in the field
In this interview with Laura Walsh of San Diego’s Surfrider Foundation I talk about the massive Red Tide occurring on the coast of San Diego. What is a Red Tide? Why is it here? and why does it make the ocean glow neon blue at night with bioluminescence?!
Click the link to watch the Q&A video and read more:
A big thanks to Laura and Shayna Brody for filming, interviewing, and capturing some stunning images of the Ocean’s magic show.
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Everything you see is a work of art created by an actual person (or team of people). This short video about the efforts of the Antarctic citizen science project – FjordPhyto – was produced and directed by Gabriela Lamanna using video footage taken by Allison Cusick’s journeys to the Antarctic. We wanted to introduce you to Gaby and share her story. To share how she got involved with the FjordPhyto project, why she is obsessed with cold regions despite her upbringing in the tropics of El Salvador, and what her plans are after she completes her Masters degree from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Q: Gaby, What drew you to make a film for the FjordPhyto project?
The minute I heard of FjordPhyto I was hooked! The fact that people can participate in citizen science by collecting phytoplankton in Antarctica is fascinating, everyone should know about this! I heard about the Vernet Lab needing someone to create content with all the footage graduate student Allison Cusick has from her expeditions in Antarctica, and there was no way I wasn’t saying yes!
I wanted to create a short video of FjordPhyto so that people can learn about the project in little time, just a minute!
I envisioned incorporating multiple voices representing different ethnicities and ages to narrate the story because I want the public to know that anyone can participate in citizen science!
I love the sentiment, “you protect what you love”, and if people get involved with science, there is a higher chance of them deeply understanding current problems like climate change. The more people fall in love with conservation, the better we will all be at protecting ecosystems!
One of the reasons I find FjordPhyto so special is that it brings people closer to researchers. I think there is a misconception that scientists are unapproachable, but the truth is scientists are more relatable than what people might think.
How fun is it that people can help them collect data and contribute to polar research!? Now, I know going to Antarctica is not for everyone, but I hope this video sparks curiosity to learn about other citizen science projects close to you!
Q: How did you get involved in ocean conservation and science storytelling?
When I tell people I have been completely fascinated with uncomfortably cold places since I first saw snow at the age of 22, they exclaim in disbelief: “But you grew up in the tropics!” To that I respond, “that’s exactly why!”. I was fortunate enough to grow up in El Salvador, a place with warm weather year-round, and even warmer people. My roots to the tropics are strong, but I knew that if I wanted to protect the ocean, I had to leave home to pursue a better education.
As soon as I graduated high school, I left to the United States to follow my dreams. I studied marine biology at Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College (Jupiter, Florida), where I had the blessing of having one of the best teachers I have ever met. His love for ocean conservation stuck with me to the point that I decided to pursue my master’s in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
I have loved the ocean from a young age, especially the animals in it. However, the origin of my true love started at 16 when I was introduced to surfing. I realized, the ocean gives us more than we can ever give back: waves to dance on, a place to grieve loss, medicine to heal, and the best part: as long as you are near the ocean, you will always have the curiosity of a child. You protect what you love, so it is no wonder that I wanted to become a marine biologist.
However, as much as I love science, there was always something missing for me. This all changed when I discovered science storytelling.
Q: What was it like growing up in El Salvador and how did this influence your creative outlets?
Being able to have a creative outlet means more to me than I will ever be able to explain. I have never been the best at expressing myself using words, but I am able to express myself through visuals.
Back in El Salvador schools work a little different. I went to the same school for 15 years, in a class of 22 people. Back then I didn’t think anything about it, because things seem okay when you haven’t seen anything different. But now that I look back, I think WOW! I can’t believe I spent so much time in a place where we would line up every morning and our teachers would check that our socks and tennis shoes were spotless and completely white, our skirts past our knees or else the principal would make you rip the stitching in front of her to make it longer, our nails short as can be, earrings as small as possible, our natural hair color without any modifications, no bracelets on your arms…
I could keep going, but in a short sentence… it was a place where self-expression would get you a trip to the principal’s office.
I grew up thinking that I did not have a pinch of creativity in me, but the truth is, after the 5th grade, art class, music class, any type of creative class was not a part of our curriculum at school. However, my love for photography and filmmaking was inevitable, and I began documenting my life with what I had: a GoPro that a friend had found in the ocean while surfing. The very first GoPro model ever released!
I was ecstatic!!!
I started making short films about surfing, travel and family.
Eventually, I got a DLSR camera, but it always remained a hobby…
… until I discovered that scientists are extremely busy and that they need help with showing their work to the public.
My two main passions combined: science and visual storytelling, I had finally found my niche.
There is nothing quite like finally finding where you belong. I found love not only in having a camera as my tool, but in spending hours editing. Post production is therapeutic for me!
Q: What do you enjoy most about the Master’s program you’re in and where do you see yourself in the future?
I have so far loved my experience in the master’s program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, because it is interdisciplinary. Not only are we allowed to combine science with other disciplines, but we are encouraged to do so!
In my short time here, my professors and mentors have impacted my life in many ways, and my career goals have become clearer than ever. I hope to someday bring the knowledge I have gained here back to El Salvador, where conservation efforts are greatly needed.
For the remainder of my time in the Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Masters program, I will be starting a new project creating an expanded informative “documentary style” video about the efforts of researchers in Antarctica.
