Not all scientist wear lab coats

The Wildlife Conservation Society would like help in spreading the word to young adults and early career professionals about our newest interactive series exploring STEM careers called Not All Scientists Wear Lab Coats: A WCS Global Scientist Series. Conservation issues remain a critical emphasis in the STEM field. Facing issues such as illegal wildlife trafficking, the climate crisis, plastics pollution, and zoonotic disease spread, WCS professionals are leading the way in innovative and exciting ways to identify solutions. In each session, you’ll learn about a different conservation issue, meet a WCS staff member actively working on solutions, and discover how their unique pathway to a STEM career was influenced by their identity.

Episode Descriptions:

According to the IUCN, over 20% of reptile species are nearing extinction. This is why first-generation Bronx born and raised Kelvin Alvarez, Wild Animal Keeper Bronx Zoo is collaborating on research to conserve them. Join us for our first episode to celebrate Reptile Awareness Day on Oct 21, 2020. You’ll hear about Kelvin’s journey of realizing his dream career working with reptiles and how he is manipulating the sex of Cuban crocodile hatchlings to aid wild populations.

The bison is one of the most significant conservation stories in WCS history, bringing the national mammal back from the brink of extinction. In celebration of World Bison Day, Cristina Mormorunni, Director of U.S. Field Conservation & Regional Director of the WCS Rocky Mountain Program, will discuss how conservation is a path to social transformation and healing. Join us for our second episode on Nov 18, 2020 as we explore conservation beyond the science and move into the culture, politics, and belief in ourselves.

For centuries, the Amazon persisted while indigenous people adapted to use soil and produced a kind of traditional agriculture. Now, after less than a hundred years of agribusiness expansion we’ve lost 20% of the forest. WCS Brazil Country Director, Carlos Durigan joins us to celebrate World Soil Day on Dec 8, 2020, to discuss the need to save the home of one of the planet’s great biodiverse habitats, and his journey along this conservation story.

Registration is required. Sessions are 90 minutes and occur remotely. Visit: https://bronxzoo.com/learn/not-all-scientists-wear-lab-coats