Check out Imogene’s blog post for Panthera on what it was like to see a wild snow leoaprd for the first time. Click here.
Panthera Blog- Decoding Snow Leopard DNA and Diversity
Check out Imogene’s blog with Panthera on her collaborative work on the rare and elusive snow leopard. Click here.
2019 Conservation + Science Gift Giving!
I’m not gonna lie: I like wrapping presents more than I like opening presents. There’s something about a perfectly decorated gift and the joy of watching someone you care about be utterly delighted by something you’ve chosen for them. I also really like gifts related to the outdoors, and I especially like gifts that do good. As a conservationist, I’m constantly thinking about the impact of my dollars, the impact of the products I buy, and how I can curate a life with minimal negative impact and maximum enjoyment. And while not everyone wants a book on the sex lives of snakes, some of us really, really do. Whether it’s your mom, your crush, the neighbor down the street, or someone who wants to go to college, finding the right gift that is both useful, interesting, and meaningful can be difficult. This year, I’ve put together a list of gift ideas for that wildlife or outdoor aficionado in your life. Each item supports the work of a conservation organization, research project, STEM nonprofit, or features the work of a scientist. Enjoy!
Stickers, enamel pins, and jewelry
Cardinal pin from The Wildlife Host- Ashley Gary is a wildlife science communicator who recently made these awesome enamel pins of one of America’s favorite backyard visitor, the cardinal. Made for a jacket, bag, or shirt, these pins are a fun way to tell the world “I LOVE BIRDS.” https://www.thewildlifehost.com/shop
TWO PHOTON ART-Basically anything from Two Photon is worth it, from the awesome science-related pins to the jewelry to the brain cufflinks (yes you read that right). Two Photon is the brainchild of two full-time scientists, Tera Johnson and Christine Liu, and their delightful stickers, enamel pins, and jewelry represent several disciplines (think neuroscience, chemistry, genetics). Or, if you want to make a statement about inclusion or discipline in science (#ScienceIsForEveryone), this is the shop for you. They’ve got it all! Me? I really want the phylogenetic earrings! https://twophotonart.com/collections
#FindThatLizard- Earyn McGee hosts a weekly photo based game on Twitter and Instagram called #FindThatLizard. Each week participants search for a lizard camoflauged in its natural habitat. Earyn uses this game to teach people cool facts about lizards and show what a herpetologist (someone who studies reptiles and amphibians) can look like. Her sticker is perfect for lizard lovers! https://www.etsy.com/shop/FindThatLizard
Skype A Scientist matches scientists with classrooms around the work to increase student access to real scientists. Their sticker line is PHENOMENAL and proceeds directly support their efforts to connect classrooms with experts to increase science literacy and expose kids to valuable career paths. https://www.redbubble.com/people/sarahmackattack/collections/973749-skype-a-scientist?asc=u
The scicomm project BirdGlamour by Dr. Lisa Buckley uses makeup to get people excited about the diversity of our present-day theropods (a.k.a. birds!), from the teeniest hummingbird to the most misunderstood vulture! All images are inspired by Bird Glamour and provides inspiration in cosmetics! The stickers are beautiful and perfect for bird nerds, but she’s also got shirts and bags! https://www.redbubble.com/people/birdglamour/portfolio/recent
Clothing that Supports Science
Skype A Scientist matches scientists with classrooms around the world (at no cost to classrooms!) to give students of all ages the change to get to know a “real scientist.” 501©(3) non-profit program relies on public support, and 100% of sales from their AWESOME merch supports the program. You can shop shirts, sweaters, totes, and stickers featuring an array of species portrayed by various talented artists. So, whether your friend loves Anglerfish, bees, Medusa, axolotls, or pipettes, gifts from Skype A Scientist look cool AND pay it forward. And that’s what its all about. Check it out: https://www.skypeascientist.com/merch.html
The Alongside Wildlife Foundation is a 501©(3) non-profit charity supported by a grassroots network of people who are passionate about wildlife. This foundation funds research and outreach for projects all over the world with support from recurring donors- people like you and me who give a $1 or $10 a month. Last year, the foundation began a small-grants program to boost projects that are typically overlooked by larger funding agencies. By either donating in someone’s name or grabbing one of their t-shirts (or stickers or totes) with their sweet logo, you’re directly supporting projects on wolves, penguins, frogs, tigers, and crayfish, all over the world! https://alongsidewildlifefoundation.org/
