Check out SGI staff and stories featured in video, written, and audio media platforms. For a full list of research related publications by SGI staff and affiliates, please visit our Research Index pages.
Feature Stories 🎥
“The Prairie Preacher” PBS Appalachia Virginia, Aug 28, 2024. Documentary.
“Saving Southeastern Grasslands | Dr. Dwayne Estes | TEDxClarksville”. TEDx Talks, Oct 11, 2024. TED Talk.
Webinars, lectures, Seminars & Symposia 🌐
WEbinars, lecutres,& seminars
“Dreaming Big; Saving the Forgotten Grasslands of the Southeast” Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Dr. Dwayne Estes. Archbold Biological Station & Buck Island Ranch, Apr 25, 2025. Seminar.
“The Southeastern Grasslands Institute; Science and Strategy to Save Southeastern Grasslands” Southern Grasslands with Theo Witsell. Audubon Arkansas, Oct 24, 2024. Seminar.
“Live at The Eastern Native Grasslands Symposium with Dwayne Estes and Kyle Lybarger” Native Plants, Healthy Planet, Sept 13, 2024. Recorded Symposium.
“Dr. Dwayne Estes - Southeastern Grasslands” Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter, Oct 11, 2020. Seminar.
“Arkansas’s Grasslands: Natural History and Conservation with Theo Witsell” Arkansas Native Plant Society, May 22, 2021. Seminar.
“From Marshes to Meadows: Exploring Maryland’s Grasslands” Maryland Native Plant Society 2020 Conference Keynote, Aug 29, 2020. Seminar.
“Assessment of Science Needs for Rare Plants of Conservation Concern in Southeastern Grasslands” Center for Plant Conservation, Mar 4, 2020. Seminar.
“Dwayne Estes - The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative” Clinton School Speakers, Nov 5, 2018. Seminar.
“The Pennyroyal Plain Prairie: a vision for restoring a forgotten ecosystem. Dwayne Estes (Southeastern Grasslands Initiative)” Available via Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium JFSP Fire Science Exchange Network. Dec 15, 2015. Webinar.
“Using Fire and Grazing to Maintain Productive and Ecologically Resilient Grasslands”. Chris Helzer (The Nature Conservancy) Available via USDA's Science & Technology Training Library Webinar Portal for Conservation of Natural Resources. 1 hr, 4 min. Jun 1, 2017. Webinar.
symposia
“Live at The Eastern Native Grasslands Symposium with Dwayne Estes and Kyle Lybarger” Native Plants, Healthy Planet, Sept 13, 2024. Recorded Symposium.
Podcast, TV, & Radio Appearances 📻
podcast
“Ep. 331: Backwoods University - Bison East of The Mississippi” The MeatEater Podcast, Episode 331, June 9, 2025.
“The Prairie Preacher and a Rant By Steve Ep. 667” The MeatEater Podcast, Episode 667, Feb 24, 2025.
“Land & Legacy - Southeastern Grasslands Initiative with Dwayne Estes” Sportsmen’s Empire, Feb 16, 2025.
“Ep. 206 The Great Forgotten Prairies of the Southeast” The Prairie Farm Podcast, Episode 206, Nov 29, 2024.
“Episode 9 | Dr. Dwayne Estes” Top Hat STEM Chat, Episode 9, Sept 3, 2024.
“Ep. 119: Dr. Dwayne Estes of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute” Beasts Of Burden, Episode 119, Jan 19, 2024.
“BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 163: The Southeastern Grasslands Institute” Backcountry Hunter & Anglers Podcast and Blast, Episode 163, Aug 29, 2023.
“Replaying the Hits - Dr. Dwayne Estes & Samuel Thayer” Native Plants, Healthy Planet, Apr 7, 2023.
“Where the Internet Lives: Data center on the prairie” Google Cloud, Mar 20, 2023.
“Measuring Success, Quantifying Natural History, and Grasslands with Dwayne Estes” Environmental Professionals Radio, Mar 24, 2023.
“Ep 143: Preserving, Restoring & Re-Creating Grasslands on Your Property” Huntin’ Land Podcast, Episode 143, Mar 9, 2023.
“The Forgotten History of Tennessee’s Native Grasslands” The Experience Austin Peay Podcast, Dec 24, 2022.
“Ep. 363 - Celebrating the Grasses” In Defense of Plants, Episode 363, Apr 3, 2022.
“#168 | Southeastern Grasslands Initiative with Jeremy French”. Birdshot Podcast, Episode 168, Mar 17, 2022.
“Southeastern Grasslands- Theo Witsell” Stewarding the Land, Jan 17, 2022.
“Podcast Ep. 119: Bobwhite Quail Habitat Through Southeastern Grasslands Initiative” On the Wing Podcast by Pheasants Forever. Habitat & Conservation, May 26, 2021.
“Conserving our Southeastern Grasslands with Dwayne Estes” Backyard EcologyTM, Jan 7, 2021.
“Meet the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative on Native Plants” Native Plants, Healthy Planet Podcast, Aug 28, 2020.
“The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative” In Defense of Plants, Episode 238, Nov 10, 2019.
“Dr. Dwayne Estes of Austin Peay State University on Sedges and Such” The Native Plant Podcast, Nov 15, 2016.
radio & TV
“In Depth: Biology professor hopes to save endangered animals through grassland restoration” on NewsChannel 5, Nov 26, 2021. TV Interview.
“Saving Grasslands In The Southeast” on WUTC Scenic Roots, Oct 23, 2019. Radio Interview.
“Old-growth grasslands, a preview with SGI Director, Dr. Dwayne Estes” Interview with Roan Mountain Radio, Johnson City, TN, Feb 17, 2018. Radio Interview.
Articles 📰
in print media
Alabama launches $17.5M black belt prairie initiative to restore vanishing grasslands and rebuild wildlife populations by Mary Spiller for Black Enterprise, November 26, 2025.
Stronger Communities, Stronger Economy: Tennessee’s Nature-Based Solutions by Bill Frist for Forbes, November 17, 2025.
Scientists discover an ancient landscape - in our own backyard by Dana Milbank for The Washington Post, November 14, 2025.
Champions of Conservation: Dwayne Estes: Prairie Sage - reviving the South’s imperiled — and nearly forgotten — prairies, meadows, and savannas by Garden & Gun Magazine October/November 2025.
Honoring Conservation Champions: Acre by Acre 2025 by Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, September 26, 2025.
Park with Purpose: Clare’s Meadow by Carrington Fox for nFOCUS, August 21, 2025.
Inside the race to restore Tennessee’s native grasslands, before it’s too late by Pierce Gentry for NPR’s WUOT, July 16, 2025.
An ambitious initiative seeks to restore native grasslands at dozens of Eastern national park sites by Katherine DeGroff in the National Parks Conservation Association’s Greener Acres Spring 2025.
Forgotten Landscapes: Bringing Back the Rich Grasslands of the Southeast by Janet Marinelli in Yale e360, Jun 20, 2019.
What did Alabama’s landscapes look like in 1819? Hint: think Kansas with prairies and bamboo by Pat Byington in Bham Now, Aug 22, 2019.
Seas of grass long gone from Tennessee, but APSU looks to restore them by Jimmy Settle. Published in The Leaf Chronicle, Jun 2, 2017.