Miridae Living Labs

Overview

Miridae Living Labs is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization founded to promote education, research, and community engagement through the use of native plants and arthropods. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization, Miridae Living Labs focuses on enhancing awareness of the ecological roles of native species in urban environments while fostering a scientific appreciation among various communities.

Mission and Vision

The mission of Miridae Living Labs centers around the belief that hands-on interactions with plants and arthropods serve as effective educational tools, particularly in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The organization aims to create environments where education about biodiversity and ecological interactions is accessible and engaging for people of all ages and backgrounds. They envision urban spaces cohabited harmoniously by humans, native plants, and arthropods, where local observation leads to enriched scientific understanding and community involvement.

Programs and Activities

Miridae Living Labs employs several key strategies to achieve its mission:

• Living Labs: The organization establishes small native garden patches throughout the Sacramento area that serve as research plots. These labs are used to monitor urban insect diversity and serve as experimental spaces for landscape ecology studies.

• Citizen Science: Community members are empowered through citizen science projects that allow them to collect ecological data, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and engagement with local biodiversity.

• Mobile Science Education: The organization promotes hands-on mobile science education through living lab gardens that travel within the region, encouraging participation in biodiversity initiatives.

• Research and Best Practices: Miridae conducts research aimed at developing best practices for landscaping that supports native biodiversity. This includes studies on native arthropod propagation and the creation of insectariums to educate the public.

Leadership and Team

Miridae Living Labs is led by co-founders Caroline Larsen-Bircher and Billy Krimmel, both of whom hold advanced degrees in ecology and have extensive experience in educational and ecological research. Their combined expertise helps in bridging the gap between scientific research and community education. The team includes experts in ecology, entomology, education, and landscape design who collaboratively work to engage communities in meaningful environmental projects.

Conclusion

Through innovative educational programs and collaborative research projects, Miridae Living Labs plays a pivotal role in enhancing ecological literacy and fostering community engagement around native biodiversity. The organization continues to adapt and evolve, aiming to meet the needs of the communities it serves while pursuing its overarching goal of ecological stewardship and education.