My friend Wes, a wildlife biologist, wanted to figure out a fun way to educate the public about threatened species and create a product that would help people feel connected to animal conservation. He co-founded Socks For Animals which features unique species with an explanation of their threats, and a portion of the proceeds from sock sales (which have designs of that species) go DIRECTLY to a conservation organization working on the ground to help conserve the species of interest. With new species every month, these socks look AND feel good. https://socksforanimals.com/collections/all
Do you know someone who loves science podcats? Ologies is the best science podcast featuring experts discussing on their respective -ology field. Hosted by the hilarious Alie Ward, this podcast is educational, fun, and offers some great merch (not just clothes) repping a myriad of interests. Even if you don’t listen to podcasts, the designs on the shirts and sweaters are perfect for natural history lovers. I especially love her “Ask Smart People Stupid Questions” line! https://ologiesmerch.com/
The Turtle Survival Alliance is one of my favorite orgs because of their quality conservation work and their campaign “Drink Beer. Save Turtles” which purveys limited edition brews , merchandise, and tasting events that contribute directly to turtle conservation projects. Their awesome merchandise can be purchased thru their website or on Amazon and features several species and projects. Perfect gear (including hats!) for the turtle lover in your life. https://secure.turtlesurvival.org/np/clients/turtlesurvival/giftstore.jsp#.W6j-GmhKhPY
CATS CATS CATS
*I’m sorry, did you think I’d make an entire gift guide and not have a whole section devoted to wild cat conservation?
Urban Fishing Cat Project- Do you know someone who would love some unique shirts featuring really awesome wild cats? LOOK NO FURTHER, because this is obviously the next best thing to seeing a fishing cat in the wild. The Urban Fishing Cat Project works to conserve the urban population of fishing cats in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded and run by conservationist Anya Ratnayaka (#WomenInScience), The Urban Fishing Cat Project is a nonprofit that is studying how these nationally endangered cats are adapting to rapid degradation in Colombo. Fishing cats are unique to the cat world in that they are wetland specialists! Your awesome gift goes directly towards research efforts for these cool cats, whose conservation contributes to healthier ecosystems for wildlife and for people. You can also make a monetary donation in someone’s honor. Check out their merch shop here: https://scar.lk/shop/
Panthera- While the anti-poaching efforts, research, and community conservation efforts of Panthera- the only organization in the world devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s wild cats- is largely funded by public donations, you can also support their work to address the threats facing cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards, and tigers through their gift shop, which includes everyday + outdoor apparel, accessories, bags, hats, and more. This is also the first year Panthera has come out with a line of drinkware, and I am loving these reusable options with the fancy big cat logo. From the YETI tumbler, the 16 oz mixing glass, and the Panthera-logo whiskey stones, this drinking swag gives back. Check it out: https://store.panthera.org/
The Felidae Conservation Fund- Felidae is a nonprofit organization that focuses on wild cat conservation worldwide through active research and itneractive educational programs for children and adults. With an impressive list of researchers, volunteers, and collaborators (including some listed here), contributions to The Felidae Conservation Fund supports growth and expansion of projects for many wild cat species. Their store features a variety of apparel and home accessories highlighting specific projects. http://www.felidaefund.org/?q=products
Save LA Cougars- The #SaveLACougars campaign, which supports the conservation, education and fundraising for the project, is a collaborative effort of the National Wildlife Federation and the Santa Monica Mountains Fund that is working to build the world’s largest wildlife crossing for Los Angeles’ cougar population. With California’s mountain lions facing increasing habitat loss and fragmentation due to urban sprawl and road expansion, road mortality is a huge threat to their conservation. By supporting their campaign, you get sweet merch AND contribute to big cat (and other wildlife species!) conservation. https://savelacougars.myshopify.com/collections/all
