Community members invited to conservation-focused Oak Lake Field Day

All are invited to learn more about conservation research projects and how South Dakota State University is preparing the next generation of conservationists at the upcoming Oak Lake Field Station Field Day. Hear from SDSU experts on a variety of conservation topics on Thursday, July 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at 19862 483rd Ave., Astoria.

While most of South Dakota State University’s field stations conduct conservation research in some capacity, Oak Lake is unique for its focus on research to conserve native plants and animal species.

Specific topics for this year’s field day include an introduction to using artificial intelligence to identify insects, the impact of a changing climate on plant-pollinator interactions, an overview of how the SDSU Department of Natural Resource Management trains undergraduate students in data collection, and a presentation about the role of field stations in research, teaching and community outreach.

The field station, which includes around 500 acres of prairie and 100 acres of forest, regularly welcomes SDSU students and community members to participate in a variety of learning opportunities including through the Oak Lake Fire School, summer camps and field trips. The field day offers everyone the opportunity to learn about conservation research happening at the field station, in the classroom and across the state.

The field day will include lunch and SDSU ice cream. Attendees will receive an Agricultural Experiment Station giveaway item and can enter to win a cooler backpack. While there is no cost to attend the field day, registration is highly recommended in order to get accurate counts for food and resource materials. Registration is available online.

The Oak Lake Field Station is a South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station research station. This field day is one of seven hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences taking place across the state of South Dakota this summer. More information about future field days is available on the SDSU website.