KYRA RICCI SHAW
Kyra Ricci Shaw, Ph.D.
I’m Dr. Kyra Shaw, an interdisciplinary social scientist and wildlife ecologist. My graduate research (PhD, Wildlife Ecology, UW–Madison) focused on understanding how visual art can facilitate conservation education and and communication. I am currently working at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where I am focused on promoting community connection to wildlife through social science research and the Snapshot Wisconsin community science program.
My goals
-
Integrate ecological and social science to protect natural resources and heritage.
-
Promote community involvement in environmental conservation and management.
-
Enhance curiosity and connection to nature through creative applications of visual storytelling.
About Me
Current Role
Research Scientist at the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Office of Applied Science
​
Past Appointments
PhD Student Research Fellow (Funded through National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program- NSF GRFP)
Hua Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Wildlife Ecology
​​
My Story
I grew up in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania. I received my B.S. in Biology (2020) from Coastal Carolina University (South Carolina, USA), where I carried out research assistantships in neurogenetics, marine mycology, and circadian biology. In 2020, I began my doctoral studies in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at Binghamton University (New York, USA) with Dr. Jessica Hua, where I investigated the use of visual storytelling as a tool to teach about amphibian conservation. In the Fall of 2022, I moved with the Hua Lab to continue this work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wisconsin, USA) in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology. After graduating, I joined the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where I currently work as a Research Scientist. I am passionate about integrating my diverse disciplinary experiences to promote human connection with the natural world.
About Me
Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, exploring local museums, taking care of my many houseplants, reading, and playing French horn in community groups.