When I finish, I hope to use aerial photography to start a mangrove monitoring program in El Salvador, since these efforts are still not in place in the country. I also hope to use filmmaking to bring awareness and promote conservation efforts, and especially to use my work to help low income vulnerable coastal communities in El Salvador.
Follow Gaby on social media at @gabylamanna
Follow the Antarctic Citizen Science project FjordPhyto @fjordphyto
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She stood in front of a room at NASA’s Building the Citizen Science Community workshop and explained how she, as a scientist herself, developed a travel company that would bring people to remote locations in the world to do science in the wild. Her initiative, Science in the Wild, hits the nail on the head when it comes to immersive science trips and learning through experience. Think Earthwatch. Think Adventure Scientists. A different way to travel and contribute through “Voluntourism”. But in this case, the person organizing and running the trips is the scientist herself – Dr. Ulyana N. Horodyskyj – and the participants are ordinary citizens, hungry for adventure and science.
Uly spent her PhD working on glacial lakes in the Himalaya. Through a Fulbright to do work in Nepal, her science expeditions at 15,000ft required Sherpas to transport the equipment and assist in research. Out of that work grew The Sherpa-Scientist Initiative (SSI) where sherpas learn to install time-lapse cameras, build high-altitude weather stations, and collect depth data on lakes and snow samples from local villages.
Her desire to get people involved in science didn’t stop there and upon completion of her PhD from the University of Colorado in 2015, she launched Science in the Wild.
I was excited to get a chance to talk with Uly and asked if she’d be willing to share more about her career journey and how she got to where she is today (as a professor, an explorer, and a certified badass). She’s an inspiration to me and I hope her adventurous spirit and passion for science infects you as well.
What is your earliest memory of being hooked by science?
At the early age of six, my parents, two older brothers and I spent a month in Europe. Beyond being a fun family vacation, my parents packed in a lot of educational experiences for us. This included going up to 10,000 feet in the Swiss Alps, seeing beautiful mountains, and exploring an “ice palace” carved inside a glacier. I was definitely hooked on learning and on science!
What/Who inspired you to become a scientist?
My first mentor, Dr. Robert L. Forward. I was 13 years old, wanting to do a science fair project on solar sails (traveling in space without rockets). He took me under his wing, teaching me and even giving up his spot at a conference at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California so that I could present my project to a room full of rocket scientists (page 2: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/universe/archive/un0006.pdf).
Throughout my teens, I participated in science fairs and symposia, earning me enough scholarship money to attend college. Beyond competition, doing the science fair projects on a low-budget really taught me how to MacGyver solutions, deal with failure, and experience the joy of discovery.
What did you study during undergrad? Did you always know what you wanted to study before beginning?
I knew that I wanted to do science and had a particular interest in astronomy. I went to Rice University in Houston, Texas for college, where I started as an astronomy major and even worked two years in an observatory. But when I took a geology class near the end of my freshman year, I felt that it aligned more with my interest in the outdoors. Being a geology major meant that I could do both science and have adventures outdoors!
Why did you go to graduate school?
Excellent question, as going to grad school is a huge commitment of time, money and energy! I had a dream to start up an adventure science school and wanted to feel qualified to do so – to be an expert in my field. Diving in deep with a PhD gave me focus, drive and humility. To be a good leader on outdoor expeditions that I currently lead with Science in the Wild, all of those skills are crucial, too.
What was your first science-related job and how did you find it?
I worked for the Rice Space Institute (RSI) in an office job my first year of college. It was offered to me by Ms. Umbe Cantu, Department Operations Administrator of RSI. I had met her a year prior, at age 16, while on a college visit at Rice when I was deciding between schools. Her personality, energy and enthusiasm for Rice University was contagious and so I signed my acceptance letter! I got a lot of experience with computer work (and got good at Googling information!) for creating educational content about earth and space science. In addition to office work, I visited and volunteered at museums and planetariums, which was my early intro to science education and communication for the public.
Has your work allowed you to travel (where have you gone)? (Check out all her travel here and there)
Yes, by the time I turned 23 (I’m 33 now), I had traveled to and/or worked on all the continents. Antarctica was a surreal experience – working on the back deck of a research icebreaker ship, helping out science projects. New discoveries were made just about every day!
When did you get into outdoor climbing/mountaineering and did you know it would benefit your science career?
I was always active as a kid. In high school, I ran track and played soccer. But it wasn’t until the end of college that I climbed for the first time – in a gym. When I moved to Rhode Island (Brown University) for my Masters, I had a lot of climbing mentors and so was able to develop my skills not only in the gym, but also outdoors and in the Appalachian mountains. I realized that I really loved both climbing and science. But how to blend them? I left with my Masters and headed west to Colorado, to start graduate work (for a PhD) doing something I was really passionate about – working in the mountains of Nepal.
What was the inspiration and motivation for starting your company Science in the Wild?
I received a Fulbright to Nepal in 2013. Living and working in the country gave me insights into living conditions the people endure, especially in the mountains (no heat in the teahouse bedrooms, for example!). Prior to that, though, I had already been working with the Sherpas since my first trip to the region in 2011. They didn’t just help me carry scientific gear; I actively involved them in my project work. Along the way, tourists in the Everest region were curious as to what I was up to, given I had an inflatable raft, ice axe and crampons…not standard hiking gear. I would give impromptu glacier talks, glacier “safaris” (in my inflatable raft, with life vests) and realized that I wanted to continue to bring people the joys and knowledge of the wild places of our planet. Hence, Science in the Wild was born.