Snow Leopard Trust -If you love snow leopards but don’t necessarily want animal print décor in your home, I recommend the all of the handmade products over at Snow Leopard Trust (especially the Kyrgyz bedside rugs). Snow Leopard Trust helps snow leopards through their community conservation programs, which include livestock-wildlife mitigation and creating economic opportunities for families living in snow leopard habitats, which augments the loss of livestock from depredation and reduces retaliatory killings of these big cats. With a wide variety of conservation-focused handicrafts, your gift directly supports snow leopard conservation by supporting livelihoods. SLT also has a great line of apparel and accessories, too! https://shop.snowleopard.org/
Cheetah Conservation Fund- Cheetahs are one of the main reasons I got into conservation, and this organization is very near and dear to my heart. You can donate to CCF directly, or snag one of their beautiful books: https://cheetah.org/learn/ccf-books/
Gifts for Kids
The Ink-Credible Cephalopod Coloring Book will fill you with facts about earth's most charismatic invertebrates while you fill them with color! Large pages of cephalopod anatomy and a glossary of words and descriptions makes this a kid/adult-friendly book. These facts come from cephalopod expert, Sarah McAnulty. https://www.amazon.com/Ink-credible-cephalopod-coloring-book/dp/198091446X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543594013&sr=8-1&keywords=ink-credible
The Ada Lace chapter book series follows an eight-year-old girl with a knack for science, math, and solving mysteries with technology. Written by Emily Calandrelli—host of Xploration Outer Space, correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World, and graduate of MIT. For ages 5-10. https://www.amazon.com/Ada-Lace-Case-Adventure/dp/1481485989/ref=bseries_primary_1_1481485989
At the beginning of 2017, an innocent question on twitter about snakes formed the hashtag #DoesItFart as dozens of experts weighed in on which animals do and don't fart, and if they do, how much, how often, what it's made of, what it smells like, and what it's for. Written by my friends Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti, and illustrated by our friend Ethan Kocak, Does it Fart? is the result: the fully authoritative, fully illustrated guide to animal flatulence, covering the habits of 80 animals in more detail than you ever knew you needed. Great for adults and kids. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y4BJX93/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sout?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sout-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B06Y4BJX93&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
… After Does It Fart? comes Number Two...a fully illustrated compendium of animal facts and falsehoods--the more repulsive the better. From the scientist duo behind the New York Times bestselling sensation Does It Fart? comes a new illustrated compendium True or Poo: The Definitive Field Guide to Filthy Animal Facts and Falsehoods. https://www.amazon.com/True-Poo-Definitive-Filthy-Falsehoods/dp/0316528129/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2/132-0884690-3441408?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0316528129&pd_rd_r=26a72e5d-86cc-4e1d-b35d-ee99112dbab2&pd_rd_w=Efy8x&pd_rd_wg=WO1xC&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=X2ZRKY0N1X321YQ6E3DB&psc=1&refRID=X2ZRKY0N1X321YQ6E3DB
…In the third installment of this series, Believe It or Snot, Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti detail the slimy secrets of 80 organisms that ooze, drip, dribble, and splatter. With each entry being one single page, the authors dive into the goo and come up with a definitive ranking of earth's slimiest creatures-while offering up a plethora of facts about the natural world's ooze, gunge, sludge, gunk, and goop. Illustrated by Ethan Kocak. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0306846144/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
Written by American Museum of Natural History educator Dustin Growick, Dinosaur A to Z is a colorful parade of the most exciting creatures that have ever lived and provides a line-up of the biggest, smallest, baddest, nicest, scaliest, and everything-in-between dinosaurs that have been discovered to date, as well as other prehistoric creatures of the air, land, and sea. Specially commissioned CGI images of children alongside the dinosaurs illustrate exactly how big—or small—each one was in comparison, and children can learn how to pronounce dinosaur names and discover the meaning behind each, and learn about different dinosaur shapes, sizes, and meals. Dinosaur A to Z is the perfect first visual dictionary for little dinosaur enthusiasts. https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Z-Dustin-Growick/dp/1465463143
