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What does a biological anthropologist do? Sheela Athreya, a professor of anthropology at Texas A&M University (@tamu) can tell you more.

“One of the key questions we as humans ask is—where did we come from? And that’s a question my research seeks to answer.

My work combines biological anthropology with an exploration of the history of the idea of race, focusing on the how we understand our origins and variation. Through my research in South Asia, I strive to uncover the evolutionary history of humans in the region, considering multiple possibilities, challenging the prevailing assumptions and trying to improve the models that oversimplify our evolution.

The story of human evolution is extraordinarily complex. There is a body of evidence that supports our species originating in Africa, but the story is much broader than that. One of the challenges with the out-of-Africa model is that it can limit our exploration and understanding of Homo sapiens evolution in other regions. If scientists find something that doesn’t fit with that model, they might say we found a different species or suggest that there was mixing with older human groups from places like Asia, but this renders people in other regions less human. So while there is evidence that shows a continuous history of our evolution in Africa, there is also evidence that shows a more global story with origins in Eurasia as well.

But this is a place where, as scientists, we must be cognizant of the broader context in which we are working. I am keenly aware of the cultural and political implications of this research perspective, and the importance of not seeming to promote anti-Black sentiments by decentering Africa in the human evolution narrative. We need to consider different interpretations while also being cautious about promoting any biases that do harm."

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Meet Kathy Russell, Conservation and Environmental Manager for the City of Fernandina Beach in Florida.

“As the manager of a free park spanning 300 acres, my work ranges from dealing with curious alligators
to controlling invasive plant species.

The beaches here on Amelia Island are located near a freshwater river and on occasion we get reports of alligators on the beach. They get caught up in the tidal currents that sweep from the river to the sea. Many times, they are disoriented and dehydrated. Once I assisted a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with the capture of an alligator with a catch pole. I held the animal in place and gently wrapped its mouth with tape to prevent injury. We then transported it to a safe, freshwater environment for release.

A big part of my work involves monitoring and removing invasive plant species, which if left unchecked can damage the ecosystem. Monitoring what happens in the park and looking for changes over time is crucial. I dedicate increasing amounts of my workday to outdoor activities so that I can collect the data we need to determine what’s changing. Doing so ensures that any necessary adjustments are made to maintain the delicate balance between animal and plant life and human interactions.

I worked for 17 years as a high school science teacher introducing students to oceanography, a subject that became more popular throughout my time there. I see this job as a continuation of my work in education. My goal is to maintain and improve our conservation areas, emphasizing the importance of preserving nature`s intrinsic value while addressing environmental health concerns. It is through education, collaboration, and individual choices that we can protect our natural spaces for generations to come.”

#PeopleofScience #STEMworkforce #STEMeducation #STEMjobs #scienceandengineering #stemprofessionals #workforce #wildlife #nature

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Meet Brooke Eastman, who has a Ph.D. in forest ecology and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.

“My primary interest as a scientist is bridging the gap between science and the public. I aim to communicate scientific findings to policymakers and decision-makers.

During my last year as a Ph.D. student, I volunteered for the Bridge Initiative for Science and Technology Policy, Leadership and Communications, a new science policy initiative at West Virginia University. I eventually became a science policy fellow for a year. My doctoral research was research-based. In my current postdoctoral fellow position I`m applying my knowledge of carbon cycling in forests to economics and social science aspects of forest management. I`m also volunteering as a liaison for the AAAS Local Science Engagement Network, focusing on bridging the scientific community with the public here in West Virginia.

I`m particularly interested in how to make scientific research more accessible to address local and international societal needs. In the future I see myself helping scientists apply their research to meet these needs or building bridges to facilitate such connections.

My work involves engaging with communities, especially in Central Appalachia, and bringing together scientists, academics, landowners, industry professionals, nonprofits and investors to discuss forest carbon management. I recently organized a conference on this topic.

My goal is to provide scientists with the tools and avenues to engage with the public. In turn I hope these interactions and relationships will empower the public to participate in the scientific process and use science and technology to better their communities.”

#PeopleofScience #STEMworkforce #STEMeducation #STEMjobs #scienceandengineering #stemprofessionals #workforce #forestry #scicomm

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What is it like working with medical cannabis? Meet Perry T. Walden, who is a regulatory compliance manager for Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission.

“When they hear my job title, people always ask how I got into this role. The story makes me laugh because I fell into this job. I was working for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and I happened to see this position pop up on an internal job board. I never thought I’d work in the cannabis world, but when I looked at the job description, I realized this job was perfect for me—it’s a unique blend of lab science and fieldwork—and a great opportunity for someone with a lot of experience working with plants.

On a day-to-day basis, I serve as a conduit between government and producers and producers and scientists. I go out and inspect production licenses. That means ensuring plants are healthy and growing environments are well-managed and verifying that production processes meet all regulatory standards for safety.

At the plant level, I’m looking for pests—from bacteria to invertebrates—talking about sanitation practices in between crop rotations and discussing what to do if a pest is discovered.

I also inspect extraction processes, that’s how we get the cannabinoids out of the plant in order to make medicine. That’s really the most scientifically heavy part of my job. Extraction involves a lot of chemistry and there are solvents that must be removed from the product. Because if the product is going to be ingested by someone; be it a young child who is sick or maybe someone in the late stages of cancer, a very medically fragile individual, it must be safe.“

#PeopleofScience #STEMworkforce #STEMeducation #STEMjobs #medicalcannabis

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On this #WorldTeachersDay, join us in celebrating all our educators and these #PeopleofScience!

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