Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, Ben Whittaker discusses mental health from the perspective of the umwelt. Cognitive philosophers use the term umwelt to describe the epicentre of being. Your umwelt is your own personal environment, a foundation on which to build your self-centred world view. As you encounter new experiences your umwelt evolves with you, changing not only the way your mind interacts with the world … Continue reading The Umwelt Approach
Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, Conor Ryan discusses his experiences of judging whether to be ‘out’ to colleagues and crew members during boat-based fieldwork. A congenital ecologist, Conor’s career began in the late 1980s, where he developed a keen interest in intertidal ecology, undertaking almost daily field trips to the seashore across from his home in Cobh, Ireland. Though he logged significant hours searching beneath barnacle-studded rocks … Continue reading Should I tell my colleagues I am gay?
Sometimes asking for help feels like an impossible task. Especially if you fear being judged or dismissed as weak for needing help in the first place. Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, PhD student Chloe Robinson is back to help break the wellbeing taboo and share some resources that are available for those in need of help. ‘It will all be worth it in the end’. If I had a … Continue reading Soft-minded or suffering? The wellbeing taboo of PhD students
Nobody should have to hide who they are. Unfortunately, many people in the LGBT+ community feel too shy or nervous to come out in the workplace. Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, in this blog post PhD student Chloe Robinson tells us what initiative she has been recently involved with that aim to support students, help tackle any issues of discrimination or unfair treatment in the workplace due to … Continue reading Being 100% of Yourself
Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, this blog talks about diversity in role models and the challenges of finding ‘someone like me’ provide scientific mentoring from the perspective of Jordan Ellison, an undergraduate student at the Colorado College. If anyone feels like they are in a position to provide mentoring for Jordan, please Contact Us! When people talk about diversity in the sciences, it seems to me as if … Continue reading Looking for people like me
Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, this blog talks about the challenges of academic parenthood from the perspective of Andy Seaton, a PhD student at the University of St Andrews. I am just coming to the end of my first year as a PhD candidate in ecological statistics. I am also a father to a 3 year-old boy and partner to a recent PhD graduate (Dr Mummy) who has … Continue reading Becoming Dr Daddy: The concerns of a PhD parent
Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, this blog post talks about having (and overcoming!) imposter syndrome. Isabel Rojas-Ferrer is a cognitive ecologist who was recently invited to participate in a roundtable discussion with the Minister of Science of Canada. Learn how this experience changed her reasoning about imposter syndome. During my second year of my master’s degree I started feeling undeserving of my position as a graduate student. At … Continue reading Did they choose my brain, my gender, or my race?
Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, this blog post talks about balancing childcare with a career in academia. Isabel Smallegange is an Associate Professor of population biology at the University of Amsterdam. She regularly blogs about the topics of work-life balance and gender balance from the perspective of an academic, parent and partner over on her personal site. Isabel would be curious to hear how others copes with similar … Continue reading Who Cares?
Following our #DiversityInEcology theme, this blog post addresses the issue of implicit cultural bias in ecology and related fields. The author has chosen to remain anonymous, as they have included several personal examples. I was shocked. I couldn’t form words. The acclaimed professor peered at me waiting for a response. “I said I once had a girl from [insert Asian country] and she couldn’t … Continue reading Implicit Cultural Bias in Ecology
Following our launch of the #DiversityInEcology blog post series last week, here is our first contributed post! The series allows people to share their personal perspectives on the theme of diversity in ecology, and this particular post was received after putting out a call for submissions on Twitter. There are many articles out there that discuss the problem of power differentials. From a women in … Continue reading Women in Science and Abuse of Power
A blog from the Journal of Animal Ecology
Tracking retractions as a window into the scientific process
Understanding life history and demography across the tree of life
Conservation research ... with bite
A blog from the Journal of Animal Ecology
Animal Ecology in Focus 