A place from @PARCorg to talk about #equity #inclusion #diversity & #conservation in #herpetology. This month's first Wednesday takeover by @DrRanidae.
Nov 6, 2019 • 22 tweets • 10 min read
Hey everyone! I'm very honored and excited to be talking #herps with you today
Here's a little more of how I became a #herpetologist:
As a kid, I loved looking at (and when I could, catching) various critters. On the plains of southeastern Wyoming, that meant a lot of toads (Anaxyrus), tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) & gartersnakes (Thamnophis). 1/
Sep 18, 2019 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
Okay, so, where is the female Bill Nye?
Let's talk about why it's hard to be a woman in science, why it's hard to be a science communicator, and why it's ESPECIALLY challenging to mix them both. I'm not going to cover every aspect since it's a big topic, so chime in please!
When I was a sciency girl, I learned the cost of speaking out. In 7th grade I noticed that only the boys asked questions in class. "Psst," I said to a friend. "Why don't the girls ask questions?" She stared at me like it was obvious. "If we did, the boys wouldn't like us!"
Jan 23, 2019 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
I mentioned that I’m prone to anxiety and Imposter Syndrome. So how have I dealt with these challenges? Here are my tips for diminishing the stress of #gradschool. #PhDchat
Though these might be useful for folks at other levels/in other sectors as well!
1. Take care of yourself.
It makes such a difference when you feel healthy.
For example, I’ve learned I need to prioritize exercise. I like to do barre classes that focus on getting STRONG. I also dabble in yoga, which keeps me feeling zen when grad school stress hits.
Jan 18, 2019 • 14 tweets • 8 min read
A thread about some of the fascinating #herps I have come across during my field work and some cool herps I want to see. #IndianHerps
India is super diverse in terms of biodiversity! We have about 600 sp. of reptiles & 400 sp. of amphibians 50% of both which are endemic! Most of these haven't been studied in detail but much advances have been made in the fields of taxonomy & ecology.
Nov 22, 2018 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
So I wanted to close tonight by talking a bit about how I got involved in #diversity#equity#inclusion efforts in #STEM and otherwise, and some general considerations for getting involved, especially as a white, hetero, cisgender individual.
If you had told me 20 years ago that I would be involved, I'm not sure I would have believed you. I was a pretty ignorant and inherently biased individual bc of where and how I grew up. But luckily people can grow. A couple things happened that changed my path.
Nov 21, 2018 • 7 tweets • 4 min read
So one of the important pieces of grad school for me is that I've learned to deal with the new reality of my life and who I am. So I wanted to share how I've learned to adapt to all of these challenges. #1 with any mental health challenge is seeking help. #noshame
Getting help for mental health issues in #gradschool can be hard. There are so many people needing help and often just not enough resources. Wait-lists can be long on campus. Going off campus can be really expensive on small already stretched budgets.
Nov 21, 2018 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
I know folks wanted to talk about #anxiety & #gradschool. I'm going to share some things that only close contacts know bc I think its important to discuss it openly. I've always managed with some anxiety since a young age but grad school & life brought things to a breaking point
Beyond the normal grad school pressures, I found myself leaving an emotionally abusive relationship, learning how to parent alone, and losing my mom, who watched my son while I did field work, to cancer.
