Dr. Diana Carle earned her PhD in Entomology, a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Anthropology as well as a minor in Classics. However, her most impactful educational experience was the nature-based homeschool program she attended from kindergarten through 6th grade. From exploring and sketching life along the pond’s edge, to observing the miracle of butterfly metamorphosis, she learned at a young age that no classroom was as captivating as the one created by God in nature.

As well as being incredibly cute, raising chicks from eggs helped us understand life cycles, how structure aids function, and systems science of agroecology.

Collecting a crop from the garden where my sister and I got to see and understand how biotic and abiotic factors help make fruits and vegetables grow.

The chickens we raised were excellent at teaching us kids responsibility and how to steward God’s creatures.

Enjoying the wonder of a monarch butterfly after completing metamorphosis.

Learning to take care of a new baby duckling with my sister as we observed how ducks use oil from a special gland to make them more buoyant in water.

My sister and I studying the different fish varieties’ feeding habits and preferences.

Our horse was an amazing pet, and an awesome way to learn about animal locomotion, nutritional science, and even binocular vs. monocular vision.

There are many different types of chickens and learning the morphology, physiology, and behaviors linked to each breed was essential to excellent showmanship!

She has spent over 13 years in environmental research and STEM education, creating and delivering a wide range of hands-on science-based curricula for undergraduate, graduate, and adult professional education courses at Rutgers University. Dr. Carle has served as a research associate on the Nurture thru Nature project, a grade 3-12   after school and summer nature-based program aimed at bolstering students’ scholastic performance and social development. She ran New Jersey’s mosquito control training and certification program where she educated health department personnel on responsible mosquito control which conserves both human and environmental health.  Dr. Carle currently creates nature-based educational materials and manages two conservation projects in: Monarch Butterfly Conservation and Pollinator Habitat Restoration.