Dr. Joel Hoffman is employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and of course that means
there is a job description attached to his position of research biologist. However, while it is his job to
conduct research, he has also experienced how the EPA recognizes that outreach is important. In his mind,
it's all about integrating the two. He sees public engagement as inherent to research, a viewpoint which
allows him to stop worrying about two separate spheres trying to occupy the same space. The nature of Joel's
research requires him to be interdisciplinary and to collaborate, and as he is involved in resource
management decisions, he has also become involved with a community of stakeholders who need and value his
research results.
