Since graduating from the Master of Science in Biology program at Missouri State University in 2021, Gina Buelow has been immersed in conservation.

For this Southeast Iowa native, what started as a childhood curiosity about nature grew into a career rooted in ecology, education and community engagement.

“When I was younger, I spent a lot of time under an oak tree at recess and discovered many interactions and ecosystems,” Buelow said.

She now serves as a natural resources field specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Hands-on education

In 2019, Buelow began her graduate studies at Missouri State. While at the university, Buelow joined Biology Professor Dr. Day Ligon’s Turtle Ecology Lab where she studied physiology and behavior.

Thanks to friendships with fellow students and support from faculty, she engaged in a variety of research. This included flipping rocks for lungless salamanders, snorkeling for mussels and even raising caterpillars in her apartment.

“Everyone was willing to share their time and expertise. They welcomed a helping hand in the field,” said Buelow, who also has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Iowa.

Connecting science with the community

That same spirit of sharing has carried into Buelow’s current role. Among her responsibilities are creating and delivering programs, such as Safe Mushroom Foraging and Master Conservationist. In the former, she teaches people about identifying mushrooms and safety precautions. The latter involves equipping Iowans with the knowledge and skills to make informed natural resource decisions and become local conservation leaders.

She enjoys seeing participants apply what they have learned.

“Once at a farmers market, two female business owners told me they used my program to identify mushrooms in their mulch,” Buelow said. “That was a cool full-circle moment.”

Her latest passion project includes a backyard shiitake mushroom demo site. She has inoculated 30 logs and plans to host hand-on workshops once the mushrooms begin fruiting.

All welcome

Buelow encourages students to embrace what makes them unique.

“There are so many ways to contribute to conservation including research, teaching, writing or art,” she said. “We need all kinds of people and perspectives.”

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