Speaker Biography: Ashley Steel

Dr. Ashley Steel is a quantitative ecologist with the NW Fisheries Science Center Watershed Program in the National Marine Fisheries Service. Her applied research interests are in riverine ecology. Her research experience includes studies on the effects of in-stream conditions on juvenile salmonid migration patterns, methods for measuring water visibility, and the role of river-deposited wood in providing habitat for birds and small mammals in riparian areas. Her current research focuses on the relationships between land-use, geology, climate and spatial patterns in salmon abundance. Primary statistical interests include analysis of repeated measures data, use of computer intensive analysis techniques for ecological data, effectiveness of species diversity indices, and quantification of variability in river flows over time. Ashley is committed to communicating the importance of scientific thinking and quantitative skills through her involvement with The TRUTH About Science and other K-12 science curricula. Ashley Steel holds a B.S. from Duke University, a M.S. in River Ecology (University of Washington 1993), a M.S. in Statistics (University of Washington 1997), and a Ph.D. in Quantitative Ecology (University of Washington 1999).