Albatross colony, Midway Atoll, 2015
|
My path to conservationI’m interested in how people connect with the natural world and how those connections change when we live in cities. Humans have always altered in some way the variety of plants, wildlife, and landscapes available for us to experience. Those changes are spatially concentrated and intensified in cities. Living within these altered systems, our sense of what is natural can shift or become constrained. Meanwhile, we shape the fates of distant places by the ways we grow food, extract and transport resources, and dispose of trash. Those far away changes are often less visible to us.
When the diversity and functions of natural systems are hidden, as they often are from city-dwellers, it is not surprising to see low environmental literacy and drift in environmental ethos. However, it is often not sustainable to make decisions under those conditions. These concerns brought me to conservation biology, an area of science that helps us protect species, habitats, and ecosystems. I approach conservation from many angles, having also worked in art, museums, and public engagement. |
A focus on birdsMy varied background includes a number of projects focused on birds. I particularly enjoy how birds can surprise us, giving us spontaneous opportunities to observe animals interacting with their environment. Even within large cities, certain bird species are available for us to notice. Moreover, because birds fly, sing, and are frequently active during daytime, they tend to be easy to observe. Of course, we also enjoy the beauty and diversity of bird life.
|
Canada Goose study, Chicago, Illinois, November 2014
|
Brandvold Hadrosaur site, Montana, 2014
|
Sense of placeI believe that when we observe the natural world, we fully engage our senses and faculties. That attention to nature can lead us into many thoughtful endeavors, including science, art, and reflecting on our place in the world. Noticing nature is important for our sense of place, and nature's flourishing can contribute to our sense of pride in where we live. These ideas inform my ways of working in conservation and museums.
|
Creative practiceIn addition to being a scientist and museum worker, I am also an artist. My artwork explores themes from biology, often employing visual patterns inspired by nature. I am represented by Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis, where you can see my paintings, prints and drawings.
|
"Shape System 2" (detail) gouache painting, 2013
|