Do you have a motto you live by?
Dreams don’t work unless you do!
What is your favorite thing/what keeps it fun for you when it gets hard?
During the year I lived abroad in Nepal, I was sometimes out alone on the trails, which gave me a lot of time to think. I found what helped me through loneliness and stress (from the field work), was listening to a lot of music on my iPod. Especially when trails got steep! It was a way to connect with nature on another level. When I listen to some of the same songs now, it transports me back there and reminds me what I endured and accomplished out in the field. It also reminds me of all the happy memories I made out there! Music is still my go-to when the going gets hard.
What has been your biggest challenges (as a scientist, or a woman in science, or an adventurous scientist, etc)?
Getting taken seriously – both as a scientist and as a mountaineer. Often times I’m mistaken for a student rather than a professor! I’m small – 5 feet, 4.5 inches. So, carrying heavy packs on mountains for science expeditions can be really challenging. I feel like I have to train much harder and work a lot harder for respect in both fields.
What do you envision for your future?
I’m very excited to continue my work in the realm of citizen science. I want to get more people outdoors through the expeditions and workshops that Science in the Wild offers, learning about beautiful landscapes around the world. For those that cannot join us in the field, I want to bring the world to them, in virtual reality. Our planet is changing – and not for the better – right before our eyes. Let’s see it, let’s talk about it, then let’s do something about it!
Continue following Uly’s science and adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and through her website.
When Uly is not galavanting around the world for work or fun, she spends her time as a visiting professor at Colorado College in Colorado. She also works with her husband to bring music to people in the mountains through Summit Songs and Science. She’s always doing something exciting! And just so you didn’t miss it, she also experienced a 30-day isolation and stress experiment as commander for NASA HERA XII (human exploration research analog) for future long-duration space missions.
Hope you enjoyed this interview with Dr. Ulyana N. Horodyskyj!
If you like the blogs you see here and reading more about women doing science that gets them out in the field, subscribe to receive posts as they happen! Thanks for reading!
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I first heard of Mariama Dryak when I responded to a call from US APECS for early career researchers to write a piece for their new blog focused on science communication. We were to write a post that related to an individual researchers’ science communication experiences (e.g. science communication experiences, outcomes, advice for science communicators, what worked/didn’t work) to other young scientists, and include details on what we think makes communication experiences effective, exciting and inclusive. You can check out the piece I wrote here on “Practicing your way to effective science communication“. This started my email-based connection with Mariama.
When I traveled to the Polar2018 conference in Switzerland June 2018, I was fortunate to meet Mariama in person! We had a lovely chat and brainstorming session and I immediately asked if she would do an interview. Her story is so inspiring, I wanted to share it with you all.
Enjoy!
What is your earliest memory of being hooked by science?
I’ve always been a curious person, and would incessantly ask my parents questions as a child, but ‘science’ for one reason or another invariably seemed to intimidate me, and was not a language I understood naturally. So for my youth, I shied away from the concept of science, and instead pursued things that came naturally to me: reading, writing and history. However, in my final year of high school I took a class entitled ‘Wisconsin History’, taught by Mr. Isaac Walters, in which we learned about everything from the more recent settlement of Wisconsin to the much longer term glacial history of our landscape–and I was hooked.
That concept, the concept that these MASSIVE bodies of ice could carve the magnificent landscape that we see today, made me fall deeply in love with and become fascinated by glaciers.
Through many other experiences I grew to appreciate studying them in a wide variety of ways, but I would now call myself a physical scientist and an aspiring physical glaciologist.
What did you study during your undergrad?
Physical geography and archaeology
Did you always know what you wanted to study before beginning?
Not really. I went to university thinking I was going to come out the other end an archaeologist, but became even more enamored with glaciers and their responses to climate change, as well as other landscape processes during an intro to physical geography course, and thus shifted my academic focus to studying physical geography as well.
The real aha [I know what I want to study] moment came to me during an internship with the National Park Service in 2015, where we were surveying the coast of northwest Alaska for cultural resources and assessing site vulnerability to potential loss from coastal erosion.
Although I loved the archaeological work I was doing, I kept getting hung up on the fact that erosion was wiping these sites out in the first place, due to increased erosion from higher storm intensity along the northwest Alaskan coasts, which has been suggested to be caused in part by anthropogenic climate change. I felt strongly that what really needed to happen was for humans to not cause these problems in the first place, and felt drawn to study the physical processes governing the landscape.
UMaine women field team in the North Cascades, where we were snow probing to see how thick the snow pack was on the glacier.
What inspired you to become a scientist?
There are so many things we still don’t know about this incredible planet and we are changing it with every passing second. I feel drawn to learn as much as I can about it before some of its resources (like the glaciers I am so very taken by) are gone. Science is an incredible study structure through which to do this, and encourages a valuable objectivity not found in very many other practices.
Has your work allowed you to travel (and if yes, where have you gone)?
Yes! Oh, I have been so fortunate. My undergraduate studies took me to some incredible places in Europe, where I was able to do hands-on learning in field locations in Portugal, the Isle of Skye (Scotland), the Lake District (England) and Iceland. I spent just under a month in southern Iceland for my undergraduate thesis, where I studied the retreat of Steinsholtsjokull, since the end of the Little Ice Age (~1850AD). My travels in graduate school have taken me to Norway, Switzerland, the North Cascades (WA) and the United Kingdom.
