1. Paper Presentation: 4/1/16 8:40AM Powell Room A, Hilton Hotel, 6th Floor
Session: Media, governmentality, and managing the 'more than human' environment Abstract (link) This year I am not presenting a paper from my dissertation work but a co-authored research project with Crystal Crown, a conservation biologist. The resulting paper is titled 'Representation of human-leopard conflict in India across local, national, and international media' and was submitted to a peer-review journal last Nonmember. The issue of media representation as it relates to human-wildlife conflict is one that we've seen gaining traction, though few papers have thoroughly quantified any aspect of it (notable exceptions Bara 2010 & Bhatia et al. 2013). Human-leopard conflict is specifically of concern; Dr. Ullas Karanth (India’s leading tiger conservation scientist) has spoken out about the increasing issue in the Indian Express. Our research has uncovered several pertinent relationships between the three media distribution levels (local, national & international) of analysis and article framing/information that could be useful for informing wildlife managers of how knowledge of HWC is deficient in different locations, and consequently, what steps to take to fix these biases. Which could be particularly useful at the local level, where improved conflict reporting could be integrated into mitigation strategies. 2. Chairing & Organizing several sessions. Batteries, boots & blunders: Field work considerations & advice for graduate students Session Description: Geographic imaginations transport graduate students to their field sites before ever physically arriving. Yet, during graduate students' first international fieldwork seasons, the landscapes encountered and experiences gained are rarely comparable to those anticipated. Conducting empirical fieldwork provides valuable knowledge, in multiple forms, and presents unique opportunities and challenges, particularly when conducting international fieldwork for the first time. This panel is comprised of graduate students who have undertaken their first independent international fieldwork, using a variety of methods. The panelists will highlight lessons learned, emphasizing issues that are regularly faced by graduate students on first field expeditions, including planning strategies, in-field advice, and best practices. This panel aims to provide graduate students preparing to undertake first-time international fieldwork (as well as potential graduate students) with truthful and encouraging information to be prepared and to assess and plan their own itineraries and field work strategies. (link) Positionality, gender & fieldwork: considerations & advice from female graduate students Session Description: This panel brings together four female PhD Candidates, and one recent graduate, in geography working across Brazil, Peru, the Mediterranean, US-Mexico border and India employing a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. The panel will share and discuss the production of geographic knowledge through international fieldwork as a solo female researcher. Topics of discussion will include but are not limited to: power-dynamics between researcher and field assistants, interpersonal relations in the field, safety and precautions, understanding but not bending to cultural gender biases. Additionally, the panel will explore ways in which gender and power can/should be accounted for in fieldwork; this include questions of positionality and personal, cultural conditions in the field that may influence research goals. Overall, the purpose of this panel is to reflect on some of the issues that are faced by female graduate students conducting international fieldwork, and exchange ideas on preparation, in-field strategies, and general advice. (link) Graduate Student Associations: Leadership, Purpose & Improvement Session Description: Moving out of the undergraduate student mentality and into the world of graduate research, publishing, grading, and teaching is a drastic change for most. Part of easing that transition, is or should be the support and insight from other graduate students. Departmental graduate associations are employed to fill this role to varying degrees. This panel brings together presidents of current geography graduate student associations to discuss 1) how their roles and their associations bridge the gap between graduate students and important professional development information, 2) discuss obstacles and strengths of peer guidance through graduate school, and 3) start an open dialogue among panelists and session attendees on ways to better serve each other through peer-to-peer leadership and valuable experience in the form of departmental graduate associations. Through these topics and discussions, this panel aims to encourage development and new initiatives within departments across geography. (link) Julie Urbanik & Connie Johnston's edited volume 'Humans & Animals: A Geography of Coexistence' is due for release this October. The volume offers critical examinations of human animal relationships in the context of animal geography through alphabetical listings of salient human-animal issues including invasive species, factory farming, human wildlife conflict, service animals and poaching. Look out for my sections on Flagship Species, Indicator Species, & Keystone Species!
American Association of Geographers (AAG) annual meeting (I've only missed one in nine years) is just around the corner. I'm always excited about the meeting but this year is especially important to me as I am joining the ranks of 'animal geographers' in several tangible ways (rather than just organizing sessions that are sponsored by the specialty group). First, I am looking forward to joining the Animal Geography Specialty Group (ANGSG) Board as the new Graduate Student Officer for the next two years. This is an amazing opportunity to help invest in the awareness of Animal Geographies across and outside our discipline, as well as, get to know other like minded scholars. Second, I am honored to have won this years ANGSG's Graduate Student Paper Award centered on the end of life care of Machli, the world's most famous tiger (abstract below). Click either photo to read the entire 2015 ANGSG Newsletter.
Tickets are booked, but it hasn't quite sunk in yet - I'm headed to Botswana for six weeks this summer. How and why, you ask? I have to share a life lesson to explain. |