NPCA's first Conservation Science Toolkit replete with park-specific science resources for all staff to access and further empower their advocacy.  Contains data access, mapping resources, reports, science literature access, subject matter expertise, connectivity to NPS science, academic programs, fellow and intern pathways, etc..  Internal resource.

In an effort to engage in the 30x30 initiative, we developed a science-based system to rank quantitative and qualitative landscape variables and score proposed landscapes from across NPCA Regions, resulting in 20 (30x30) park landscapes. Revised Atlas (adopted by Regions and Development).  2025 science publication.

Based on our ESA database, this report involved working with NPCA Regional offices to develop compelling stories on the relationship between ESA and NPs.  In partnership with Defenders of Wildlife.  Website.

Storytelling with science:  NPCA's only science publication - and NPCA's only program/departmental publication.  After 5 years it took on a magazine quality under the leadership of a talented in-house team.  Science News is an internal resource (often shared) to bring awareness of the value of science for advocacy.  Fall / Winter 2025; Spring / Summer 2026

Through the NPCA Core Values and JEDI leadership teams, this lecture series focused on bringing highly influential people to NPCA to help us better understand sensitive subject matter issues within the JEDI arena.  Our first guest: Susan Goldberg, Editor in Chief, National Geographic Magazine.  The inspiration for this format came from Inside the Actor's Studio with James Lipton.

Curated and developed the only existing web database and interactive map of ESA listed species in administrative boundaries of US National Parks.  In partnership with Defenders of Wildlife. https://esa.npca.org/ 

Field-based study abroad program involving numerous on-site partners, organizations, complex on-site logistics, contracts, budgeting, travel, and development of entire syllabus. I taught this course and led the program for just ove 10 years.  https://www.ryanvaldez.com/education 

As a result of my doctoral research, I designed a full camera-trapping program for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Kenya).  The inspiration came from this image of a female endangered black rhino.  That she had a calf was unknown (see lack of ear-notching) and without the camera traps, it would have remained unknown for some time.  This influenced Ol Pejeta to invest in this technology for conservation and I worked to design the system in use.

International, multi-year, seasonal, multi-partner effort to assess biodiversity among private ranches in Kenya.  Strong NGO and community involvement. Rigorous field work.  Distinguished alumni award.

Official, internal team of 14 staff at NPCA to elevate science, develop new tools and resources for NPCA, and to have a stronger voice to empower advocacy with sound science.  This is the first science leadership team in NPCA's history.

As part of my sabbatical, I traveled with my dog, Ennio, to numerous parks in the US to research accessibility of dogs to NPs.  This resulted in the only existing dog accessibility map for national parks in the US - in addition to the enjoyment of sharing stories through Esri StoryMaps from each park site.  Website.

In partnering with Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS), we developed a research approach to target four primary areas of coastal resiliency impacting US national parks: blue carbon, marine protected areas, sea level rise, and coastal erosion.  I was more involved with conceptualizing what areas to focus on and weather we could bridge with our GIS team.  StoryMap.

Established a suite of mapping tools for 26 NGO and federal partner organizations who were the primary stakeholders in the development of a proposed NP unit.  These map-based resources provided access to multiple layers of information per private/federal land parcel.  In conjunction with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Created and made accessible nearly 20 disciplinary Science Supplementals; park relevant, subject matter resources used to empower advocacy (science citations).  These are the latest, most relevant, authoritative science sources for NPCA needs per issue (wildlife, paleontology, air, climate, landscapes, etc.).  The entire suite was supported in research by NPCA's Science Advisory and Leadership Team (SALT)

Originally branded a broad science fellowship with NPCA, this program evolved to target graduate students at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment in partnership with the Park Institute of America.  Under new leads, it now focuses on landscape level conservation with an emphasis on GIS tools. Website.

Multi-organizational repository of Amazon geospatial information to inform decision-making for Amazon development projects.  8-country member participation of numerous NGO and federal organizations working through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).  Travel involved with each Amazon nation. > 5 year program.

In coordination with the International Affairs Office of Smithsonian and the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Colombia, I traveled to and helped retrieve a full collection of 30+ pieces of art from the country of Colombia.  These were then put on display at the Amazonia exhibit of the National Zoo (Patria de Tres Mares) celebrating the botanical (scientific) art of José Celestino Mutis.  

Acquired and installed a Science on a Sphere at the Amazonia Science Gallery.  Involved budgeting, acquisition of SOS from World Bank, and numerous steps for installation.  https://www.ryanvaldez.com/exhibits

Administered by the NPCA Development Travel Program team, I co-led two donor/member trips; Channel Islands NP and Alaska's Inside Passage - both in partnership with Lindblad Expeditions. These trips are designed to humanize the connection of our members and donors to NPCA work.  We share the experience of protecting parks through using an inside baseball approach.   https://www.npca.org/trips 

Working closely with NPCA's Legal Team, I developed a suite of simple maps (appendices) that were officially included in litigation to visualize proposed boundary reductions, inholdings, and technical boundary conflicts. These were predominantly for Grand Teton NP (private inholdings), Grand Staircase Escalante NM (NPS), and Bears Ears NP (BLM).