Packed with pop-ups, flaps, games, activities, and mind-blowing facts, Utterly Amazing Dinosaur explores the prehistoric world of dinosaurs, from the mighty T. rex to the armored Stegosaurus. See the different stages of how fossils are formed, and study the skeletons of different dinosaurs, and get up close to a Velociraptor with a special pop-up. Learn about the dinosaurs that swam in the sea, stomped on land, or flew in the sky. Find out what different dinosaurs ate, from herbivore to carnivore to omnivore. The colorful illustrations clearly show the different types of dinosaurs, and the pronunciation guide teaches readers how to say those tricky dinosaur names. https://www.amazon.com/Utterly-Amazing-Dinosaur-Dustin-Growick/dp/1465453660/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1574218011&refinements=p_27%3ADustin+Growick&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Dustin+Growick
Good Books to Curl Up With
The Wolverine Way reveals the natural history of this species and the forces that threaten its future, engagingly told by Douglas Chadwick, who volunteered with the Glacier Wolverine Project. This five-year study in Glacier National Park – which involved dealing with blizzards, grizzlies, sheer mountain walls, and other daily challenges to survival – uncovered key missing information about the wolverine’s habitat, social structure and reproduction habits. Wolverines, according to Chadwick, are the land equivalent of polar bears in regard to the impacts of global warming. I loved this book. I love the Glacier National Park ecosystem. I love wolverines. I tore my hip flexor tracking one in Washington state. This book is an easy read that walks the reader through a research project on the enigmatic, funny, and tough-as-nails carnivore. Buy it. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7888737-the-wolverine-way
First published in 1949, A Sand County Almanac combines some of the finest nature writing since Thoreau with an outspoken and highly ethical regard for America's relationship to the land. Written with an unparalleled understanding of the ways of nature, the book includes a section on the monthly changes of the Wisconsin countryside; another part that gathers informal pieces written by Leopold over a forty-year period as he traveled through the woodlands of Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona, Sonora, Oregon, Manitoba, and elsewhere; and a final section in which Leopold addresses the philosophical issues involved in wildlife conservation. An absolute classic for those who love nature, and a foundational and pleasurable reading for any student interested in conservation and wildlife. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210404.A_Sand_County_Almanac_and_Sketches_Here_and_There
Of course I have to recommend The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen. When Matthiessen went to Nepal to study the Himalayan blue sheep and, possibly, to glimpse the rare and beautiful snow leopard, he undertook his five-week trek as winter snows were sweeping into the high passes. This is a radiant and deeply moving account of a "true pilgrimage, a journey of the heart." https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/764165.The_Snow_Leopard
I LOVED Last Chance to See. This hilarious and emotional book details rare fauna around the world and enchants the reader to consider the importance of conserving them. This book will make you care about wildlife and you’ll laugh at the mishaps along the way. Book summary: Join bestselling author Douglas Adams and zooligist Mark Carwardine as they take off around the world in search of exotic, endangered creatures. Hilarious and poignant--as only Douglas Adams can be--LAST CHANCE TO SEE is an entertaining and arresting odyssey through the Earth's magnificent wildlife galaxy. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8696.Last_Chance_to_See
I read this book as part of my ladies’ graduate student book club. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learning to give our own gifts in return. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17465709-braiding-sweetgrass
Where the Crawdads Sing is novel by wildlife biologist Delia Owens that is simultaneously a celebration of nature, a coming-of-age narrative, and a murder mystery. I read this book in two days in a tent in Kyrgyzstan and learned so much about the marshlands of the North Carolina coast. I could not put it down! https://www.amazon.com/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Delia-Owens/dp/0735219095
FIELD GUIDES
*Every outdoor enthusiast needs one to properly identify the critters they come across. Field guides are written and illustrated by experts to help identify and distinguish species. Great for kids and adults!
