Long before fieldwork and research papers, Dr Jamie McKaughan was the kind of child who brought home worms as gifts and tracked frogs through damp grass with his dad. “I was wildlife-obsessed,” he laughs. “Peregrines were my first obsession -everything fast, I loved. Then came cheetahs, then tigers… I just seemed to go through phases

Dr Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva grew up in Portugal, and later became a conservation genetics and primatology researcher in the African bush. In this interview, she shares her pathway and offers advice to anyone following in her footsteps. Initial inspiration It all began in Portugal in the 1990s when Dr Ferreira da Silva was

When Dr. Iury Simoes-Sousa, Computational Physical Oceanographer and Postdoctoral Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, started his career as an oceanographer and data scientist, he would never have expected that a manatee named Tico would introduce a new meaning to his research and professional career. Born and raised in Fortaleza, Brazil, Iury was surrounded by

As a kid growing up in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, USA, Dr Cynthia Frasier didn’t picture herself working in conservation. In fact, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to go to college. But now, as a Research Scientist at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, she’s spent years helping protect Madagascar’s lemurs and

From beginning with tools such as brushes and paint to now navigating across the Atlantic aboard a research vessel, Dr Philippa Rickard’s journey from fine art to marine biogeochemistry is as fluid and captivating as the waters she studies. Now she’s a postdoctoral research conducting the ocean’s crucial surface microlayer, its importance for air-sea gas

In just about every kindergarten or preschool class, half the kids say they want to be a marine biologist. Were you one of them? As we grow up, that number shrinks and only a few adults actually get to live out that childhood dream. Maybe that is because becoming a marine biologist actually means becoming

Alessandro Forti’s path to wildlife conservation was set at a young age. Alessandro’s parents would often take him to the Alps for long days hiking, climbing and spotting wildlife, and there he developed a profound connection with the natural world which left a lasting mark. Those early days in the mountains sparked his curiosity about

From patrolling South Africa’s rugged plains as a ranger to going undercover in Russia’s remote forests to investigate tiger poaching and becoming a National Geographic Explorer, Dr Allison Skidmore has dedicated her life and career to investigating wildlife crime. Allison’s story is extraordinary and reveals a passion and perseverance for wildlife protection that has led

What drives someone to the most remote corners of the Earth in pursuit of wildlife conservation? For Dr Sandra Lai, it’s a profound dedication to understanding and protecting our planet’s most vulnerable species. In this article, we dive into Sandra’s remarkable career journey. Discover how Sandra’s unique experiences and insights can offer valuable lessons for

In the rugged highlands of Ethiopia, where the landscape meets the sky, a quiet but vital conservation battle unfolds. Amidst this breathtaking backdrop, Dr. Sandra Lai is at the forefront of preserving a species on the brink of extinction: the Ethiopian Wolf. In this exclusive interview, we delve into Sandra’s remarkable journey, her role as

Conservation biologist Joshua Elves-Powell and co-authors have recently released ground-breaking new work on the poorly known wildlife trade in badgers in South Korea. They concluded that increased monitoring of the trade and more targeted research would improve the availability of information and thus enhance the quality of future policy approaches. Moreover, the conservation risks of