What's the quickest way to explain complex problems to a general audience whose only experience in sage-steppe is driving through it as quickly as possible on the way to somewhere else? We approached this question with the hypothesis that a picture is worth a thousand words.

With the help of a talented student intern, The Nature Conservancy in Oregon distilled ecology to its essence with a fully illustrated infographic. Eric Rannestad, a dual economics and studio art major at Whitman College, initiated an internship to help tell the story of Precision Restoration visually. The infographic, featured on TNC's Cool Green Science Blog, conveys the key points the public needs to know to understand what's happening, why it matters, and how innovative approaches to restoration can improve success.

Also as part of his internship, Eric also animated the concept underlying time delay seed treatments. Our colleagues at USDA Agricultural Research Service identified mortality due to freezing and thawing events as a key barrier to seeding success. We have helped them design and test seed treatments to delay germination, which keep seeds dormant until later in the season after the danger of freezing subsides. 

Here is how time-delay seed coatings work:

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