The Sibley Guide to Birds https://www.amazon.com/dp/0679451226/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America https://www.amazon.com/dp/0395904528/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians: https://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Western-Reptiles-Amphibians-Guides/dp/0395982723/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3/132-0884690-3441408?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0395982723&pd_rd_r=4fc03533-9b39-4841-a07e-3817c6077506&pd_rd_w=sbVWY&pd_rd_wg=GtGd8&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=0G9TZX3W2YFBRFC5AYRR&psc=1&refRID=0G9TZX3W2YFBRFC5AYRR
Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes https://www.amazon.com/dp/0547242069/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species https://www.amazon.com/dp/0811726266/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Foundational Texts
*Not just for assignments, these big books are great additions to a wildlife lover’s bookshelf and are great sources for learning and appreciating nature. These texts make great gifts for those itching to learn more about natural history, science, and conservation. If you know a student, consider this a much-appreciated investment in their career (books are expensive yo!).
Snow Leopards: Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HHB7SFO/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
The Wildlife Techniques Manual: Volume 1: Research. Volume 2: Management https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ROMKSM/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Salamanders of the United States and Canada https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015QKWESO/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths (W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series) (newly published by my friend David Steen!) https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Snakes-Science-Natural-History/dp/1623497973/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=snake+myths&qid=1574220049&s=books&sr=1-1
Carnivores of the World https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691182957/?cv_ct_id=amzn1.idea.2TW5KV4AMSLZE&cv_ct_pg=storefront&cv_ct_wn=aip-storefront&ref=exp_cov_biologistimogene_dp_vv_d
Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation https://www.elsevier.com/books/cheetahs-biology-and-conservation/nyhus/978-0-12-804088-1
Fun Stuff
*Ok, this section doesn’t exclusively support scientific efforts, but they are great conversation starters. Plus, some things are so wonderful that they must be thrown in for the fun of it.
Wingspan is a competitive, medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game. Goal: build your own wildlife reserve for birds! You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. IT IS SO FUN. https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM900-Wingspan-Game/dp/B07MC9JN56/ref=sr_1_2?gclid=CjwKCAiArJjvBRACEiwA-Wiqq-quhCDQU1xki6F731d96MYNVR2vJb4t0Ce59AHhm9nuLFZVRzwhOBoCw0QQAvD_BwE&hvadid=323193972229&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014927&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9739988991866211032&hvtargid=aud-835997443387%3Akwd-620747801183&hydadcr=2331_9913279&keywords=wingspan+game&qid=1575398435&sr=8-2
Effin Birds doesn’t just make me laugh- they make me CACKLE. Their merch is perfect for bird lovers, sarcastic friends, teachers, and anyone who really hates meetings or bigots (that’s all of us, isn’t it?). Their mugs, prints, shirts, greetings cards, and whatever else they’ve cooked up features beautifully illustrated birds with hilarious captions, insults (eg “Eff all this, goodbye”, and more gold). They’ve also got a hilarious bird guide. All around A+ gift ideas. https://www.effinbirds.com/
Troubled Birds is a collection of greeting cards and magnets by The Mincing Mockingbird that combines beautiful oil paintings of songbirds with sarcastic captions. Honestly hilarious and great gifts year-round. https://www.mincingmockingbird.com/collections/troubled-bird
Organizations for Direct Donation
*For those who want to eliminate material gifts but still want to make a difference, consider donating to the above groups directly, or any of the suggestions below (some may also have gift stores):
BluePrint Earth, a nonprofit org that catalogs unique ecosystems and offers experiences for students: https://blueprintearth.org/
The Big Blue & You- dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about OCEAN conservation thru ARTS and MEDIA. https://bigblueandyou.org/
The Nature Conservancy conserves the land and waters on which all life depends through research, habitat restoration, and a non-confrontational, collaborative approach. https://www.nature.org/en-us/
Conservation Canines- combining the precision and efficiency of detection dogs to readily locate wildlife scat (feces) samples with the ability to extract a wide variety of genetic, physiological, toxicological and dietary indicators from these samples. Perfect for dog lovers! https://conservationbiology.uw.edu/conservation-canines/
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. https://xerces.org/
The Ocean Conservancy- working to protect our oceans from today’s conservation threats using science-based solutions. https://oceanconservancy.org/
The Orianne Society works to conserve critical ecosystems for imperiled reptiles and amphibians using science, applied conservation and education. You can donate directly OR PURCHASE A SPOTTED TURTLE BOWTIE (they’ve got a gift shop). https://www.oriannesociety.org/who-we-are/mission/
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth, and works with Indigenous communities, researchers, and public stakeholders on global conservation efforts across taxa. https://www.wcs.org/about-us
A Final Note
If you’re considering buying foreign textiles as gifts (helloooo beautiful blankets and rugs!), be sure to look at the business owners and how they compensate their artists. Many businesses sell beautiful handwoven rugs and blankets from Central Asia and Central America, but the prices DO NOT reflect the cost of the item in country. Of course, shipping products across oceans will drive up the cost, but I’ve been in Kyrgyz and Uzbek markets and the prices are a fraction of what they’re sold for here in the US. Knowing where that money goes is important- while these purchases often empower local communities, please do your research to make sure enough dollars are going to the artists, regardless of the product. Consumerism can have nasty impacts on local communities, particularly where colonial mindsets drive conservation efforts, and so asking businesses where they 1. source their products and 2. how they compensate their artists is a great way to make sure your gifts are meaningful. If a company cannot address these questions, go somewhere else!
