frequent fliers

We’re continuing our Black in STEM series with Dr. Jessica Ware, entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History who studies the evolution and ecology of dragonflies and other cool insects!

Do you like to travel? Sorry, but these dragonflies definitely have more wanderlust than you. Genetic analyses done by Dr. Ware and lab show that dragonflies of the species Pantala flavescens frequently travel extremely long distances such that there is only one single interconnected global population! Learn more in today’s comic: frequent fliers

Learn more about Dr. Ware, and about the dragonfly study or go ahead and check out the actual scientific paper for yourself!

reef rhythm

We’re back and starting off our Black In STEM series strong with my good friend, fellow grad student and kick-ass oceanographer Isaiah Bolden!

Do you need to relax? Try taking some pointers from corals. Isaiah Bolden (graduate student, University of Washington School of Oceanography) studies how corals control the chemistry on coral reefs by collectively “inhaling” and “exhaling” as they photosynthesize and respire. Learn more in today’s comic: reef rhythm

Learn more about Isaiah here, and if you are feeling fancy check out his recent scientific paper.

…and we’re back!

Hello again, folks. It’s been only a few short (…long) months since my last comic. We are still enduring a pandemic and have seen racial injustices reach what will hopefully be a much-needed watershed moment. I hope many of you have been following other science communication outlets over the past few weeks, like Black Birders Week, which have both celebrated Black ecologists and naturalists, and highlighted struggles and the very real need for diversity in science. I’ve been very inspired by these initiatives and acknowledge that is necessary for each of us to do our part to affect change in the avenues of influence that are available to us. While it may not be groundbreaking, this webcomic is the broadest platform I have available to lend support. So, I’ll be bringing back new comics again starting this Wednesday to exclusively amplify the research of Black invertebrate scientists over the next several weeks. As a Latina in science myself, I understand the value and power of representation in STEM, and I am excited to promote and amplify the science of some awesome Black scientists. Get ready invertebrate nerds!

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