Karen Oberhauser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen Suzanne Oberhauser
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Karen Oberhauser in 2015
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| Born | 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard College, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Minnesota |
| Known for | Monarch butterfly research |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Conservation biology |
| Institutions | University of Minnesota |
Karen Suzanne Oberhauser (born 1956) is an American scientist who studies how to protect nature. She is an expert on monarch butterflies.
Education and Career
Karen Oberhauser went to some great schools! She earned a degree in biology from Harvard College. Then, she studied natural science education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Later, she got her PhD in ecology and animal behavior from the University of Minnesota.
She used to be a professor at the University of Minnesota. She also directed the Monarch Lab there. In October 2017, she became the director of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin. An arboretum is like a special garden where many different trees and plants are grown for study and display.
Studying Monarch Butterflies
Dr. Oberhauser has been studying monarch butterflies since 1984. Her research looks at many things about these amazing insects. She studies how they reproduce and what kinds of tiny parasites might affect them. She also looks at what makes young monarchs grow and where they live.
Her work also explores how things like bug sprays, climate change, and special genetically-modified crops might affect monarch butterflies.
She has written many articles for science journals. She also helped edit two books about monarchs:
- The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation ISBN: 978-0-8014-4188-2
- Monarchs in a Changing World: Biology and Conservation of an Iconic Butterfly ISBN: 978-0-8014-5315-1
In 2014, Dr. Oberhauser and another scientist published an article. They looked at how a weed killer called Roundup might affect milkweed plants. Milkweed is super important because it's the only food source for monarch caterpillars. They found that there was less milkweed in areas where more Roundup was used. This made them think that losing milkweed might be a reason why monarch numbers are going down. However, other scientists have studied this too, and they have found different results. So, scientists are still working to understand exactly how Roundup and milkweed loss affect monarchs.
Helping People and Science
Dr. Oberhauser really believes in something called citizen science. This is when everyday people help scientists collect data. She also thinks it's important for everyone to understand science and the environment. She is part of the team that reviews articles for a science journal called Citizen Science: Theory and Practice.
In 2013, the White House recognized her as a "Champion of Change for Citizen Science." This award celebrates people who make a big difference. The president of the University of Minnesota, Eric Kaler, said that Dr. Oberhauser is one of their best professors. He said her work with citizen scientists, teachers, and students shows how important it is for the university to connect with the public.
Dr. Oberhauser has also led other important projects. She directed the Monarchs in the Classroom Program. She was also president of the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Foundation. And she directed the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, which helps people track monarch caterpillars.
Personal Life
Karen Oberhauser grew up in Wisconsin. She married Don Alstad in 1985. They had two daughters together.