Mapping glacier extent using moraines (glacial landforms deposited at the ends of glaciers) in the foreland of Steinsholtsjӧkull, Iceland for my undergraduate dissertation.
Iceland glacier
Lower Curtis Glacier, North Cascades
North Cascades Glacier Climate Project (this summer), where we measured the mass balance (overall ‘health’) of glaciers across the whole North Cascades.
What is your favorite thing/what keeps it fun for you when it gets hard?
Fueled by conducting valuable research, communicating that research to the public and making the earth sciences accessible to all (no matter the background).
Was there any one person that inspired you?
Not one. So many.
What do you envision for your future research or career?
At the moment I think I want to teach and advise in the earth sciences at a smaller university or college that allows me to interact with students to show them how amazing our natural world is, encourage them to think critically and interact with natural resources. I want to be an advocate for encouraging diversity of backgrounds, people and thought within the earth sciences, and to provide opportunities for involvement, education and travel for those who might not otherwise have access to them.
You are very involved in APECS and have your own Podcast! Tell us more!
Yes, in my spare time I edit a blog I launched called ‘Let’s Do Something BIG.’ where our writers discuss different topics related to environmental advocacy.
I am also currently the co-chair for the United States Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (USAPECS), which is an excellent resource for any early career scientists who work in polar regions. In general getting involved with, or even just signed up to the email-list of, APECS is a good way to learn about early career opportunities (funding, events, etc.) and to learn valuable leadership and science communication skills.
I am in the process of developing content for a podcast featuring conversations with inspiring, motivated women and underrepresented people in the earth, ocean and environmental sciences. Details and name for the podcast are to be announced (I know, not very helpful), but will be announced on ‘Let’s Do Something BIG.’ and my Twitter. You can find me at @ArcticChanges on Twitter!
Huge thank you to Mariama for the interview! We wish you the best of luck in your future research.
Please feel free to share this inspirational interview with others! Thank you all for reading and following Woman Scientist. Share this: 
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I always find the moment surreal when you finally meet someone in person whom you’ve been following on social media for years. Tammy Russell and I had “known” each other on Instagram for a while, connected by our love for Antarctica and doing science in the field. We had both also volunteered for a SCAR campaign to blast Wikipedia with profiles of accomplished female researchers working in Antarctica. I’m happy to report the team uploaded over 150 biographies of female scientists to Wikipedia in 2016!
We had exchanged a few messages discussing our winding “late-bloomer” career paths through science, but I never thought I would have the chance to meet Tammy in person. Then, one day on Instagram, I saw that she had been invited to the Open House for prospective graduate students at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (the same school I was currently attending)! Open house is an overwhelmingly exciting time in a graduate students life and I am happy to report, Tammy will be joining the PhD cohorts at SIO this year!
I’m excited to share Tammy’s interview with you all:
What is your earliest memory of being hooked by science?
I grew up on a small farm and was always drawn to nature. I spent as much time as possible outside; catching lizards, climbing trees and watching the stars. I knew from a young age I wanted to work in science, whether that was with animals or up in space. I was really obsessed with frontiers, and for much of my childhood I thought I would be the first person on Mars. That desire to explore unknowns really cultivated a deep curiosity for the world and led to my interest in exploring the oceans and Antarctica. When I was in junior high, I attended camp at the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI), and it was the first time I was exposed to marine biology and hands-on science. At CIMI, I first snorkeled, did dissections and looked under a microscope. I think that experience really solidified my motivation to pursue a scientific career.
Did you know what you wanted to study before beginning your undergraduate degree?
I knew I wanted to get a degree in Biology, and after traveling a bit after high school, I started my Bachelor’s degree at Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand. I did two field projects there, both on the impacts of invasive mammals on native species. These were fantastic experiences. After a couple of years there, I returned to the States, with my intent on returning and finishing my degree. But I ended up taking a very winding path and it took me many years to eventually be able to return to college. I restarted my degree at Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC), in Southern California. After a couple years at MSJC, I was able to transfer to University of California, Santa Cruz, where I just finished my Bachelor’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
What was your first science-related job?
Because I have been in school for such a long time, most of the field work and research I have done has been through internships and volunteering. But I have always tried to maintain animal-related jobs: an animal hospital, city animal shelter, a reptile pet store, where I did husbandry, as well as educational presentations. I am currently a naturalist on a whale watching boat in Moss Landing, CA.
Where have you traveled with work in the field?
At UCSC, I was involved in Dan Costa’s Lab, working with northern elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park. Although just north of Santa Cruz, it is another world. We went out each week to resight tags on the seals to monitor when animals were returning and how long they were staying. We also would attach and remove satellite tags and other instruments, such as accelerometers or cameras, which was always an amazing experience getting to be so close to these massive animals!
I also did an internship, and currently still volunteer, for the nonprofit, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, where I have been fortunate enough to work on seabird population studies out on Año Nuevo Island. The island is strange and wonderful place. It was once home to a light tower and large home for the light tower keepers and their families, but now it has been completely taken back by the animals and is currently an important breeding location for many seabirds.
Through UCSC, I also did a field course in Sitka, Alaska. I really wanted to use the experience to try something completely different, so my field partner and I studied the effect of light levels on the red alga, Constantinea, with a combination of field observation and lab experiment. Working up in Alaskan waters in winter was truly an incredible experience (and I really valued my drivesuit!).
