Karen Oberhauser Conservation Biologist
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Karen Oberhauser
Karen Oberhauser, Ph.D. is a Conservation Biologist who has spent the past 35+ years studying the now-endangered monarch butterfly.
Her research addresses many aspects of monarch butterfly ecology, including habitat management, and availability, and risks posed by global climate change and pest control practices.
Dr. Oberhauser has a strong interest in engaging K-12 students and teachers in inquiry-based science and promoting a citizenry with a high degree of scientific and environmental literacy. She developed a comprehensive science education program called Monarchs in the Classroom, which involves courses and workshops for teachers, opportunities for youth to engage in research and share their findings with broad audiences, a nationwide Citizen Science project called the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, and curriculum development.
She is passionate about the conservation of the world’s biodiversity and believes that the connections her projects promote between monarchs, humans, and the natural world will help to promote conservation actions. She chairs the Steering Committee of the Monarch Joint Venture, is an officer and founding member of the Monarch Butterfly Fund, and is a member of state and national organizations that are focused on pollinator conservation and citizen science.
Dr. Oberhauser graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Harvard College, a Bachelor of Science degree in natural science education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in ecology and behavioral biology from the University of Minnesota. In October 2017, she became the director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.
Monarch Joint Venture kindly made two “Monarchs in the Classroom” lesson plans available for Story Preservation Initiative to share with project participants - “What is Habitat?” and “A Field Guide to Monarch Habitat.” You will find easy-to-download copies below. These lesson plans are from the Monarchs in the Classroom 4th edition. The 5th edition, available here has been updated to better align with NGSS.
