Talking Feral

Michael Paul Nelson is an environmental scholar and professor of environmental ethics and philosophy at Oregon State University. His research and teaching focus is environmental ethics and philosophy including concepts of wilderness, the philosophy of ecology, hunting ethics and theories of environmental education. His work also spans topics in wildlife ecology and conservation biology addressing questions about science and advocacy and the philosophical work of Aldo Leopold. We spoke about the ethical basis for certain animal management and conservation research approaches, about Aldo Leopold and early conservation philosophy, and about how Michael ended up in his field. We also spoke about concepts of grief in ecology, the absence, but critical role, of philosophy in conservation and the natural sciences, and how the paradigms and frameworks that we become embedded in influence our scientific practice. 

Dave Hansford is a freelance writer, blogger, editor and photographer from New Zealand. He appears regularly in New Zealand Geographic magazine, where he also pens a science column, Life, and blogs regularly at www.nzgeo.com and www.radionz.co.nz/news. We spoke about his 2016 book Protecting Paradise, which investigated the debate, science, and political controversy around the use of the mammalian poison 1080 in New Zealand. We also spoke about the ambitious Predator Free 2050 plan in New Zealand that aims to remove a suite of introduced predators, using 1080 and other methods. 

Talking Feral is back with all of your favorite conversations about science, nature, grad school and conservation. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears diced for hot new episodes.

Dr. Charlotte Regan is an evolutionary ecologist currently researching great tits at the University of Oxford and recently studied life history and movement characteristics of the Sable Island feral horses. We spoke about the challenges of pursuing research positions around the planet and diversifying your training, about establishing research labs and trying to find fundable research niches, and about being productive and thoughtful scientists when under the pump of publishing, funding, teaching and all that comes with academia.

Dr. Kerstin Johannesson is a Professor of Marine Ecology and the Director of the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. We spoke about her work studying speciation and evolution in marine ecosystems, and how our view and understanding of these processes influences conservation, for better and for worse. We also spoke about her role as a scientific advisor for policy makers, and what it takes to be a be a productive scientist and remain motivated in the face of endless administration.

Dr. Matt Krna completed his PhD in NZ investigating carbon cycling in tussock grasslands and now works in private industry researching foliar fertilizers. We spoke about our time together working at his field sites in New Zealand, about Matt's MSc research in Antarctica, and about learning to step down of soap boxes to try and keep a few friends.

Branden Neufeld is masters student studying woodland caribou and their interaction with predators and productivity in Saskatchewan. Branden originally trained in the arts with a BA in English, teaching for several years before deciding to head back to school to train as a biologist. We also talked about the challenges of raising two young daughters while in grad school, about hunting to feed your family and to try and eat more sustainably, and about whether our years of martial arts training are any good for self-defense. 

Dr. Julie Robillard is Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia and Scientist in Patient Experience at BC Children's & Women's Hospitals. She leads the Neuroscience, Engagement and Smart Tech (NEST) lab and her research focuses on the development and evaluation of technologies to support brain health across the lifespan. We spoke about social media and its effects on our brain, how industry is adapting to both the negative and positive effects of apps, social robots and how they are can improve mental health, and the blessings and curses of an academic life. 

Jake Hennig is a PhD candidate at the University of Wyoming where he studies feral horse movements, habitat selection, and their interactions with co-occuring flora and fauna. We spoke about the history and complicated politics of feral horse management in the US, how the population continues to grow through a lack of legal management options, and the ethics of managing animals in this way. We also spoke about the internal conservation contradictions we have both recognized in ourselves through studying feral horses, and how we think future ecosystems might remain functional once we take the time to examine our biases. 

Dr. Ryan Brook is an associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan. He is the man on point for feral pig research in Canada, though studies a number of different species including elk, polar bears, caribou and wolves. We spoke about management and research of feral pigs in Canada, parallels and differences we see with feral horses, caribou and native species, and our role as scientists in communicating and advocating for different management techniques.