Resources
Field Safety & Inclusion | Keeping Cats Indoors | Other Great Organizations
Field Safety & Inclusion
Fieldwork is an essential part of various STEM disciplines, and for many of us it's one of the most rewarding, thought-provoking, and fun aspects of our research. Fieldwork always has its hazards, but for researchers from marginalized groups (especially those who are people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled) it can be particularly unsafe and unwelcoming. Below are several resources and organizations focused on making fieldwork more inclusive, accessible, and safe for researchers from all backgrounds.
- Field Inclusive, Inc - Fantastic organization that promotes field safety and provides scholarships for researchers from marginalized and historically excluded groups.
- Building a Better Fieldwork Future - Maintains list of field safety and inclusivity resources, including example field safety manuals and peer-reviewed articles.
- FieldFutures - Offers trainings in harassment prevention during fieldwork.
- University of California Field Operations Safety Manual
- Anadu, J., Ali, H., and Jackson, C. (2020). Ten steps to protect BIPOC scholars in the field, Eos, 101, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EO150525.
Keeping Cats Indoors
Want to learn more about why cats being outdoors is a problem for wildlife, ecosystems, human health, and cats themselves? Looking for resources to talk to friends or neighbors about this topic? Interested in transitioning your outdoor cat to an indoor-only lifestyle, or learning how to leash train them? Check out the links below!
- American Bird Conservancy's Cats Indoors program - TONS of great information on both problems and solutions when it comes to free-roaming cats. Check out their "Learn More" page for a repository of scientific publications about the impacts of cats and why TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) programs don't work for reducing cat overpopulation, predation, and disease.
- Bird Friendly London's Resources for Public Education - Fantastic information on how to have sincere conversations with your neighbors and educate the public about free-roaming cats (and other threats to birds), including printable flyers and a QR code that links to a "Letter to owner of roaming pet cat about safety."
- AdventureCats' How To Train Your Cat To Walk On a Leash - Leash training 101, plus lots of other articles about safely hiking and traveling with your cat.
- CatioWorld.com - A "catio" (cat patio) is an outdoor enclosure that lets your cat enjoy some fresh air without wandering off. They can be simple and inexpensive or huge and luxurious. This website has free plans for building your own catio, links to buy pre-made designs, and helpful recommendations.
Other Great Organizations to Support
Nonprofit organizations doing incredibly impactful work to learn more about birds, train the next generation of scientists, and promote equity and inclusion in ornithology. Chip some $$ their way if you're able!
- Bird Lab, Inc. - An incredibly unique bird observatory in Pittsburgh that does banding, education, outreach, and creative collaborations with local museums and artists. Founder Nick Liadis began his career as an architect and his interest in bird-friendly building design led him to start his own nonprofit. I am honored to serve as Bird Lab's Secretary of the Board.
- Observatório de Aves de Mantiquiera (OAMa) - Bird observatory in Brazil founded by my friends Luiza and Pedro, who were the lead banders and trainers at Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) before returning to their home country to establish their own station. OAMa fills an incredibly important role researching the biology of bird species in Brazil's biodiverse Atlantic Forest, as well as offering banding workshops and training.
- Amplify the Future - Nonprofit organization that offers grants to BIPOC students through its Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship, along with career development and other opportunities for ornithologists and birders of color.
- Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified (FREED) - an organization based at the University of Toronto that seeks to provide field research and training opportunities for students who have historically been excluded from the field sciences. Another KBO alum, Aranya Iyer, has been instrumental in the success of this great program!
- Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI) - The ornithological society of Puerto Rico, working to protect birds and their habitats and share the joys of birding in PR.
- Birds Caribbean - Fabulous nonprofit that supports research, education, outreach, and collaborative conservation of bird life throughout the Caribbean.
© Claire Nemes, 2023