Fancy Scientist with Dr. Stephanie Manka – Details, episodes & analysis

I first came across Ana Yi Soto's work through a LinkedIn post she created on language justice that went viral and due to its importance, she later decided to repost in the Society for Conservation Biology forum. In her post, she shared a meme from the television show Modern Family, in which Gloria, a native Spanish-speaking character from Colombia (the actress playing Gloria, Sofia Vergara is also from Colombia) says, “Do you even know how smart I am in Spanish?”

Her powerful message about what language you happened to grow up speaking and how it can affect your career in conservation resonated deeply with me, especially given my own experiences conducting fieldwork in Kenya and particularly Gabon, where the national language is French and almost no one speaks English. I remember not being able to fully express myself and feeling dumb. Currently, I, am learning Portuguese and when speaking in Brazil, I even feel like I take on a different personality due to language limitations. I knew immediately that I had to invite Ana to share her insights with our Fancy Scientist community on how conservation being dominated by the English language when it comes to published research affects those who did not grow up as native English speakers, but still want to have a career that can make an impact.

In this episode, we dive into the critical issue of language barriers in conservation work. We explore how the dominance of English in scientific research and conservation efforts can inadvertently exclude vital voices and perspectives from local communities. This conversation is essential for anyone passionate about creating more equitable, effective, and inclusive conservation strategies worldwide.

Language barriers in conservation go far beyond simple translation issues. They can significantly impact the effectiveness of conservation efforts, limit the participation of local experts, and lead to misunderstandings that can derail well-intentioned projects. There are some words that have no meaning in other languages or do not fully translate. Ana and I discuss the frustrations of not being able to fully express complex ideas in a non-native language and the importance of creating spaces where all voices can be heard and valued.

Ana's journey from a communication specialist in Peru to a global conservation leader working in Madagascar is truly inspiring. She shares valuable advice on maintaining curiosity and humility in conservation work, emphasizing the need for co-creation rather than imposing solutions. We also delve into her current roles with the Global Landscape Forum and CREA Planeta, showcasing how she's putting language justice principles into action.

This conversation with Ana Yi Soto highlights the urgent need for a shift in how we approach conservation work globally. By prioritizing language justice and inclusivity, we can tap into a wealth of local knowledge and create more sustainable, community-driven conservation solutions.

I encourage all of you, whether you're a seasoned conservationist or just starting your journey, to reflect on how language impacts your work and interactions. How can we all contribute to creating a more inclusive environment in conservation?

Specifically, we go over:

• The concept of language justice and its importance in conservation
• Challenges faced by non-native English speakers in scientific fields and conservation work
• The need for humility and co-creation in conservation projects
• How the landscape is shifting and efforts to increase inclusivity in global conservation events and publications
• Ana's work with the Global Landscape Forum and CREA Planeta
• How Ana started out working in conservation in Peru and how she was able to pursue work across the globe
• Advice for aspiring conservationists looking to make a difference
• And more!

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.

Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ 

Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fancy-scientist-material-girl-living-in-sustainable/id1509587394 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW

#wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs

As early as the second episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I’ve been talking about the negative impacts of "animal selfies.” This refers to when people post photos of themselves with an exotic animal. Although selfies are new in the digital age of photography, photos like these are not. For decades, private zoos and individuals have made money by keeping exotic animals often in horrific conditions and getting people to pose with them for photos. These are most often baby mammals (think tiger, lion, and bear cubs ala Tiger King), but can also be birds, reptiles, and fully adult mammals. 

While operations like these are clearly bad for animals and have nothing to do with conservation once you understand how they work (read Is Cub Petting Conservation for Big Cats?), what’s less clear is when scientists pose with their study species for photos. I totally get it! Being with a wild animal is an amazing opportunity and you want to capture it in a photograph (I am guilty of this myself), but what happens when we share those images? 

We've all seen those images of researchers posing with their study subjects, and while it might seem harmless, research has shown that this can actually encourage people to engage in unethical or even illegal wildlife interactions. It’s safe to say that this has been a pet peeve of mine for some time. Photos like those are pervasive throughout the scientific community, even when advertising our career to others and I’ve been trying to spread the word. .

A couple of months ago, a story went viral on X (formerly Twitter) where people took wild bear cubs from a tree just for selfies. I tweeted not only about this, but about how scientists need to stop posting photos of themselves with wildlife so people don’t get the misconception that it’s ever okay to do something like this. I also emphasized that studies show that photos like those make people want to engage in animal selfies. This tweet gained considerable attention, one of which was from Dr. Cassie Freund, the director of science communication at the Frost Science Museum in Miami, who tweeted back that that was her research! . This fortuitous interaction led me to ask her for an interview in this podcast to talk about her research on scientists taking selfies with animals, especially primates, and how it has been shown to negatively influence public behavior and perceptions, making people less likely to understand the endangered status of these animals. 