I am a NOAA Hollings Scholar, which allowed me to spend last summer on Oahu, Hawaii, working on the demographic distribution of black-footed albatross that are incidentally caught by longline fisheries. There, I got to learn about commercial fishing, mitigation measures to reduce bycatch and the fishery management process, as well as my research work.
What inspired you to become a scientist and work in polar regions?
When I returned to college, I had a clear idea of the kind of work that I wanted to do: I wanted to study seabirds. As I have always been drawn to Antarctica, when I started thinking about the kind of research that I wanted to pursue, my interests were inevitably drawn there. When I first started at MSJC, I did not have a lot of confidence in myself. I knew I needed to transfer from there and get my Bachelor’s, but I hadn’t really considered how to get to the research that I wanted. I fortunately met several encouraging mentors at MSJC and had an amazing support system: my husband and my mom.
I soon found myself taking on more: pursuing undergraduate research, joining honors programs, and organizing events, like birds watching trips and a TEDx event! I was really encouraged and allowed to really spread my wings at that college. The first project I completed there was on the history of women working in Antarctica and ended up presenting it at an honors conference at UC Irvine.
While at MSJC, I had tried to stay on top of research that was going on in Antarctica, and organizations that are involved in the southern region, which led me to volunteer for SCAR in helping write Wikipedia pages on women that had worked on Antarctic research, and to attend the 80th anniversary for the American Polar Society. It was there, where I got to meet people I had looked up to in conservation, breaking boundaries and research, including Sylvia Earle, Claire Parkinson and David Ainley. Meeting these, and other researchers, really corrected the image I had of scientists, and made it much more realistic for me.
Before starting at UCSC, I volunteered for a number of nonprofit and government groups doing field and lab research. I valued what I was able to learn from these experiences, but I also found that I wanted to be the one who organized the projects, I wanted to have a say.
Between these experiences and finding that the people doing the kind of research that I wanted to do all had PhDs, really made me decide that I should pursue a PhD, and that it would allow me the opportunity to do research, but also to ask the questions and develop projects to answer them.
What are some inspirational materials you’ve used along the way?
I have a notebook that I write down potential research questions, quotes, trends that I’ve observed, doodles, etc. When I feel stuck I read through it. Some entries are really funny, some ideas are totally unrealistic, but going through it always gets me thinking.
Do you have a motto you live by?
Keep throwing yourself out there at new opportunities, no matter how unrealistic they seem, some are bound to work out.
What do you envision for your future (big or small)?
Well, I’m getting ready to start at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to pursue a PhD in Biological Oceanography. It still feels unreal, it’s beyond what I could envision happening to me, so I can’t imagine where my research at Scripps will take me or where I’ll find myself afterwards! No matter what I end up doing, as long as I’m still able to be involved in research, asking big questions and attempting to answer them, then I’ll be happy!
Huge thank you to Tammy for the interview and for her entrance into Scripps Institution of Oceanography! We wish you the best of luck in your future research.
To see more photos of Tammy in the field, head over to the Feature Album on Woman Scientist Facebook page.
Please feel free to share this inspirational interview with others! Thank you all for reading and following Woman Scientist.
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The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators–or IAATO–founded in 1991, advocates and promotes the practice of safe and environmentally responsible travel to Antarctica.
I first joined this community in 2017, attending the AECO/IAATO Polar Field Staff Conference to pitch the FjordPhyto Citizen Science project. This group of people amazed me with their strength and camaraderie, and love for not only Antarctica, but all wild places on Earth.
During the week leading up to International Women’s Day (2 – 8 March) IAATO is celebrating Antarctic women who lead by example, are advocates for change and are instrumental in delivering our mission of safe, environmentally responsible polar travel.
I am honored to have been asked to do a Question & Answer session as one of their features on polar scientists involved with tourism.
Check out the full 4-page read here:
You can follow #polarwomen on Twitter and Instagram and read more amazing profiles from scientists and educators to leaders and conservationists here. Share this: 
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A big thanks to Allison Albritton (formerly Randolph) for the interview on the Ocean Allison podcast before my trip down to Antarctica.
Episode #54, Allison Lee: Phytoplankton PhD Student.
Allison Lee is a biological oceanography PhD student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, working to bring phytoplankton research to the world of Citizen Science in the Arctic and the Antarctic. In this episode we discuss her experience working in a lab setting, her inspiring blog ‘Woman Scientist’, her passion for phytoplankton research, and more.
Allison just completed a field season in Antarctica aboard the Hebridean Sky, launching her FjordPhyto Citizen Science project with willing and excited passengers. The beginning of this story was featured in the San Diego Tribune. During the 2017 – 2018 Antarctic summer, citizen scientists from multiple tour ships will be collecting samples which contribute to current climate research.
If you’re interested to learn more about the Citizen Science Project – FjordPhyto – in Antarctica, follow along on the FjordPhyto website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Visit Allison Lee’s website womanscientist.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Allison Albritton is an ocean advocate, herself, sharing stories of positive change for the ocean. If you’d like to learn more about Allison Albritton, read the Woman Scientist interview here. Share this: 
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Mindi Lehew is an Environmental Scientist working for the US Forest Service. She has been hiking the Sonoran Desert and Coronado National Forest for more than six years and absolutely loves it.
Check out the video below where Mindi explains the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, the unique desert ecosystems, including the iconic Saguaro cactus, and her work as a field scientist.
Keep reading to learn more about how Mindi first became interested in science.
What is your earliest memory of being hooked by science?
