Extension educator Emily Hansen shifts to natural resources role in four counties

Emily Hansen, previously a commercial agriculture educator for the University of Illinois Extension, is now Extension’s natural resources, environment and energy educator for Bureau, La Salle, Marshall and Putnam counties, Extension announced.In the new role, Hansen will develop programs to help residents understand and care for Illinois’ natural resources, according to Extension.“My background is in biology and ecology, and I’ve always been fascinated by how ecosystems function and how people interact with them,” Hansen said.Over the past year, Hansen has offered programs across north-central Illinois on fossils and the state’s natural history, soil science, moth ecology, bat conservation, and insect collection and pinning, Extension said.She plans to add programs on wildlife, native plants, insects, ecology and conservation. One coming program covers the Mazon Creek fossils, a topic Hansen said has drawn strong interest from Master Naturalist volunteers and residents.“It’s such a uni