On this podcast, she discusses the results of her and other studies, which found that even providing captions trying to explain the "proper permissions" obtained to handle animals with research permits and as a professional don’t mitigate the negative impact of those kinds of photos on the public. Additionally, Cassie has a fascinating background in primate behavioral research, and is a strong science writer and editor with over five years of experience telling engaging stories about the world around in outlets like Mongabay, Massive Science, and Hakai Magazine.

Cassie's insights were so valuable, and I know this is a topic that many of you are passionate about as well. I encourage you to share this episode with your scientist friends and colleagues - let's all do our part to raise awareness and change the narrative around how we present wildlife on social media.

Specifically, we go over:

• Cassie's background in orangutan conservation and rainforest research
• The surprising findings from her studies on how people perceive images of scientists with their study subjects
• Tips for effective science communication that prioritizes animal welfare and conservation
• Challenges of navigating social media as a scientist who wants to share their work
• Real-world examples of both positive and negative wildlife-related social media posts
• And more!

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.

Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ 

Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fancy-scientist-material-girl-living-in-sustainable/id1509587394 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW

#wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs

This week, I’m continuing to turn the tables on conservation podcasters by interviewing them. I had the great pleasure of sitting down with one of the Earth to Humans podcast hosts, Hannah Mulvany. 

Earth to Humans explores humankind's relationship with planet Earth, covering topics within the environmental and conservation space through the diverse perspectives of its three hosts—including this episode's guest, Hannah Mulvany.

In addition to being a host and a part-time field biologist, Hannah created her own science communication career. As the director and founder of Song and Dance Communications, she has carved out a unique career, blending her expertise in communications with her love for nature. She amplifies voices for conservation and environmental stewardship by serving as a communications manager and social media strategist for various nonprofits and organizations worldwide.

With a diverse portfolio spanning graphic design, copywriting, content creation, nature storytelling, and social media management, Hannah is a true self-starter and go-getter. Her role as a science communicator is pivotal in translating scientific concepts into engaging and accessible narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and fostering a deeper communication of environmental issues among the general public. 

Hannah’s journey is bound to inspire you to take action, stop waiting around, and start making things happen for yourself and the planet.

In this episode, Hannah shares invaluable insights into her approach to conservation action and the power of leveraging your skills and talents to effect change. From knocking on doors to creating her own opportunities to speaking up for the environment in everyday life, Hannah's journey exemplifies the spirit of empowerment and resilience. You'll walk away from this podcast feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to make a difference in your own life and the world around you.

Specifically, we discussed:

• How Hannah went from a traditional start in fieldwork to creating her own science communication career
• Hannah's unique journey from the world of communications to the heart of conservation and environmental advocacy
• How her passion for storytelling and love for nature intersect to drive positive change
• The secrets to her success in creating opportunities where none existed before
• How Hannah used LinkedIn to get herself work
• Hannah's advocacy work and her commitment to amplifying voices for environmental and wildlife conservation
• What it’s like to work as a science communicator and social media manager
• How Hannah balances fieldwork with her work behind the desk as a science communicator
• And MORE!!

I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world.

Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ 

Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ 

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology

Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fancy-scientist-material-girl-living-in-sustainable/id1509587394 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW

On this episode, I interviewed Dr. Chris Cloney, a combustible dust fire and explosion researcher who created a six-figure online business from his blog. 

My podcast tends to focus on wildlife and conservation, so why am I interviewing an explosion researcher? Because Chris is amazing at science communication and all of the principles behind Dust Safety Science, GradBlogger, and now the Self Tenure Community can help you spread messages of conservation and even make a living from them. 

Successful messaging and education are the key to conservation. We cannot separate all wildlife from humans, and even if we could, our impact on the planet (e.g. climate change) would still affect wildlife populations. So much of conservation is about changing human behaviors. 

More specifically, we’ll talk about:

• How Chris makes tens of thousands of dollars each month with one of his blogs 
• How to turn your blog into a business
• Science communication in general
• Blogging vs social media
• What to blog about
• Overcoming publishing nerves
• Handling negative comments from the Internet
• and MORE!

Full show notes here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/starting-a-scicomm-business-with-chris-cloney/

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Within the past decade, there have been several prominent issues where the public has showed distrust in science and the scientists behind the studies: climate change, evolution, vaccines, and now COVID-19 and wearing masks.

This week on the podcast, I talk about what science actually is. We’re taught in school that science is about memorizing facts or taxonomic names (at least in biology). But science is really about asking and answering questions!

These questions, and the studies attempting to answer them aren’t done in isolation. As a scientist, it’s incredibly difficult to fabricate data or come up to erroneous conclusions and get away with it. Science is full of checks and balances, and while it is always evolving, there are definitely well-studied areas of research where the results are clear and there is a consensus among scientists. 

But this is only half the work. Or maybe even less than half. Without the public understanding the science, our work doesn’t mean much. For example, we have lots of studies and climate scientists agree that humans are causing climate change at an accelerated rate, yet if the public and government officials don’t trust those studies or the scientists, we won’t be able to implement changes to mitigate the impacts. Therefore science communication is of utmost importance.