Growing up in a small town, playing in nature was my every day adventure. At the time, I didn’t understand that was the beginnings of scientific exploration and a lifelong conservation ethic. I spent my childhood in the desert, hiking with my dad or riding my horse with my mom. Our family spent a few weeks every summer visiting different national parks. I remember carrying around a notepad in Yellowstone National Park taking detailed notes and keeping a count of every plant and animal species I encountered. I was probably 10 years old at the time, but I still have the little notebook today, and I know now that was field science at its finest!
What did you think a scientist did before you became one?
I thought all scientists worked in a lab and wore a white coat. It wasn’t until I started college that I realized you could make a career out of studying the environment (and get paid to play outdoors!). Now I know scientists also wear cargo shorts and hiking boots!
What keeps it fun?
I never get tired of the landscapes. Since I was little, I’ve always been humbled by nature and the evolution of our planet and all the species that exist on it. Nothing beats the feeling of summiting a peak and being rewarded with a panoramic view for hundreds of miles in all directions. As an environmental scientist and public land manager, it’s rewarding to know I play a small role in protecting those natural places.
Is there anyone that inspired you?
My dad! He is a pharmacist by profession, but a conservationist at heart. We always joke that we’re both scientists, the only difference is that he helps the people and I help the planet. For as long as I can remember, he’s had one mantra: leave this earth a better place than it was when you got here. He inspired me to make that mantra my life’s mission!
Let’s learn more about the region:
Desert Range
This region of Arizona, California, and Baja hosts a convergence of many types of desert ecosystems that span from Mexico all the way up into the Rocky Mountains.
Saguaro Cactus
The Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) live on rocky terrain and do not occur anywhere else in the world. Many people mistakenly think the tall cactus in Baja are Saguaros, but they are actually look-alike cactus called Cardón (Pachycereus pringlei). The Cardón resembles the Saguaro in growth, but can grow to be much more massive, and is not as frost tolerant as the Saguaro.
The average lifespan for a Saguaro cactus is about 200 years. As they grow taller they branch arms and extend their radial root system. Even though the root system is very shallow for such a tall, heavy plant, it provides a sturdy base allowing the cactus to absorb water from the occasional desert downpours.
I had always thought, if lost in the desert, I could survive by drinking water from the cactus tissue. As if cactus were giant rain barrels storing an oasis of refreshment. I surely would have died! It turns out succulents create toxic products from photosynthesis including Malic Acid and Oxalic Acid. If ingested, Oxalic Acid combines with calcium in our bodies to produce calcium oxalates which are harmful to our kidneys. While a human may be able to survive off small amounts, ultimately dehydration would take over.
Mindi shows us there are some edible parts to the cactus; She delicately plucks a barrel cactus fruit and gives us a taste. Sour! Like a granny smith apple.
Thank you for taking us through your kind of desert Mindi Lehew!
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My friend, Kate Ruck, told me to follow a woman named Ocean Allison on Instagram. “She is doing awesome podcasts about the Ocean, I think you would enjoy!” Of course, I hit ‘Follow’ and started listening. The first podcast I heard highlighted the work of Dr. Greg Rouse from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dr. Rouse is a marine biologist frequently discovering new deep sea species like bone eating worms, ruby sea dragons, and purple socks (curious? listen to the podcast!)
Allison has gone on to interview 48 and counting, other acclaimed ocean advocates such as: Dr. Wallace J Nichols (author of Blue Mind), Rob Machado (pro-surfer), Pam Longobardi (plastic pollution artist), and Jim Toomey (cartoonist of Sherman’s Lagoon).
With a background in Marine Biology, she now combines her knowledge of ocean science with her skills in communications in order to be a voice for the ocean.
“I consider myself a marine biologist since that’s what my background is in, but in reality I am an ocean science and conservation communicator. I strive to help scientists communicate their important ocean research to the public through education and digital media.” ~ Allison Randolph
Teaching plastic pollution to K-6 students.
While earning her degree at Florida Institute of Technology she worked as a coral reef researcher in a Marine Paleoecology Lab and as an intern with Dr. Andy Nosal at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Allison has also worked as an educator at the Birch Aquarium in San Diego.
After traveling to Antarctica as the Outreach Specialist on a National Science Foundation expedition, Allison began to build her brand as Ocean Allison in order to educate the public on all things ocean via her podcast, social media channels, and educational programs. She is also currently working on a project with the San Diego Natural History Museum, and welcomes every opportunity to communicate ocean science and conservation topics.
Let’s hear more from Allison as she share’s her career journey:
What is your earliest memory of being hooked by science?
My love the ocean started before I can remember. My childhood revolved around the ocean and over time this interest turned into curiosity, but I don’t know if I ever really thought of this ocean exploration as science (even though it was!). Growing up, it seemed to me that science was something you did in school, and this subject always drew me in. I completed my first science fair project in third grade and continued to participate in science fair till my junior year of high school, making it to regional and state fairs several times.
What did you study during undergrad? Did you know what you wanted to study before beginning?
I majored in Marine Biology at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) during my undergraduate degree. A big reason I chose FIT was because they have a great marine bio program, and this proved to definitely be true. Apparently, I knew I wanted to study marine biology as early as 1st grade. Six year old me used to go around saying, “I either want to be a chiropractor or a marine biologist”.
What was your first science-related job?
