Media Contact: Kelly Woerdehoff
Communications Coordinator
515-956-3696
woerdehoff@krellinst.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2007

Dr. Mary Schon Joins Krell Institute

Ames, IA - The Krell Institute has announced the addition of Dr. Mary Schon to the Krell team.  Dr. Schon comes to Krell after 17 years of bringing science to life at Epcot at Walt Disney World.  While with Disney, she was Plant Nutritionist and Plant Science Coordinator for The Land greenhouses, then Manager of Science Communications for Epcot.  Dr. Schon recruited and trained college interns and international scientists to communicate science effectively to the Epcot family audience.  She partnered with creative and operational teams to develop and implement science-related activities, tours, and shows, and worked closely with the Business Development Team to attract corporate and organizational sponsors interested in developing science-related experiences at Epcot.  Dr. Schon has been an invited speaker for audiences including the National Science Board, NASA Education Team, American Farm Bureau Federation, and thousands of students.

At Krell, she plans to use her passions for agricultural science and education and her communication and development skills to promote agriculture and life sciences to a broad audience.  Her mission is to utilize compelling stories and interactive experiences to make science engaging and relevant to all ages.  She hopes to increase the public's awareness of the many ways that science impacts their lives, to inspire youth to explore science careers, and to train science students and scientists to more effectively communicate the value and excitement of the science they are involved in.  She plans to identify and partner with scientific organizations and/or corporations interested in conveying their science success stories to the public, potential clients, or other target audiences.

Dr. Schon earned a B.A. in Biology Education from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota; an M.A. in Biology from the University of South Dakota; and a Ph.D. in Agronomy/Plant Physiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia on a USDA National Needs Fellowship.

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