Why did you choose to become a scientist?
I always held an extreme fascination of the natural world and its inhabitants. I wanted to understand the How’s and Why’s behind ecosystem function: What constitutes a “healthy” forest, prairie, river, etc.? Which species of wildlife live in each type of environment and what resources do they need to survive? What do they need to THRIVE? I wanted to know what I could do to help keep our natural lands healthy and how I could protect wildlife in the process. Becoming a scientist has allowed me to explore the natural world at an intimate level and better appreciate all of the wildlife around me. What are your current research interests? My current research interests center around genetics/genomics and evolutionary biology, with reptiles and amphibians as my main classes of interest. Reptiles and amphibians are historically “unpopular” with humans, and have been given a negative reputation of being frightening, slimy, and dangerous over the course of time. What most people don’t realize is that these creatures play a large role in healthy ecosystem function. They are a very important part of the ecological puzzle and without them, many aspects of our lives (the medical field benefits immensely from reptilian research, for example) would be very different. By exploring the genetics and evolutionary histories of these animals, we are able to better understand them and improve our overall understanding of growth, adaptation, and evolution Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? The quality that I think is the most important for making a good scientist is determination. In science, there will undoubtedly be many times when you will reach a roadblock that wears away at your optimism and passion. When this happens, you must remain determined! Science in an ever-evolving field in which new questions are formed every single day. It takes an infinite amount of blood, sweat, tears, and determination to find the answers to your questions. With enough determination, though, you can reach your goals and improve not only yourself as a scientist, but also the scientific field as a whole. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? To aspiring scientists I say, just go for it! There will always be a hundreds reasons to avoid the world of science. It can be unfamiliar, challenging, and even daunting at times. But, if you are passionate about science and have questions about the world’s workings, just trust your gut and immerse yourself into your work wholeheartedly. The reward is worth it. Why 500 women scientists? I stand with 500 Women Scientists because I am grateful for all of the women in science who have paved the way for me so that I may study what I love. There was a time when women were not allowed to pursue their passions so readily. By joining together, we can make certain that the voice of women in science continues to grow and open doors for future generations of strong, smart, and scientifically-curious girls!
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Why did you choose to become a scientist? My path to becoming a scientist began as an accounting major. Feeling somewhat ambivalent about my college pursuits and prospers, I chose the lucrative field of accounting as a career path. However, it only took one accounting course and one environmental biology course to realize my true passion: environmental science. After much internal conflict (and hundreds of “pro’s and con’s” lists), I decided to leap from the safety of a cushy job prospect in business to an exciting and personally fulfilling career path in science. Since deciding to follow my passions, I have truly experienced that science is discovery. Before engaging with the science community, I had no idea that people could spend their life conducting research as a career. I mistook the field of science as black and white, limited by few laboratory technician careers. I quickly learned this is not the case. Every day as a scientist is a day of learning, questioning, and unraveling the world’s truths. As a scientist, I am able to choose my career with few boundaries and limitations. What are your current research interests? I am currently interested in researching how and where people perceive value in natural landscapes. Humans and nature are inextricably linked, and it is integral that conservation efforts include management that reflects this coupled human-nature system. My current research explores the spatial relationships between social values (i.e., aesthetics, perceived biodiversity, and recreation) and landscape metrics in the US and Australia. As environmental issues continue to grow, it is inherent that these concerns are framed in ways that resonate with diverse and unique audiences. It will be people who shape the future conditions of our natural landscapes, thus it is inherent to understand people’s relationships with nature. Understanding the values people perceive in nature and where they ascribe these values can be useful in creating succinct management with strengthened public involvement, ultimately enhancing conservation efforts. It is my goal, as a scientist and researcher, to facilitate pro-environmental behavior through strengthening emphasis on human-nature relationships in conservation efforts. Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? Communication! Finding nuanced results in research is rendered almost useless unless these findings are effectively communicated to the public. The largest issues I experience in environmental science are that effective solutions are being proposed, but the public does not understand or accept these solutions. Effective communication will elicit necessary and positive changes. Being able to communicate to a broad and diverse audience as well as your scientific peers is a useful skill to learn as a scientist. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? Persistence is key! In science many failed attempts precede successful findings but learning from these failures is what makes a great scientist. It may seem easy to lose sight of your pursuits when confronted with difficult obstacles, but these hurdles are all a part of the journey. Surround yourself with like-minded people who can share their stories, offer advice, and empower you to achieve your goals. Why 500 women scientists? I largely subscribe to the belief of inclusiveness and this belief is reflected in my chosen career path, my extra-curriculars, and passions. It is so inspirational seeing women come together to demand this inclusiveness. Science is a largely male driven field and by ignoring this gender gap, science is limiting its full potential. The women belonging to 500 Women Scientists resemble empowerment, equality, enhanced scientific literacy, and community strength. Through this organization I feel that we can make a difference and galvanize anyone that has been made to feel ostracized or oppressed. ![]() I am a conservation scientist focused on the human dimensions of nature conservation. Human behavior is the root cause of most of environmental problems, yet most conservation scientists focus on understanding ecosystems and protecting plants and animals. My is research is focused on understanding