In the second half of this podcast, I transition into how scientists are communicating their research and how I am shifting to a new career entirely dedicated to science communication. 

Most scientists think you can only work as a science communicator for an organization, but I’m sharing how I’m doing it with my blog. Next week, I talk to Chris Cloney, who has made an entire business out of science communication. 

In this podcast, I:

• Take you through what it’s like to conduct a scientific study
• How scientists check each other’s work
• How studies are published in journal
• Why scientists are communicating their science
• How scientists can be communicators
• My transition into a career in science communication and how you can do the same. 

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Full show notes here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/what-science-is-really-like-and-careers-in-science-communication/

In today’s episode, I interview wildlife biologist and YouTuber Kristina Lynn on what it’s like to be a wildlife biologist and her success going viral on YouTube. She offers lots of great career tips and fun stories.  

Kristina has a degree in ecology, animal behavior, and evolution. Her research includes many projects on understanding and assessing the influence of human development on wildlife species. Some of her current and past study species include grey wolf, cougars, Canada lynx, grizzly bear, and black bear.

Her research experience spans from California to the Bolivian Amazon to up north in western Canada. She has worked for the state and federal government, and in animal sanctuaries.

Kristina is passionate about conservation and encourages an eco-friendly lifestyle on her YouTube channel. She has a lot of videos for advice on careers in wildlife biology and even shows you what a day in the life is like. 

Full show notes here with all of links to Kristina's YouTube and social media: https://stephanieschuttler.com/15-career-and-youtube-advice-with-wildlife-biologist-kristina-lynn/

This is a bonus episode! I recorded a webinar on Monday night to talk about my new Confusion to Clarity beta group. I realized that I had a Zoom audio file too and thought it would be a good addition to the podcast because even if you don't join my group, it has valuable advice for those interested in careers in wildlife biology.

When I looked for jobs after my PhD, I found out I was overqualified, yet not specialized enough for some of the jobs I wanted most.

My network didn’t help. In four cases, I did not get jobs that I interviewed for despite knowing working with someone on the hiring committee another candidate had more experience or a skill I did not have.

I LOVED my PhD research on elephants, but when I graduated, I found out there were very few jobs I was qualified for.

The secret to success in wildlife biology careers is to reverse engineer them.

In this episode, I go over 7 steps that I believe are essential for you to become competitive and find happiness. Enjoy!

Every day in the summer summer around dusk, I would look up above and see bats flying above my yard. I love bats, but so many people don’t. But bats are SO COOL!

In this episode I talk with my friend and bat biologist Lisa Gatens of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. She’s been studying bats for about 20 years. In this interview, she tells us some amazing bat facts as well as tips on how to live alongside and help out bats. 

Specifically we go over…

• Fun bat facts
• Bat moms are bad ass
• Tequila!
• Vampire bats
• Bat diversity
• Why bats are important
• What bats do for people
• How to attract bats to your yard
• Why do bats need our help?
• What should you do if you have a bat in your house
• Bats and disease
• Bats and COVID-19
• Bats are cute
• And MORE!

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/bats-are-the-best-bat-fun-with-bat-biologist-lisa-gatens/

Elephants are sought after for their ivory, which comes from their tusks. In most countries, it is illegal, but this has’t stopped people from killing them. 

Elephant poaching was at its highest ever within the past two decades. But some studies are reporting that poaching decreased. 

However, a new study contradicts this overall narrative; that poaching has decreased for elephants. Previous studies didn’t account for missing data and when you look at the geographic regions, it’s a lot more complicated. 

In this episode, I talk about what’s really going on with elephants and poaching. I studied forest elephants for my Ph.D., so this is a topic near and dear to my heart.

In this podcast, I’ll cover:

• The 3 species of elephant and their different threats
• Poaching in Africa
• How species designations affect the conservation of African elephants
•  Is poaching really decreasing?
• Why do studies show conflicting results?
• What you can do to help the conservation of elephants

Full show notes here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/has-poaching-decreased-for-elephants/

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7KlOYUv8lxU3MG4sfxaLzA?

Over the summer, kids go to summer camps and aspiring wildlife biologists have technician positions, internships, or volunteer opportunities. With COVID-19 causing much of the country to shut down, many outdoor programs for kids have been cancelled and young wildlife biologists are left without any summer experience.

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and connect to wildlife. In episode 7, I talked about how aspiring wildlife biologists can spend the summer honing some skills related to wildlife. Nature also has so many physical and mental health benefits, but maybe you just don't know what to do? 

Well, I got you covered!

In this podcast, I cover my 10 favorite activities that I used to do as a child and still do today as an adult to connect to wildlife. These activities will help you learn local animals, contribute to real science, and see wildlife in ways you may have never seen them before. 

I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7KlOYUv8lxU3MG4sfxaLzA