally has been illegally sourced.

[Unknown Co-host]

One out of every three.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Man, I bet those guys were surprised when the court told them how they were discovered.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, no, absolutely, yeah.

[Unknown Interviewer]

I heard a similar story. I think it was believed somewhere in the Amazon when people who were doing illegal slash and burn were told how they were discovered deep in the Amazon. They still, some of them didn't have the way to conceptualize what they were being told. But they were discovered from outer space. It was satellite imagery. And they. And there was a funny story somebody told once about how they were faced with the problem of trying to describe space and, and everything to people who are like, what are you talking about? Anyway, you're busted, dude. You can't do that.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. These technologies, like, it's really amazing how far things have come, even in my time here and my time at the organization. People.

[Unknown Co-host]

This year we're hoping to launch a project to survey methane emissions from orphaned and idled oil and gas wells across.

[Greg Trinish]

The eastern United States. We're going to be able to use.

[Unknown Co-host]

Handheld methane sensors for the first time.

[Greg Trinish]

And when we first built this project, I think it was 2016 or 17. Those didn't exist.

[Unknown Co-host]

It wasn't an option. So it's just constantly getting easier and.

[Greg Trinish]

Easier to collect these data and cheaper and cheaper, too, which makes it feasible for our model.

[Unknown Interviewer]

I wonder what if anybody cared to do this study, I don't know how it would be like, mega important, but it's interesting to me how much giving people, facility, giving people the ability to go out and do research that formerly was not organized. People didn't know what to do. They had their wish lists, but they didn't know how to get them accomplished or get volunteers or whatever. I wonder how much just your kind of activity has helped promote new technologies, because you've got people out there. Your volunteers could be retired engineers, they could be doctors. They could be all kinds of different people who have a really good and unique insight in some of the things that maybe you wouldn't think about or the project lead hadn't thought about while they're out there doing this data collection. It seems like a really rich, innovative environment, or at least potentially.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, absolutely. We've had volunteers that will call in and say, hey, I've got a better way to do this part of the project. And we just absolutely love that. And you're right. They're retired engineers. They're. We have a lot of retired people. We also have a lot of people.

[Unknown Co-host]

At the beginning of their careers, and they'll bring really amazing ideas for how.

[Greg Trinish]

We can get the word out better and how we can be more efficient. We're always looking to learn and grow here, too.

[Unknown Co-host]

We complain in these circles all the time about preaching to the choir. Right.

[Greg Trinish]

We talk about, oh, we're saying the same thing, same people. We go to the same film festivals, and it's always the same.

[Unknown Co-host]

But, man, the choir is not mobilized enough.

[Greg Trinish]

And I know y'all listening want to help, and I know you care deeply about these issues. Doing citizen science and actually going out.

[Unknown Co-host]

And advancing our understanding of these issues, providing information that can be used to.

[Greg Trinish]

Really move the needle towards a solution.

[Unknown Co-host]

I can't think of a better way of civic engagement, of being part of a movement.

[Greg Trinish]

And it's such a powerful thing to.

[Unknown Co-host]

Go out and use your time and.

[Greg Trinish]

Your outdoor skills and your experience and.

[Unknown Co-host]

Make it a lasting change in the world. That is awesome.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Yeah. Anytime that I've been involved where there was a purpose beyond having fun, if it was a river rafting trip or it was a tracking expedition or anything like that, ripping out roads in the southwest, illegal roads on Forest service land, really hard work. I had to organize that for a few years with Sky island alliance, and I'm like, how are we going to get people to come and break their backs doing this in the heat and the. And everything else in the. And it could have been as easy as somebody making a really delicious meal and a campfire at the end of the day where everybody can talk about how things went and just being there. There turned out to be a lot of reasons that people love to come and do that work. And we're always dying to do it the year after and the year after. And it just kept growing. And now Sky island alliance has got a huge network of volunteers that go out throughout all the Sky Islands and doing all kinds of different things. Not just the. The camera trap stuff, but they've become a huge data collecting source, that little organization or formerly little organization. So it's really exciting to see this stuff.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, no, I love Sky Islands also. I know a good friend of mine.

