What’s one thing you wish you could change about this field?

Ask a Biologist Monday 12/5/22

Answers from Biologists:

• Chances for promotions/raises.

• Diversity in leadership/staff.

• Hazard pay for all the crazy scenarios we deal with.

• Pay.

• Old, white boy’s club at field stations that leads to lack of diversity.

• An international union so we would have the power to fight for fair pay.

• More diverse and inclusive workplaces.

• To be close to my support system. Remote work can really take it out of you.

• The pay and passion exploitation. It can be difficult to stay motivated to succeed.

• Feeling like you always have to prove yourself even when you’re qualified.

• Increased representation of people of color especially African American.

• Hustle culture. Love my job but I want time to do other things.

• The barriers to getting started and getting a permanent job.

• Expectation of long hours with no compensation.

• Egotistical supervisors.

• Poor work life balance.

• Ease of accessibility for getting into the field. There are so many barriers.

• More government funding for management and conservation (would also result in better pay).

• Good ole boys club.

• Make it more safe for BIPOC in the field.

• The pay. Most of my state agency are massively underpaid.

• Lack of funding.

• Make it more accessible for people of all backgrounds.

• The gatekeeping.

• Being expected to move constantly for seasonal work or any permanent job or promotion.

• Having a secure job for more than 3 months at a time.

• Able to get permanent work earlier in your career.

• Pay.

• Not having to move and sacrifice our lives.

• The hours and the pay.

• The idea that you’re not allowed to do anything else or take time off.

• More jobs for those who can’t drive due to a disability.

• Time and budget constraints.

• Expectation to sacrifice personal life to do remote work.

• Overwork. Hire more staff and pay them right. People need breaks.

• Egos and territorial nature of biologists with their study species.

• Proper gear provided by the employer.

• Field vehicles that fit petite people properly. I hate being the only one with a booster.

• All around consistency. Opportunities, pay, schedules, etc.

• Better funded.

• More accessible entry level positions.

• Greater diversity.

• Good healthcare. We put our bodies through so much in the field, but rarely have insurance to take care of ourselves.

• Looking down on people trying to enter the field who didn’t grow up in the outdoors.

• Glorified grind culture and work to be done on your own time/dime.

• So much focus on game species. Nongame species need funding too.

• Having decent housing for techs.

• Dependable, safe vehicles.

• Safer for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+.

• The expectation that we have to wear many hats to accomplish conservation goals.

• Living wage.

• The lack of mentorship due to aggressive gatekeeping.

• More straightforward career path.

• Increased unions.

• Access to numerous jobs within all states.

• The toxicity of academia.

• The racist, exclusionary and Eurocentric view of conservation.

• A living wage.

• Queer representation and all representation for that matter.

• More permanent job opportunities.

• The competitive working mentality. Working more hours isn’t a bragging point. It’s a problem.

• Fieldwork more focused on the wildlife and not just managing the people around wildlife.

• How difficult/competitive it is to get a permanent job.

• More respect for work life balance.

• So many old men in power.

• Job opportunities.

• Easier funding of research.

• More permanent jobs.

• Better funding overall.