Concrete plans for a one-way ticket to Mars have been forged. Food will have to be grown on location. Is this a distant future scenario? Not for scientists researching whether or not it is possible to grow plants on the moon.

The second Real World Learning Network conference – Science and Sustainability through Outdoor Learning will be held in Slovenia from the 27th - 30th November 2013 and will explore how to deliver successful outdoor education.

Written By:  Joe Jerek

Variety of courses will teach hands-on outdoor skills. Registration deadline is April 26.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to get hands-on training in various outdoor skills at its “Discover Nature--Women Summer Workshop” May 31-June 2 at the Windermere Conference Center along Lake of the Ozarks in Roach, Mo.

Key Messages: 

We help people discover nature.

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BGCI have recently launched a new three year project funded by the Ashden Trust. The project will promote and facilitate the use of indigenous tree species in forest restoration projects across Africa and highlight the potential for botanic gardens to be more involved in restoration projects

BGCI have recently launched a new three year project funded by the Ashden Trust. The project will promote and facilitate the use of indigenous tree species in forest restoration projects across Africa, highlighting the potential for botanic gardens to be more involved in restoration projects

Written By:  Joe Jerek

Seth Pezley of Jefferson City and Shelby Winslow of Lee’s Summit were top scorers.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The fifth annual Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) state tournament, held March 22-23 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, drew 1,438 student archers in grades 4-12 from 74 schools across the state. Despite a weather forecast predicting snow, the event drew more than 7,500 observers and supporters.

Key Messages: 

We help people discover nature.

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The genome of the mountain pine beetle -- the insect that has devastated British Columbia's lodgepole pine forests -- has now been decoded.

Written By:  Joe Jerek

The April 3 program will include a short presentation on the Department’s proposed flow regime policy, followed by the opportunity to visit with agency staff and provide comment.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will hold a Flow Regime Public Forum from 4-6 p.m. on April 3 at its Runge Conservation Nature, located off Hwy 179 in Jefferson City approximately one-half mile north of Hwy 50. The program will include a short presentation on the Department’s proposed flow regime policy, followed by the opportunity to visit with agency staff and provide comment.

Key Messages: 

We work with you and for you to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife.

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In the United States, only species listed on state or federal noxious weed lists are regulated, and those lists are often biased toward species that affect agricultural crops. Conversely, invasive plant council lists include species that affect natural landscapes but have no regulatory clout. After comparing the lists and how they are created, researchers have developed some suggestions on how to improve the regulation of all invasive plant species, including new biofuels plants.

New research explains how certain traits can pass down from one generation to the next – at least in plants – without following the accepted rules of genetics.

Written By:  Joe Jerek

Four new cases from targeted deer reduction brings total to 10 in Missouri free-ranging deer.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has confirmed four more cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in free-ranging deer. The four deer were among 102 harvested in January and February in the CWD Core Area of Linn and Macon counties. The Core Area is comprised of a 29-square-mile block along the northern part of the Linn- and Macon-county border where CWD was first detected in free-ranging deer in early 2012.

Key Messages: 

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.

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Written By:  Dan Zarlenga

Conservation officials say they could be among the top 5 found in Missouri’s history.

St. Charles, Mo—The king of bucks, the world-famous Missouri Monarch, was nearly overthrown last week in St. Charles County.

On the evening of Wednesday, March 13, an antler shed hunter discovered a large, near-record set of non-typical antlers while searching the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles.

The shed hunter brought the antlers—which were still attached to the top half of the skull—to the attention of Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Wildlife Biologists, who examined them.

Key Messages: 

We help people discover nature.

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It can take years of direct observation for a researcher to fully understand the diets of a community of herbivorous insects in a tropical rain forest. Now, scientists are paving a fast track using the DNA found inside the insects' stomachs, potentially turning years of research into months. This method will help scientists understand the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions more efficiently.

Rapidly growing trees like poplars and willows are candidate "biofuel crops" from which it is expected that cellulosic ethanol and higher energy content fuels can be efficiently extracted. Domesticating these crops requires a deep understanding of tree physiology and genetics. Scientists are turning to fruit trees for hints, leading to an international initiative, publishing the 265-million base genome of the Lovell variety of Prunus persica.

The notion that each gene can only codify for a single protein has been challenged for some years. Yet, the functional outcomes that may result from genes encoding more than one protein are still largely unknown. Now, botanists have discovered a gene -- ZIFL1 -- that produces two different proteins with completely distinct locations and functions in the plant.

Written By:  Joe Jerek

Caves where White Nose Syndrome found closed to public to prevent disturbing remaining bats.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center has confirmed that a deadly disease in bats called “White Nose Syndrome” (WNS) has been recently found in a little brown bat and a tri-colored bat from a public cave in Washington County. The USGS has also confirmed that WNS has been recently found in a little brown bat and a northern long-eared bat from two public caves in Franklin County. All three caves are closed to the public, and cave names are not being disclosed to prevent disturbance of remaining bats.

Key Messages: 

Missourians care about conserving forests, fish and wildlife.

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Written By:  Joanie Straub

Clinic is free, but pre-registration is required by May 2.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites families to discover nature with a crappie clinic from 7 a.m. to noon on May 4 at Mark Twain Lake State Park. This program is open to youths with a parent or adult mentor. All participants must attend a mandatory classroom session from 6–8 p.m. on May 3 at M.W Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center at Mark Twain Lake. The clinic is free, but pre-registration is required by May 2.

Key Messages: 

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.

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Written By:  Joanie Straub

The clinic is free and lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required by April 30.

WARSAW, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites youth to discover nature with a youth bowfishing clinic on May 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harry S. Truman State Park, 28761 State Park Road, in Warsaw. This program is open to youth ages 10 to 17 with a parent or adult mentor.

The clinic will consist of classroom lessons followed by a field trip. Participants will learn the basics of bowfishing safety, equipment, fish identification, regulations and much more.

Key Messages: 

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and fish.

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Are you a keen UK gardener? Or do you visit parks or gardens? If so then the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the University of Reading (UoR) would like your help by sharing your views on climate change and its impact on gardens and gardening practices in their new online survey.

Dinoflagellate microalgae could be used as a raw material to obtain biodiesel easily and profitably.