Why Do We Need the Bio-Diverse Festival?
BIPOC and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+, women, carers/caregivers, and scientists with disabilities are underrepresented in biology and conservation, and inequality remains pervasive. Despite conservation being a global socio-political and biological issue, inclusion and diversity are severely lacking. Not only must this change on ethical grounds, but diversity and inclusivity improve science and conservation work. Suitable diversity, inclusion, and role models are important to increase underrepresented and minority group recruitment and retention within scientific and academic disciplines. The Bio-Diverse Festival (BDF) 2020 fills the gap in representation and contributes to the necessary change we are beginning to see within academia and conservation.
BDF aims to highlight minorities within biology and conservation by celebrating the diversity that exists and learning from those who pave the way for future scientists presently lacking representation. This online event opens the conversation about the prevalence of racism, homophobia/transphobia, sexism, and ableism in this field, how they often intersect, and how we can solve them together.
BDF is also proactively anti-racist. It is a scientific conference full of fascinating and topical science that highlights minority and underrepresented scientists in an inclusive, safe, and non-discriminatory environment.
This festival welcomes anyone with an interest or career in biology or conservation.
BIPOC and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+, women, carers/caregivers, and scientists with disabilities are underrepresented in biology and conservation, and inequality remains pervasive. Despite conservation being a global socio-political and biological issue, inclusion and diversity are severely lacking. Not only must this change on ethical grounds, but diversity and inclusivity improve science and conservation work. Suitable diversity, inclusion, and role models are important to increase underrepresented and minority group recruitment and retention within scientific and academic disciplines. The Bio-Diverse Festival (BDF) 2020 fills the gap in representation and contributes to the necessary change we are beginning to see within academia and conservation.
BDF aims to highlight minorities within biology and conservation by celebrating the diversity that exists and learning from those who pave the way for future scientists presently lacking representation. This online event opens the conversation about the prevalence of racism, homophobia/transphobia, sexism, and ableism in this field, how they often intersect, and how we can solve them together.
BDF is also proactively anti-racist. It is a scientific conference full of fascinating and topical science that highlights minority and underrepresented scientists in an inclusive, safe, and non-discriminatory environment.
This festival welcomes anyone with an interest or career in biology or conservation.
Meet the Team
We are four minority biology/conservation students working to deliver the Bio-Diverse Festival 2020. Although each of us often focus on different elements of the festival, we are working together on all aspects in a collaborative effort.
We are four minority biology/conservation students working to deliver the Bio-Diverse Festival 2020. Although each of us often focus on different elements of the festival, we are working together on all aspects in a collaborative effort.
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Tanith Hackney (Founder & Co-organiser)
I’m an Integrated Masters student at the University of Sheffield working on parrot conservation, food web network modelling, and the amphibian extinction crisis. I’m a licensed bird ringer (bander), and happiest when working in the field somewhere hot and sunny! I spent 2018 and 2019 researching the impacts of selective logging on bird diversity and demographics in the lowland Dipterocarp rainforest of Malaysian Borneo, which made me aware of the importance of involving and training local communities. We’re still feeling the impact of colonialism in conservation, which I strive to dismantle in every aspect of my work. As a first-generation queer woman living with seasonal affective disorder, I am particularly passionate about reducing discrimination and improving safety and accessibility in fieldwork and the academic environment. I coordinate and oversee the running of the Bio-Diverse Festival. I’m also the primary organiser for the scientific talks, Q&As, and Twitter conference. |
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Eve Croxford (Co-organiser)
I’m a fourth year Zoology with Placement Year undergraduate at the University of Sheffield. I have just returned from my placement year in Cambodia primarily working on the conservation of the Irrawaddy dolphin with local fishing communities, where I saw some of the prime examples of the social injustice conservation has been rooted in. The Western conservation approach of drawing lines around an area and prohibiting human interference is certainly not a ‘one-size fits all’ fix, and my work has centred around changing this. As the current Chair for the University of Sheffield Sustainability Committee, I’ve focused on decolonising curricula and incorporating Education for Sustainable Development across all departments. As a co-organiser of the BDF, I currently focus on some of the 'behind the scenes' tasks. I am very excited about this festival, which will eventually be a bookmark week in all biologist’s and conservationist’s calendars and will contribute to shaping this field to become more diverse, inclusive and successful! |
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Rebecca Ford (Co-organiser)
I'm a Biology BSc (1st Class) graduate from the University of Sheffield and start my Master's in Science Communication in October! I am also Chair of the Sheffield University Conservation Volunteers committee, improving the accessibility of conservation work and being involved in numerous conservation projects around Sheffield and the Peak District. Living in England and France, I have grown up subject to racism and sexism in both personal and professional contexts. Despite these circumstances impacting my mental health, I continue to apply my experience to further both my personal understanding and effective support of others' diverse needs, and has driven my work for better inclusion in biology and conservation. I'm a co-organiser for the Bio-Diverse Festival, and oversee the planning for this year's discussion panel. |
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Jasmine Trinder (Co-organiser)
I’m a final year Zoology BSc student at the University of Sheffield. I have broad academic interests which include animal behavior, evolutionary biology and science communication. I attended a course on environmental ethics at the University of Helsinki which prompted me to consider the intersection between environmental and social issues. I’ve been fortunate in my access to education and from 2012-2014 I attended a United World College in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Studying at an international school that emphasised the importance of embracing diversity to create positive social change was transformative. Now, as a first-generation female student in the UK, I continue to be an advocate for equity in education, academia and employment. I am a co-organiser and a moderator for the Bio-Diverse Festival 2020. My primary responsibilities are setting up and running the BDF blog, organising the ‘Day in the Life’ videos and liaising with organisations to fundraise and promote their work. |
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We have a new team member!
Hannah Fryer (Media & Publicity) I am an MBiolSci Biology student at the University of Sheffield focusing on the population genetics of the ash dieback fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. I am an Editor, collaborator and Secretary for the pH7 science blog (ph7sheffield.com) to communicate new and exciting science to a wide audience. As an Academic Representative for the Animal and Plant Sciences department at the University of Sheffield, I work to integrate the three principle of decolonise, decarbonise, and democratise into the curriculum. I am particularly passionate about reducing gender biases in the field of population genetics. I mostly design and produce promotional material and media for the Bio-Diverse Festival. |
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for their ongoing support, advice, and time towards the Bio-Diverse Festival 2020:
We would like to thank the following people for their ongoing support, advice, and time towards the Bio-Diverse Festival 2020:
