For almost 40 years, Karen Oberhauser and her students conducted research on several aspects of Monarch butterfly ecology, using traditional lab and field techniques, as well as the contributions of a variety of audiences through participatory science. In 1996, she started the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP). As Director of the UW-Madison Arboretum from 2017-2023, Karen fostered a strong Participatory Science program that incorporated the MLMP and many other projects to engage the public in meaningful ecological data collection. She worked with K-12 teachers beginning in 1992, using Monarchs and the connections people feel for this amazing insect to promote greater understanding of science and conservation. Karen is passionate about building connections between humans and the natural world, is a founding officer of the Monarch Butterfly Fund, and has served on several state and national organizations focused on pollinator conservation and participatory science.