The Missing Salmon Alliance welcomes the 7th UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science today,11th February 2022.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015, in order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past decades, the global community has made a lot of effort in inspiring and engaging women and girls in science. Yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science.
The Missing Salmon Alliance (MSA) welcomes International Day of Women and Girls in Science and in celebration, spoke to Hannah Rudd, Emily Smith, and Emily Hardisty, key wildlife conservationists whose invaluable work centres around species such as salmon, and profoundly aids the Missing Salmon Alliance initiatives.
Here, they highlight their experiences as women working in a scientific discipline. While reflecting on the progressions that the global STEM community has made, these women recognise that there is still some way to go. Their insightful responses to our questions below play a vital role in further achieving gender equality, and in empowering women and girls into STEM careers.
Hannah Rudd, Policy & Advocacy Manager, Angling Trust
What inspired you to pursue a STEM career, and what is your area of expertise?
Learning about the natural world from such a young age sparked my drive to work in conservation science. I would spend weekends on, by or under the sea, and when I wasn’t outside, natural history documentaries and books occupied my time. I always had questions to answer and would tell anyone who would listen about the environment, so it seemed a natural fit.
I currently work for the Angling Trust on their campaigns and advocacy work, touching on everything from high-level policy and stakeholder engagement to grassroots conservation and educational outreach. My background is in shark science, and at the Angling Trust, I lead on work with recreational anglers to better understand UK shark populations and improve handling and welfare practices via Shark Hub UK.
As a woman in a scientific discipline, have you seen progressions being made in terms of STEM communities providing full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls?
It’s been so amazing to see the rise of organisations like Minorities in Shark Science (MISS Elasmo) and Women in Ocean Science. However, there is still a considerable way to go. Representation matters and diverse voices need to be shown in the media to inspire future generations of scientists. Like Melissa Cristina Marquez said, “Female researchers are like deep-sea sharks, lurking in the darkness – we’re there, but nobody is paying attention.” Times are slowly changing, but certain fields of fisheries science remain dominated by the same demographic, and sadly, there are still many barriers to women in science and leaks in the STEM pipeline.
Drawing on your own experience, what advice would you give to women and girls who are looking to access a STEM career?
Push your elbows out, raise others up, not down, and don’t give up. Science is a tough battle. Remember, you’re human with a life beyond your work too. Having a support network around you of mentors and colleagues in the field to celebrate the highs and navigate the lows is essential. You can’t do it all independently - collaboration is the key to scientific success.
Why are you passionate about the MSAs objectives in particular?
Wild Atlantic salmon have plummeted. Freshwater species and ecosystems are often overlooked, yet they are amongst the most threatened in the world. Atlantic salmon is a keystone species, supporting other aquatic biodiversity and indicating ecosystem health. They are also one of the few charismatic fish species that the public recognises, so it’s important to capitalise on that and use them as ambassadors for our rivers and coastal environments. Healthy Atlantic salmon populations are not only ecologically beneficial but also socio-economically beneficial too. We’ve come to depend on them, and now their future survival depends on us. The work of the Missing Salmon Alliance is a central contributor to bring this all together.
Emily Hardisty, Wildlife Biologist, Ecologist, Film Maker, Presenter, and Producer
What is your area of expertise and what inspired you to pursue a STEM career?
My areas of expertise vary between wildlife biology and ecology, with predominant interests and focuses on ethology and marine and freshwater ecology/biology. Alongside this I am also a wildlife film maker, presenter and producer.
I have always found it hard to narrow down my focus to a specific species or habitat as I just love and am fascinated in it all! This came across in my degrees, being that I have a BSc (hons) degree in Marine Science and Applied Zoology and a Masters of Research (MRES) degree in Marine Biology.
To me nature has always been a safe haven and a true healing place. As a naturalist and conservationist, my interests and admiration for wildlife have always been ever increasing. As a child and throughout my adulthood I have filled copious note and sketch books with records of my wildlife sightings and encounters, which also sparked my interests in scientific research. This, combined with a drive to do my part in protecting the natural world and communicating wildlife importance, inspired me to pursue a STEM career.
