There are numerous opportunities for graduate students and community members to become involved with the MERE project. Below are two current work-study job and lists of ideas of project that could be developed.
MERE Workstudy Jobs
Project Coordinator: Each year, the Monadnock Ecological Research and Education (MERE) Project will seek an energetic student who can coordinate activities and write grants to raise money for the project. The student will maintain the MERE web page and work with project partners, including local high schools and Monadnock State Park personnel.
Education Coordinator: Each year, the Monadnock Ecological Research and Education (MERE) Project will seek an energetic student who is interested in working with Keene High School AP Science Students on developing a longterm research project studying the crevice communities on Mount Monadnock.
Potential Jobs/Project Development/Research Ideas
Ecological research ideas
- Dynamics of Crevice communities on Mount Monadnock
- Distribution and diversity of lichen species on Mount Monadnock
- Distribution and development of mountain soils of Mount Monadnock
Educational Programs (could be developed into practicums for AUNE graduate students)
- Trail Stewardship Program- Trail Stewards
The goal of this program to educate park users on the proper use of recreational trails in mountain ecosystems. Two trail stewards per year would be positioned on the mountain in locations determined by park staff. These stewards would engage users in a friendly manner to educate them about proper use of trails, safety, and mountain ecology. The stewards would be graduate students from Antioch University New England conducting the work as part of their graduate degree practicum requirements. 300 hours of work would be required for each position on an annual basis. Students would be required to work weekends and holidays.- Environmental Educator-Nature Interpretative Trail Steward
The trail steward would maintain and enhance any interpretative nature trails that exist on Monadnock. The length of this work would depend on the scope of the work.- Environmental Educator-Permanent Display Steward
The permanent display steward would work with researchers and park managers to enhance and add to the permanent nature interpretation displays at park HQ. 150-300 hours of work would be required for this position on an annual basis.- Environmental Educator-Journalist
The Monadnock journalist would write monthly article for the Keene sentinel on the ecological research and educational programs on the mountain. 300 hours of work would be required for each position on an annual basis.