human-nature relationships and how to influence and engage people into doing pro-environmental behaviors such as composting, recycling, voting for environmental legislation etc. Sophiawinklerschor.com @ScientistSophia Why did you choose to become a scientist? Raised by two environmental enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest I was always playing outside, hiking, skiing and learning about the natural world. When I was 13 I traveled to South America for the first time. I was stunned by the natural beauty I encountered. The lush green jungles of Venezuela and Peru were like nothing I had seen before. This experience was very formative. As I grew older, I learned about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the increasing impacts of climate change on glaciers and coastal regions. All my experiences and my love of nature inspired me to pursue a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and a M.Sc. in International Nature Conservation so I can continue fighting for the protection of the amazing natural world. What are your current research interests? I am currently researching how people's values (e.g. family security, wealth) influence how they value nature. People's values are very formative for our relationships with nature. Environmental problems will impact everyone, yet in the U.S. they are seen as partisan issues. Through understanding people's values, I hope to frame environmental issues and legislation in ways that resonate with different audiences. Ultimately, everyone will benefit from conservation and climate change policy but our values influence how we digest and interpret information. Understanding what people value can help conservationists develop relevant interventions and policy. My areas of interest are Central and South America and in particular developing interventions for curbing deforestation. Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? The ability to communicate to a broad audience is crucial for scientists. While it is tempting to stay within academia it is imperative, especially for conservation scientists, to share our findings with the general public to curb environmentally detrimental behavior. However, to engage people we must be able to communicate our results in a manner that is easily understandable. Social media platforms and other outreach initiatives can help us achieve this. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? Perseverance is key. There will be classes that are difficult, people who try to bring you down and many other bumps along the way. But the process of overcoming these obstacles will make you a stronger scientist. Surrounding yourself with a community of supportive peers, mentors, family and friends who empower you can help immensely. Why 500 women scientists? I am so inspired that women scientists have come together to empower each other in pursuing our passions. Science is a male-dominated field which I believe hinders its advancement. The more diversity the better and ensuring women in science and aspiring scientists are active, included and supported will help advance all scientific disciplines. ![]() Why did you choose to become a scientist? I first became interested in biology in middle school, which is when I started keeping aquariums and breeding fish. At that age, I had no idea that people conducted research as a profession. Instead, I imagined myself becoming a veterinarian, or maybe being an animal caretaker at a zoo or an aquarium. My career plans changed after I participated in the honors programs as an undergraduate at Northern Illinois University. A requirement of the honors program was to complete a research project, which led me to join an aquatic ecology laboratory. Through my undergraduate research experience, I discovered that liked the problem-solving aspect of research, and found the process of conducting science rewarding. I decided that I wanted to continue on a research career path. I ended up staying at Northern Illinois University to complete my Master’s degree, which focused on sexual selection and social learning in two species of darters (a diverse group of small stream fish). I am now in the 5th year of my PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I have continued to study darters. What are your current research interests? My research uses behavioral and genomic approaches to investigate sexual selection and speciation in fishes. Specifically, I am interested in how the outcome of reproductive interactions (i.e., mating and competing over mates) between species influences speciation. If interspecific reproductive interactions are maladaptive (e.g., if hybrids suffer reduced survival compared to purebred individuals), this can select for divergence in reproductive traits between species in areas where they co-occur. This leads to a pattern of reproductive character displacement, where species exhibit enhanced bias against mating/fighting with members of another species in populations where they are sympatric compared to allopatric with respect to one another. I study how reproductive character displacement promotes sympatric and allopatric speciation in darters, which are one of the most diverse groups of North American stream fishes. Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? Being able to manage your time and having a healthy work-life balance is crucial. There will be periods of time when you need to log long hours in the field or lab collecting data, or in the office writing a manuscript or grant, but it is easy to get burnt out if that is your schedule 100% of the time. It is important that you take time for yourself, which will ultimately make your career more productive and enjoyable. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? As an undergraduate, try to participate in research in a few different laboratories if you can. This will give you an idea of which types of questions interest you (and which don’t). Getting any experience in a lab as an undergraduate will help you to decide if research is something you want to pursue as a career. Why 500 women scientists? I support 500 Women Scientists’ mission of increasing inclusivity in science, providing a supportive community for women in science, and increasing public understanding of science. ![]() Why did you choose to become a scientist? I can't remember not wanting to be a scientist. I've been collecting bugs and gathering specimens from the field by my house since before I can remember. I enjoy spending time outside, thinking deeply about ideas, and helping wildlife, all of which makes this career a perfect fit for me. What are your current research interests? I'm currently focusing on how lands used to produce cattle can also benefit grassland birds and arthropods. Grasslands that support cattle often have been planted with invasive grasses, and I'm focused on one particular invasive grass called tall fescue. Tall fescue is highly valued because it can help control soil erosion and can survive droughts, but it also can make cattle lose weight and potentially causes problems for birds and arthropods. So, I'm exploring how birds and arthropods respond to tall fescue management, but I’m also exploring how willing landowners are to implement this management. I think it’s critical that scientists, especially environmental scientists, don’t neglect the human dimensions of their research. Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? Curiosity. Being excited about the process of exploration makes all the mundane tasks more than worth it. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? Collaborate with your peers and your students. Collaboration not only has the potential to increase the number of manuscripts you have, but it also can challenge your viewpoints, change your perspective, force you to defend your science, and its fun! Why 500 women scientists? Whether we like it or not, science is political. Existing as a woman in science has taught me that. Not only can we influence policy, but scientists are also humans that interact with policy. And these humans include immigrants, people of color, LGBT folks, and more groups who are disproportionately affected by systemic oppression. If scientists ignore these issues, we become complicit in this oppression. Thus, I want to learn how to make science more inclusive and welcoming for all these groups. In particular, I'm currently interested in learning how to make science more welcoming to trans people, who are not often a part of our 'diversity' conversations. ![]() I'm a 2nd year Master's student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science department at UIUC. My program focuses on applied ecology. We try to identify patterns in nature so that we can use this information to inform conservation practices and management decisions. We often explore patterns before and after a management action is preformed so that we can monitor how the populations of interest responded to the treatment. Why did you choose to become a scientist? I want to intervene on behalf of at-risk plants, animals, and ecosystems to help them survive. Since a young age, I was always disturbed at the wave of extinction of wildlife and the destruction of habitat all over the world, on land and underwater. After I graduated from college, I started working at the Wild Bird Fund, New York City's only wildlife rehabilitation center. My work at the Wild Bird Fund was truly formative, and after working there I came to value birds on a personal level. Therefore I want my career to focus on improving bird species' conservation outcomes and increasing our knowledge about birds and their habitats. What are your current research interests? I research how grassland and shrubland bird populations respond to conservation actions, specifically prescribed burns and cattle grazing, by tracking how bird species' abundances respond (e.g. increase or decrease) to these practices. I also study how prescribed fire and grazing change the larger ecosystem by measuring differences in the vegetation and the fire intensity during the prescribed burns. Broadly, I'm hyper-passionate about bird conservation. I'm also intrigued by an "ecosystem approach" to ecology, where we consider how the entire ecosystem functions so that we can conserve, maintain, or restore ecosystem processes, instead of focusing on species alone. Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? Passion! I think it's important to be passionate about your science projects, because it's important to be driven and self-motivated when conducting your research. Research is a long-game. It takes several years to design, conduct, analyze, and publish. There are limitless knowledge gaps you could contribute to, so take some time to identify your passions and go for it. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? Don't take everyone too seriously. The field can feel competitive at times, but don't dwell on it. Focus on your own work and stay confident in yourself. Why 500 women scientists? I've joined 500 Women Scientists because there's a history of hundreds of years obstructing women from pursuing science. I think the best way to overcome these barriers is to organize, support each other, and resist.
Why did you choose to become a scientist?
Being a scientist actually chose me. I knew what I wanted to be since I could talk. My career goals were always to become a medical doctor (though it oscillated between being president of the USA I elementary school). Little did I know, all the things I did throughout school as actually setting me on the path to becoming a computational ecologist. From participating in academic games, debate, DAPCEP (Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program), robotics, science fairs ( in 7th grade, I won 1st place Gold in the city wide science fair for my project titled " The effects of different types of water on a tomato plant"), I was actually setting the foundation to eventually pursue my doctoral degree. I didn't realize this until my Junior year of Undergrad when taking an Ecology class but I'm glad I did and I don't regret it. What are your current research interests? Overall, I'm interested in the complex interactions that occur in nature. To understand them, I use modeling and statistics to try to understand why things happen. Right now, my current research focuses using an integrated, community-based approach to advance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of the tick-borne disease: Lyme disease. Choose one quality that you think is the most important for making a good scientist. Why? Perseverance: Science involves a lot of trial and error. It may even include a couple of failures but eventually it is worth it. You may have to deal with rejections and things not working out for you but with perseverance you will get that acceptance in to a program, scholarship, fellowship, grant funds, job, etc. What advice would you have for aspiring scientists? Find a good mentor. As a matter of fact, find more than one. Someone who believes in you and will time the time to support and guide you. And once that you do, pass along the knowledge you have gain and become a mentor yourself. Do outreach and know that no matter what stage you are at, there is always someone who is trying to get to where you are and who is looking up to you. Why 500 women scientists? I believe that to foster greater recognition of science means that we must increase diversity through active engagement by professionals--principally by those who share similar cultural experiences therefore I place myself in leadership roles to expose the next generation to all possibilities. Because of this, the mission and values of 500 Women Scientists resonated within me. I took the election last year a bit hard because I felt that a lot of what I had been doing for the past few years in terms of my personal career goals and outreach was rendered useless. It took some time, but I realized that I just had to fight harder for what I believed in and with 500 Women Scientists in addition to everything else that I am involved in, I'm going to fight with everything I have to ensure that the progress we have made as women since the Suffrage movement is not for naught. Hopefully, as the Pod coordinator for 500 Women Scientists in the Champaign/Urbana Community, I will be able to do just that. |
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March 2018
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