Graphic Art for Science
I am sooooo excited to share this with you! The other day I reached out on Twitter to see if any graphic designers would be interested in helping me create a graphic/logo using one of my lab's camera trap photos of a snow leopard. Fortunately, @mistydyne jumped on the idea and created this awesome graphic! Check it outtttt.
These logos will be used for research posters, website-related visuals, and maybe on some customized, reusable water bottles down the road (plastic free for wildlife, yo). I'm very excited to have these for my current branding efforts, and am so happy with how they turned out. @mistydyne is phenomenally talented, so I'm shouting her out for those of you in need of any graphic art! She's great at missions, logos, vectors, and specializes in animals and science! Talk about #sciart.
This is relevant to science given the rise of the graphical abstract, which is a visual summary of the main findings of an article. Graphical abstracts appear in online search results as a secondary promotion of the journal article itself and is designed to encourage browsing. What's better, using pictorials in your science creates multi and interdisciplinary collaboration, and it helps viewers more quickly understand the goals and results of a given project. Plus, they look cool!
As a science communicator, I'm always aware of how things look. Well-lit photos, perfectly-arranged posters (groan), color-coordinated concepts, and clarity are all very important to me and so many others who want to share their science. Visual representations of your work aren't limited to a graphical abstract- they are also great for website branding, social media, and making your work identifiable to the public. Do you study brains? You need a brain graphic. Are you a salamander researcher? A marbled sally logo would be cool. Are you super hyped about snow leopard genetics? Well, hopefully you can find me more easily to talk about it as a result of this new visual!
Science and art are so intertwined. Science IS art, and vice versa. My mother is an artist, and I grew up painting. As a result I see everything in organized, yet chaotic color. Visual learning is often under-utilized, in my opinion, which makes graphical abstracts, artistic visuals, and logos essential to making science digestible. More importantly, I think it makes science fun!
I'm using one of these visuals in a poster presentation on Monday for my university to summarize my dissertation research and represent our lab. Check back for the photo- I'll add it to this post after the seminar!
If you are a scientist and have worked with a graphic artist, leave their name in the comments so others can find them. If you are a graphic designer/artist and want to connect with more scientists to collaborate, drop your name and links to your site so others can find you!
Stronger Together, For Science
In addition to #strongertogether, our research hashtag #scientistswhoselfie was re-ignited as a result of this op-ed, and many, many scientists were connected to one another as a result!
On Friday, Science Magazine, one of the most prestigious publications in the science world, published an op-ed that denigrates women who do science communication. I have not linked the piece intentionally. The author of this article, a female PhD student, said that these efforts contribute to superficial views of women, and that participating in science communication takes away from research and makes us lesser scientists.
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It’s bad enough that women in science struggle with gender bias and stereotypes on a daily basis, let alone get criticized on a national platform for taking their science to social networking sites. This is awful for several reasons, not least of all that the author called out by name my friend and colleague @science.sam. She punched down by suggesting we stay away from fun photos and engaging content, and instead stick to the research if we want to be taken seriously in science and society. It was bitter, mean, and completely inappropriate for a prestigious magazine to promote.