My first science-related job where I got paid was in the Marine Paleoecology Lab at Florida Tech during my undergrad degree. I was a student worker in the lab for three and a half years, helping to analyze climatic variability and upwelling regimes in coral reef cores from Pacific Panama, dating back to about 6,000 years before present.
My first unpaid science-related job was as an intern with Dr. Andy Nosal at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studying the biology and ecology of a large seasonal aggregation of leopard sharks in Southern California.
Shark survey cruise with NOAA SWFSC in Channel Islands.
What are your thoughts on getting a higher degree?
Thus far, I have not chosen to earn a higher degree. While I don’t rule it out, I have found that I see more opportunity in forging my own path rather than continuing on in academia.
Additionally, since a main focus of mine is science communication, it is actually important for me to be outside of academia so that I can see the big picture and relate to the public; while still of course maintaining a professional relationship with colleagues doing research at universities.
Did you have any preconceived notions about science, or scientists, and did that change once you explored your career in science?
Before entering college I thought that marine scientists spent majority of their time out in the field, researching their subject. After working in a lab and doing an internship in the field, it became clear to me that grad students and scientists were spending majority of the year analyzing data and writing papers and grants in the lab, with only a few weeks, to maybe a few months each year spent in the field collecting data.
Scientists are dedicated researchers that put in long hours to make sure that the results they present to the world are accurate and peer-reviewed. This both impressed me, and also made me realize, maybe my interests will steer me in a slightly different direction.
Has your work allowed you to travel? If so, where have you gone and what were you doing there?
Through my work I’ve had the opportunity to travel to some truly incredible places around the world.
As an undergraduate I traveled to Indonesia for a research internship with Operation Wallacea. There I spent 6 weeks living on a remote island, diving twice a day, helping graduate students collect field data on various coral reef related research projects.
In 2015, I traveled to Chile and Antarctica as the Outreach Specialist on a National Science Foundation research expedition studying how climate change is effecting the ecology of Antarctic deep seafloor organisms. I wrote blogs, formed relationships with K-12 students, posted on social media, and produced a short documentary film about the expedition and it’s science.
A few months ago, I attended the BLUE Ocean Film Festival and Conservation Summit in Monaco where my film, Antarctic SeaScience Expedition, was awarded Honorable Mention.
I had the opportunity to meet some incredibly inspiring ocean filmmakers, conservationists, and scientists all working to create positive change for the ocean and the planet.
Over the last several years, my work has brought me to San Diego and surrounding areas in Southern California. I have worked on leopard shark research projects in La Jolla and on Catalina Island with scientists from Scripps, I have surveyed shark populations in Southern California waters with NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, I have worked at Birch Aquarium as an informal marine science educator, and continue to work on a comparative fish skeleton collection project with the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Could you expand more on your experiences working in different sectors?
While I’ve had experience working in all of these sectors, some of which I personally preferred more than others, I am now working to bring them all together and highlight the positive characteristics of each. Regardless of what sector I want to work in, I find all of these (and more) vital and important entities in the world.
Through my podcast, Ocean Allison, I highlight individuals from any and all business sectors that are creating positive change for the ocean. In this way I am uniting people from all areas that are maintaining a common goal, just going about it in all different ways. You can listen to weekly episodes of my podcast by searching Ocean Allison on Soundcloud, Google Play, iPhone Podcast App and oceanallison.com.
Have you experienced any big compromises or struggles making a career in the sciences?
One of the biggest obstacles I came across when pursuing a career in science was when I realized that much of what science uncovers remains only within the scientific community.
What keeps you motivated when you’re feeling the drudgery? What keeps science FUN for you?
Earth is Blue! The ocean is the driver of our planet. Life came from the ocean. Our climate system is controlled by the ocean. Majority of our oxygen comes from the ocean. 99% of Earth’s biomass is in the ocean. It’s what makes our dot in the solar system unique. We need the ocean. We have abused it. And now, in order to help ourselves, we need to help the ocean.
Remembering all of the above, keeps me motivated everyday. These are the fundamental truths that inspire me to do science, to communicate science, to educate, and to document. Not to mention getting out in the water and enjoying all that the ocean has to offer, like SCUBA diving, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and boating!
Snorkeling in the Bahamas.
Was there any one person that inspired you?
In terms of ocean curiosity and exploration, my parents were definitely my biggest inspiration growing up. They facilitated my ocean experiences and always were teaching me about ocean animals and ocean dynamics.
In school, my middle school science teacher Simone Flood was a huge inspiration. She really invested time into her students, forming a close bond with us. This allowed for more authentic teaching and for me, I really opened up to how fun, interesting, and diverse science really is.
What are some inspirational materials you’ve used along the way?
Racing Extinction is an incredibly motivating film that I hope opens people’s minds to changing their actions for the preservation of our planet.
Mission Blue, a film documenting Sylvia Earle and all of her incredible accomplishments is also incredibly inspiring.
The most inspiring thing of all is to immerse yourself in nature. When studying the natural world, I’ve found this to be the best way to gain fresh perspective and increase appreciation for what you’re dedicating so much time to.
When I met Sylvia Earle at BLUE Ocean Film Fest in Monaco.
What are some key points you wish you knew or that you remind yourself of during your science career journey?
No matter how groundbreaking or important your scientific findings are, in order to create change for this planet they have to be communicated to a large and varied audience. If there is no communication, the significance of and interest in science decreases.
Also, always keeping in mind and promoting this quote has helped me greatly: “We are not apart from nature, we are a part of nature.” -Prince Ea
What is your big dream?