[Unknown Co-host]

Danny Giovali, is involved there as well.

[Unknown Interviewer]

No, he's a big supporter of Rewilding Institute. Thank you, Danny.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, Danny's red. He owns tula, the microspike company. So really great company. And supporting a great organization like Sky Islands. Yeah, those community building experiences, man, it's what it's all about. And you know, if you're not doing it, if you're not doing it and you're not having fun, then, you know.

[Unknown Co-host]

You'Re just complaining about these issues.

[Unknown Interviewer]

What are some things you're looking forward to in the future? Just seeing what the trajectory has been so far. What are some of the goals looking forward?

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, for me, it's all about impact. I just think about everything that I do and that we get up for.

[Unknown Co-host]

In the morning is really about how.

[Greg Trinish]

Can we leverage the incredible network we've built, but the incredible network that is the outdoor community to really advance solutions for these issues. And my job and what we're doing is really focused on getting to the right partners, the leaders in the environmental movement who are at the forefront and ready to embrace this model as a means to accelerate their work. And I think the quicker we can find those people, those scientific partners, build the programs with them, and then mobilize our community, that. That just makes me so excited. I'd love to see a world where every time we go in the outdoors, every time we have the privilege of exploring wild places, that we think about, what can I do while I'm here?

[Unknown Co-host]

Doesn't mean you got to do it.

[Greg Trinish]

Every time you get to go do your afternoon mountain bike ride after work, and you get to go backcountry ski and just bliss out. And I look forward to a world where you can be out there and think about, what could I do here? What can I do? And that collective action just creates incredible change in the world.

[Unknown Interviewer]

My business brain is going crazy right now. I just pictured an app where I could tell it, hey, I'm going to Boulder, Colorado for the next two weeks. Is there anything I can do? There While I'm there. And it would be citizen sciencey, anything at all, that would be great. And then just having people as a knee jerk, just adding that to their trips, adding that to their travels and just thinking like that automatically, that. That sounds like a really cool world to me.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah. Great mind. Sink a leg. I think so. If you go to Platform. If you go to platform. AdventureScientist.org we're still working on this. It's a beta. It's early.

[Unknown Co-host]

My team might be mad at me.

[Greg Trinish]

For sharing that on a public radio or podcast here, but yeah. Platform.adventurescientist.org you tell us where you're going, you tell us where you live, you can look, shut up, project on there and opportunities on there. And I look forward to the day that advances and is in your hand as you're at the trailhead.

[Unknown Interviewer]

That is crazy. I swear I did not know this page existed. It's not linked on the site. That's nuts.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, we're still in development mode on that, but early. Anybody listening here can get a sneak peek.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Well, of course, you've just created. A lot of people are going to be bugging you to finish this up now. I hope you know that.

[Greg Trinish]

Yep.

[Unknown Interviewer]

Greg, thank you so much for taking the time to be here. I'm very excited about work like yours. I wish there were a thousand more of you. I think with the amount of data and projects and silos that people could go into, there could be. But I wish you continued growth. Everybody can check out adventurescientists.org and you can support the organization. You can be a volunteer, but do find out everything that you can because I think you're going to be very surprised how big this is getting. Greg, thank you so much.

[Greg Trinish]

Yeah, thank you.

[Unknown Co-host]

Really awesome to be on and I.

[Greg Trinish]

Appreciate you having us.

[Podcast Host]

Thanks for listening to the Rewilding Earth podcast. We do what we do because of you. This podcast is supported by listeners like you, who long to live in a wilder world. Please consider [e-mail] and subscribe to our weekly news and article Digest. While you're there to go the extra mile, you can follow and share Rewilding Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Bonus points for sharing this podcast with your friends. To listen to past episodes, go to rewilding.org pod that's rewilding.org pod.