I share my science because I’m passionate about wildlife and because I really enjoy the kind community here on Instagram. I also share science because it makes me happy and it’s part of who I am as a person. How we choose to share science, or who we are, or what we’re up to should be celebarated as diverse and multifaceted ways to increase awareness of science, or awareness of women in science. Wheher you identify as a woman or not, you literally don’t need an agenda to do #scicomm, and neither do you need permission from anyone if you do.
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This kind of rhetoric is why I’m part of a team on a crowd-funded project investigating perceptions of scientists on Instagram. We want to show the warm and friendly side of science in order to increase awareness and participation in STEM. We make science better, stronger, when we work together. Learn more about our project here. We have some preliminary results and are moving into the next phase of the project.
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How do we put a positive spin on all this? Well, we can continue doing evidence-based, innovative work that makes science accessible and inclusive for ALL. It's unfortunate that Science Magazine let this op-ed get published, as it impacts the careers of two female scientists. It also reinforces the precedent that science communication efforts are not worthy of investment, and that those who participate in such activities may be less qualified as scientists than those who do not. By continuing with the efforts seen on my website, social media pages, and for those doing the same across the globe, we can highlight the importance and necessity of such efforts.
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants!
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to live-stream an interactive session with 125 students across the US and Canada through the organization Exploring by the Seat of your Pants! This is a great nonprofit that brings science, conservation, and adventure right to the classroom through Google Hangout sessions where experts talk with students right in their own classroom. It was the best! I spent close to an hour with students in 4th and 12th grade talking about what wildlife biologists do as well as the research I focus on. We talked bobcats, snow leopards, tips on becoming a wildlife biologist, frog metamorphosis, making discoveries... you name it! This program is a really great way to help scientists engage with the public, especially the next generation. Students were able to ask me questions, too, and it was so fun to hear what they had to say and see firsthand their curiosity for wildlife. The cool thing about EBTSOYP is that you can either participate in a livestream, like my classrooms, or watch the experience on YouTube! If you're a teacher who is interested in having me, or someone like me "visit" their classroom, check out the link above for EBTSOYP. To watch my session on being a wildlife biologist, check this out:
Wild Black Cats- Halloween Edition
It's October 31st, arguably one of the greatest days of the year (*maybe* second to the winter holiday...which reminds me, as a child I really, really loved the film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" because it combines BOTH EVENTS). Lots of traditions and superstitions are alive and well on All Hallow's Eve, including a staunch appreciation for, or rigid avoidance of, the ever impressive black cat.
Salem, the OG black cat of Halloween from Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Having a black (indoor) cat myself, I'm pro-melanistic-feline, and so are many other people. So much so, in fact, that they spend a lot of time talking about wild black cats! However, there are several species for which there is zero evidence of melanism occurring in the wild (see this guest post by ecologist t Dr. Michelle LaRue on why melanistic cougars are not a thing). This is primarily owed to genetics and evolution. For example, in species like the rock pocket mouse, a light-colored mouse living on light-colored lava rock in the southwestern US, some populations exhibit mutations in a pigmentation gene called Mc1r, and these changes are responsible for the black phenotype. The role of genetics in adaptive evolution- the selection of beneficial alleles given the environment- is traceable in several taxa, including the pepper moth, a European species that exhibited near-total population melanism in under 10 generations in response to industrial pollution (ash, sulfur on trees) in the UK. In most cases, melanism is a recessive trait, meaning both parents must carry the mutation on a pigmentation gene in order for offspring to inherit and exhibit the phenotype of a recessive genotpye (think big A and little a from genetics: AA, Aa, and aa, where an animal must have the aa genotype to be melanistic). For wild cats (your terror of a housecat not included), melanism can occur, but in which species?
Of the 38 species of wild cats, 11 exhibit melanistic coat coloration polymorphism. Surprisingly, there are at least 4 independent genetic origins of melanism in Felidae! Natural selection mediates coat melanism in these species: the jaguar, leopard, jaguarundi, bobcat, serval, Geoffroy's cat, Oncilla, Pampas cat, kodkod, jungle cat, and Asiatic golden cat. While some of these species are not widely known, the term "black panther" (which is actually not a term for a specific species!) is most notably used in reference to a black jaguar or black leopard. Other than National Black Cat Day, I see no better day than Halloween to introduce a few of our world's melanistic wild cats:
Melanistic jaguar. In the right light, you can still see the rosette-shaped spots! Photo by Ron Singer.