My big dream is that we will protect and preserve the ocean so that it is as healthy and thriving as possible. The ocean drives our entire planet — getting humans to recognize the ocean’s vitality and make change to effectively protect our waters is my ultimate goal.
Through my career I strive to educate others about that vitality of the ocean, since we can only care about what we understand. Once people understand they will care, and once they care we can work to protect our oceans the way they need to be protected.
Tidepool Guide for Birch Aquarium
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To see more photos of Allison’s adventures, check out the Feature Photo Album on Woman Scientist Facebook Page. Like it and share!
Thank you so much for the interview Allison!
For more on Allison Randolph, visit allisonrandolph.com
To see all of her ocean adventures, learn about marine species, and find ways you can help preserve our planet’s blue lifeblood, follow her on social media @ocean_allison on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook.
~~~
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When I was a new scientist starting work in the lab I purchased the book At the Bench, by Kathy Barker. It became a well-read manual I referred to when questions arose about living and working in the laboratory. As I gained experience over the years, moving into more responsibility overseeing high school and undergraduate interns, I bestowed upon them this same book for reference and peace of mind.
I had no idea that nearly a decade later I would have the chance to get to know the author.
We met at an event co-hosted by the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) and Hutch United at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. There was to be a discussion on Social Media and Activism in Science with distinguished panelists :
As a young scientist active on social media, I wanted to hear the opinions of more advanced researchers and the voice they use online. (If you want to know my opinions, read this post.)
Kathy was the first person I met before entering the building. It was dark and raining, as per usual in Seattle, and we were both lost. Together we ventured in to what we thought was the correct building and as the house lights illuminated our faces I saw she had a streak of red dyed hair. As someone who sometimes worries about whether or not I’ll be taken seriously with my turquoise dyed hair, I was glad to see another scientist rocking the look.
Kathy has a PhD in microbiology and spent time as an assistant professor in the Laboratory of Cell Physiology and Immunology at Rockefeller. She currently consults and writes on science management and communicating science to society. She has authored two books At the Bench and At the Helm.
Kathy gladly agreed to participate in an interview to share with us her diverse set of experiences and gained wisdom:
What is your earliest memory of being hooked by science?
Volcanoes, animals, rockets, and infectious disease. There was scant information around in those pre-web days, but I devoured all the books in our little library.
What did you study during undergrad? Did you know what you wanted to study before beginning?
I was an English major for 2 years of college, with no interest in science. After dropping out for a few years to travel and work, I returned to college and got hooked by a tour in a basic biology class of a scanning electron microscope and a view of an insect eye. I ended up doing a double major in English and Biology.
What was your first science-related job?
Breeding mice as an undergraduate. I should have thought more carefully about animal use at that time, for it troubled me for the 4-5 years before I realized I should just say no to animal work.
How did you decide to go for a higher degree?
Entropy.
Did you have any preconceived notions about science, or scientists, and did that change once you explored your career in science?
Not knowing any scientists until I was in my 20’s meant I had a cartoon image of what a scientist was, and didn’t realize the absolute power I had to make much more informed and better choices. No one can tell you how to be a scientist. You get to be an activist, or take time off, or have no kids or a zillion kids (I had 3), or do “descriptive” science, etc etc.
Has your work allowed you to travel? If so, where have you gone and what were you doing there?
Yes. The writing turned into giving workshops on running labs, and I traveled all over the country. It is great fun, and I meet wonderful people.
Could you expand more on your experiences working in different sectors?
After my postdoc, I was an assistant professor for a few years. I found it interesting that many of the problems encountered by people in the labs were communication problems, and were common to all. I wanted to write about it, and contacted a publisher. He thought it was a good idea, and I left the lab about 6 months later to write.
Writing was hard at first. It took me a while to build up colleagues, and expertise, and until I had a finished product, my ego took a hit. I hadn’t realized how that title ‘scientist’ gives you a sort of pass in life, as people assume you are doing something valuable….even when it isn’t true.
I’m currently hooked up with a group of public health academics, and together we are writing a book on the primary prevention of war. Three of my lives came together here: the scientist, the writer, and the antiwar/antimilitarism activist. It feels good!
Have you experienced any big compromises or struggles making a career in the sciences?
Compromises or struggles…I can’t quite come up with anything. Not everything went well, but that is probably because I wasn’t as thoughtful about my scientific life as I should have been, not about the field I was working in, or about my future.
What keeps you motivated when you’re feeling the drudgery? What keeps science FUN for you?
Even making buffers in a lab was fun for me- I loved everything about the lab, every single day. I never felt drudgery…except with writing. I wouldn’t say it is fun every day, but I am very happy.
Was there any one person that inspired you?
Not really. The big sister of the girl next door and a microscope, and I thought both she and the microscope were absolutely cool.
What are some inspirational materials you’ve used along the way?
Natalie Angier’s “In Search of the Oncogene” is one of the best books about how lab science is done.
What are some key points you wish you knew or that you remind yourself of during your science career journey?
I was too independent- I wish I had had a mentor. Even having a role model would have meant I was thinking about the strengths and weaknesses I had. It meant I would have known when I needed help.
What is your big dream?
I would love to be part of a movement that convinces scientists to think about war and nonviolence, and to choose their careers and paths with consideration of the effects of their work for all of society.
~~~
Thank you so much, Kathy, for sharing your career journey!
Make sure to follow Kathy’s newsletters and feed on Twitter.
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