Jennifer Wiggen
Past President
"I love the outdoors and was fortunate enough to be surrounded by the ocean, marshes, and mountains for the majority of my life. I pivoted from strictly field-based research to educational research and teaching because I realized my passion really lies in science communication and informal education. I believe that getting people outside and using hands-on, exploratory teaching practices creates a space where people can learn and feel genuinely curious. It's in these moments that we can help people develop empathy and compassion for the natural world, and can create better stewards within our communities."
Bio
Dr. Jennifer Wiggen is an experienced educator and researcher currently working as the Senior Educator at the Bald Head Island Conservancy - BHI Conservancy. She graduated from UNCW with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences and an M.S. in Marine Science.
While at UNCW she interned at The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center where she fell in love with sea turtle conservation. She earned her Ph.D. in Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Science from NC State University and completed postdoctoral research and teaching in Geoscience Education.
She then transitioned to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC, where her work focused on outdoor education, nature play, and community science projects focused on nature observations.