Pictured above, the jaguar is the largest of South America's big cats, and black individuals are common in zoos and the pet trade. However, the frequency of occurrence of this color polymorphism is not well understood in wild populations. This cool study successfully used fecal DNA to map wild melanistic jaguars in Brazil using the amino acid deletions in the Mc1r gene.
A melanistic leopard stands in stark contrast to the normal phenotype. Taken at the Kali Tiger Reserve in India by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Like the jaguar, the leopard exhibits melanism as a recessive trait. For many wild populations, the frequency of occurrence for melanism can become prominent, but this trait is not expected to be fixed within populations due to its Mendelian inheritance (ie, its recessive nature). However, this study found near-fixation (meaning that melanism is the only variant of the pigmentation allele) on the Malay Peninsula. Cool!
This melanistic bobcat was legally trapped in 2016 in New Brunswick, Canada.
Bobcats, one of my favorite species, also exhibit melanism. Few records exist in the continental US, most of which are in southern Florida. Black bobcats have been recorded by fur trappers in New Brunswick, Canada since at least 1983. This is cool, because it means that the polymorphism has persisted across several generations in this area!
A black serval seen in Kenya. Photo by Sergio Pitamitz
The serval is a medium-sized wild cat distributed across much of southern Africa. These cats share a phylogenetic history with caracals, Bay cats, and Asiatic golden cats (another species that exhibits melanism). I worked with captive servals many years ago at Carolina Tiger Rescue- these cats can jump over ten feet in the air! Melanism is rare in this species, and two white servals exist in captivity in Florida.
A fellow graduate student in my lab, Hariyo Wibisono, and one of my mentors, Dr. Jennifer McCarthy, documented a melanistic marbled cat in Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2010. The 12th cat! Check this out:
Camera trap image of a melanistic marbled cat in Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo by Hariyo Wibisono and Dr. Jennifer McCarthy.
Melanistic cat alongside a normal phenotype marbled cat in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Indonesia. Photo by Hariyo Wibisono and Dr. Jennifer McCarthy.
Humans are fascinated with black color morphs. Wild cats are elusive and rare, which makes melanistic individuals all the more exciting. Melanistic cats are great examples of the diversity and impact of genetics and the role polymorphism plays in natural selection and evolution. The next time you hear someone talk about a "black panther," you can now tell them which one they likely saw (your terror of a housecat included)!
Disclaimer 1: Like any wild cat, never approach a melanistic cat on Halloween, or on any other day for that matter, because wild cats are not pets, and because you could bleed a lot.
Disclaimer 2: If you have a black cat, consider keeping him or her inside tonight (and every day, because this), as some people are unkind to black cats on Halloween.
References:
Clarke, C. A., Mani, G. S., Wynne, G. 1985. Evolution in reverse: Clean air and the peppered moth. BioI. J. Linn. Soc. 26:1 89-99.
Hedges L., Lam W. Y., Campos-Arceiz A.M., Campos-Arceiz R.D., Laurance W., Latham C. J., Saaban S., and R.C. Gopalasamy. 2014. Melanistic leopards reveal their spots: Infrared camera traps provide a population density estimate of leopards in Malaysia. The Journal of Wildlife Management 79:846–853.
Johnson, W. E., Eizirik, E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Murphy, W. J., Antunes, A., Teeling, E., and S.J. O'Brien. 2006. The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic Assessment. Science 311: 73–77.
Kawanishi K, Sunquist ME, Eizirik E, Lynam AJ, Ngoprasert D, et al. .2010. Near fixation of melanism in leopards of the Malay Peninsula. Journal of Zoology 282: 201–206.
Nachman, M., Hoekstra, H., and S. D'Agostino. 2003. The Genetic Basis of Adaptive Melanism in Pocket Mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100: 5268-5273.
Tischendorf, J. W., and D. F. McAlpine. 1995. A melanistic bobcat from outside of Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 23:13-14.