Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory
Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory (AVEO) is the citizen science arm of the Harris Center, linking citizens with professional scientists to gather ecological data aimed at protecting and restoring the environment of southwest New Hampshire. AVEO engages volunteers in ecological research projects with the potential to inform local and regional conservation planning, including monitoring migratory amphibian road crossings, vernal pool identification and documentation, invasive plant surveys, aquatic habitat connectivity inventories, and research on threatened & endangered species. The AVEO office is located at Keene State College, where we create active links between the College and the community and provide research opportunities for undergraduate students.
AVEO Program Director Brett Amy Thelen was recently awarded Antioch University New England’s 2012 Alumni Environmental Excellence Award, given to an “alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the sustainability of the environment through professional or personal actions.” At the awards ceremony, Dr. Rachel Thiet, Director of the M.S. Program in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England, remarked, “Since 2007, AVEO has become the most visible and dynamic citizen science organization in the entire region.” Way to go, AVEO!
For more information or to volunteer, visit AVEO on the web or contact Program Director Brett Amy Thelen at thelen@harriscenter.org or (603) 358-2065.