Invasive Species and How to Stop Them

Katie O’Reilly, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant & Illinois Natural History Survey

“Now more than ever, our science needs to be recognized. It needs to be communicated. And who better to do that than the scientists?

— Katie O’Reilly

Fighting Invasive Species Starts With Awareness

For Katie O’Reilly, the fight against invasive species is personal. Growing up near Lake Erie, her early memories of green, algae-choked water and beaches littered with invasive mussel shells sparked a lifelong mission to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems. Now, as a specialist with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, O’Reilly combines research, education, and outreach to empower people to act before it’s too late.

Invasive species like zebra mussels have transformed the Great Lakes since the 1980s, and once established, they’re nearly impossible to eliminate. That’s why prevention is key. In this film, Katie explores the critical link between science, communication, and policy, showing that scientists must be more than researchers; they must also be messengers. Whether speaking with anglers or policymakers, Katie’s goal is the same: to make the science actionable and inspire collective responsibility for the ecosystems we all depend on.