Earthwatch Podcast

This summer, ten high school girls from Massachusetts were selected to participate in the Earthwatch Girls in Science Fellowship Program in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. On this episode of the Earthwatch Podcast – the latest in our series highlighting amazing women in science – you’ll hear from some of the bright young women who participated in this summer program. (The music in this trailer is by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the creative commons Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

Earthwatch researcher Lynne MacTavish has dedicated her life to conserving rhinos. As operations manager for a private reserve in South Africa, Lynne is on the frontlines of the fight to protect this species and has witnessed the horrors of poaching first hand. On this episode of the Earthwatch Podcast, the next in our series highlighting amazing women in science, Lynne shares the plight rhinos face and some of the solutions they’re exploring to save this charismatic species.

Gana Wingard, lead scientist on the expedition Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe, has been working for more than 20 years to conserve the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve and empower the local communities to take an active role in this work. On this episode of the Earthwatch Podcast, Gana shares how she was inspired to pursue a career in conservation, the importance of community involvement, and how she’s working to create the next generation of environmental stewards.

On this episode, we travel to California’s Catalina Island where we’re continuing our quest to celebrate women in science. And what better way to do that than by celebrating science teachers? The very people who are inspiring the next generation of scientists, communicators, and champions for the environment. Hear about the experience of four educators working alongside researchers studying the effectiveness and health of MPAs, all the while making the science come alive for their students.

In this episode, we’re continuing to celebrate women in science by bringing you to Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park where Dr. Nucharin Songsasen is working with a team of scientists to monitor the behavior and health of an elusive and endangered species of wild dog – the dhole. Nucharin shares her experience as a female scientist from Thailand working in America and the challenges and opportunities she’s had throughout her impressive career.

In this episode, we take you to Kenya’s Maasai Mara where Earthwatch scientist Dr. Caroline Ng’weno is studying the interactions between predators, their prey, and livestock. She shares her experience as a female in a male-dominated field, and how she was able to get to where she is today, thanks in part to support from Earthwatch. (The music in this trailer is by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the creative commons Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

Over the next several episodes, we’re highlighting women in science! We take you to the grassy savanna of Kenya’s Maasai Mara to Mongolia’s wild and rocky Gobi Desert and beyond to hear from some of the amazing and incredible women we at Earthwatch are lucky enough to work with. (The music in this trailer is by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the creative commons Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

Dr. Bill Moomaw is quite the accomplished individual and has lived a life dedicated to environmental policy and action. He guides us through the ins and outs of how humans have responded to climate change over the years – from the view of society and politics – and how individuals can take action today to slow global warming. (The music in this episode is “Partly Sage” by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

While many view sea otters as adorable, charismatic creatures, the local residents of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska have a much different opinion. For them, sea otters have destroyed their fisheries and destroyed their livelihoods. Learn more about this complex relationship and how the ecosystem has shifted with the growing presence of this top-level predator. (The music in this episode is “Partly Sage” by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

In Southeast Alaska, sea otters have made a critical comeback after their populations were decimated during the fur trade. With their numbers growing, how are these charismatic critters impacting the ecosystem? Learn about the critical role this species plays in maintaining the health of seagrass habitat and what Earthwatch researchers and volunteers have uncovered so far. (The music in this episode is “Partly Sage” by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

In late August, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in coastal Texas, ravaging the endangered Whooping Cranes’ winter habitat—the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. What will await these birds as they begin to arrive in Aransas in the coming weeks? Hear from Earthwatch scientists and volunteers who are conducting critical research within this ecosystem—research that could help Whooping Cranes to weather the impacts of the storm.

Whooping Cranes used to be widespread throughout North America, with estimates of their populations reaching as high as 10,000. But by 1941, just 15 individuals remained. What happened to these cranes? From habitat loss to hunting, Dr. Elizabeth Smith from the International Crane Foundation explains why they fell to such low numbers and what has been done to save them since. (The music in this episode is “Partly Sage” by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the Attribution-Noncommercial License.)

From Earthwatch, the environmental nonprofit connecting citizens with scientists, comes the Earthwatch Podcast. This season, we delve into the human conflict in conservation. From the coastal marshes of Texas to the seagrass meadows of Southeast Alaska and beyond, follow us as we explore the conservation efforts underway to protect endangered species and ecosystems. (The music in this trailer is “Partly Sage” by Blue Dot Sessions, provided under the creative commons Attribution-Noncommercial License.)