Expectation: Leaving my smiling baby each morning to have a perfect day tracking turtles in the field with one private and sterile 10-minute break to pump out my liquid gold. Reality: Leaving my stinky (but still smiling) baby each morning, filled with milk and guilt. During the day, tracking some turtles but spending a fair … Continue reading Milk, guilt, and turtles
We are looking to reinvigorate the FemFieldSecrets blog and to do so, we are searching for more blog curators to help generate material. If you're interested in joining the team to promote fem field science, let us know! We'd love to hear from you!
Today's post comes to us from two rockstar field technicians on their experiences interacting with the public this last spring-fall, in forest preserves in densely-populated places. By: Gabby Barnas & Raela Wataha When we first began studying wildlife biology as undergraduates, we both noticed how many men were in our classes. There were also many … Continue reading Self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome
This week we have a story from Dr. Constance O'Connor, a conservation scientist with Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, which describes how she felt when she was faced with how to manage field work while she was expecting: Sitting on the edge of the plushy couch in my midwives’ office, I took a deep … Continue reading What James Bay taught me about balancing kids and fieldwork
Content warning: Sexual harassment We’ve all experienced it to some degree. You’re in the field, in teams often dominated by men, most of whom are great. But there’s sometimes that one. That guy. He says misogynistic things. Belittles women. Talks over you. Mansplains. Assumes you can’t hold your weight in the field. Is quick to … Continue reading Toxic Masculinity
The morning of August 3rd 2015 had been exhausting. Three months of supplies - our shelters, our remaining food, our scientific gear, everything that we brought to feel at home - was to leave for good. And it wasn't clear demobilization would even happen. Small craft advisory the night before, but the winds were dying, … Continue reading Field sick
We’ve all been there. You and your field team have been together for long hours, hot/cold days, bruising tasks, and exhaustingly mundane chores. Rainy/snowy days stuck inside or stuck working. You’ve probably pulled more than a few ticks off of each other. Your nerves are frayed. There's no other words to describe the feeling at … Continue reading Motivate your crew!
First off, I get really grumpy when people conflate being an introvert with being socially awkward. They are NOT THE SAME THING. The way I like to think of being an introvert is that I get my energy and recharge through being alone in solitude. What this means is that no matter how much I … Continue reading Introvert Fielding
Since starting research as an undergrad, my seabird fieldwork has required me to disappear to some odd end of the world for a few months each year. My family and friends have always been supportive, though I was usually met with a slew of questions like you're going to go live on a ... volcano?, wait … Continue reading A death half a world away
Field work has its ups and downs. It can be the best time of our lives and sometimes the most difficult. This weeks blog comes to you from Olivia Box telling her story of tackling those less than ideal conditions in a one of a kind place. We learn a lot about ourselves in the … Continue reading Things take the time they take.
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