As a woman in a scientific discipline, have you seen progressions being made in terms of STEM communities providing full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls?
I have and continue to see progression within STEM communities. During my pre and post graduate scientific studies and research, the majority of my class mates were women, all with specific interests and a wonderful inspiring drive to make their stamp in the scientific discipline.
I studied my research masters in association with the Marine Biological Association (MBA). During my time and visits to the MBA myself and peers had the privilege of witnessing and being introduced to many marine scientific research projects being undertaken by lead female scientists, contributing vital research and discoveries that will aid further understanding into oceanic environments and species and developments for conservation.
Drawing on your own experience, what advice would you give to women and girls who are looking to access a STEM career?
Go for it! Turn your interests into actions and never doubt or forget your worth and the positive impact you can bring. We are all unique and only you can use your unique voice and skills to make change in a way only you can.
As you may be aware, we are in a nature crisis, we need more female voices in science and conservation. For anyone looking to go into wildlife sciences, I also feel it is important to say this; don't loose touch with that childhood innate admiration for wildlife, the feelings of awe you may have felt and continue to feel after marvelling at the wings of a butterfly, finding seashells or exploring woodland. Use your innate connections with the natural world and the feelings of wonder this brings to do your part in preserving it.
Why are you passionate about rivers, salmon, and the Missing Salmon Alliances objectives in particular?
I have always found these flowing freshwater habitats and the species within them a true marvel! To me, sitting or walking along a river bank has always been another one of natures safe havens and place of solace.
Rivers and the roles of species within them provide vital ecological linkages between other habitats and species which never cease to amaze me. Salmon are often described as the king and queen of fish and I think they have one of the most beautiful life cycles of the natural world, a life cycle that intricately connects freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats and species. The presence and roles of this species are those that are imperative for the healthy function of entire ecosystems.
Coming together as a collective, spreading awareness, education and taking action really is key to conservation. I feel the Missing Salmon Alliance embodies all these important factors and more. Alliances such as this are imperative for combatting the impacts of climate change and species loss.
These keystone species need our help and protection, the natural world needs conservation actions such as those embodied within the Missing Salmon Alliances objectives more than ever.
Emily Smith, Environment Manager, Angling Trust
1. What inspired you to pursue a STEM career, and what is your area of expertise?
I have always had an interest in the outdoors and was drawn to subjects where I was able to learn more about how different environments were shaped and the different interactions that go on within them. I had a great Geography teacher at school and that was it, I knew that is what I wanted to study. I hadn’t really considered what I wanted to do with it until I went to university and was amazed at the variety of options that were available to me. I have always been curious and enjoyed learning new things which is why I ended up exploring a career option that allowed me to do just that.
Now I specialise in freshwater invasive non-native species. I find it fascinating as they can be any species, such as a fish, plant or insect and their impacts on the environment and native species can vary so much. I am very fortunate to work for the Angling Trust where I represent anglers on a series of national groups and am able to raise their concerns on this issue as well as other environmental problems. I get to work on developing policies and advocating for more to be done to tackle these issues, but also get to engage with anglers on the ground to come up with practical ways of tackling these species. I can go from being next to a river one day to discussing advances in science the next. No one day is ever the same and I think that can probably be said for a lot of careers in STEM.
2. As a woman in a scientific discipline, have you seen progressions being made in terms of STEM communities providing full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls?
I feel that there has been a substantial increase in women and girls pursuing science, with greater advances in certain areas, but there is still a way to go. There remains a stereotype of what a STEM career is. The more information that we can provide on the available possibilities of following STEM careers, as well as having role models in place to inspire and guide these individuals the smaller that gender gap will become.
3. Drawing on your own experience, what advice would you give to women and girls who are looking to access a STEM career?
It is cliché but I would say is if you are interested in something, then pursue it. Find people who are in that area and talk to them about what they do and how they got there. The internet also provides the possibility to access a lot more information and to find inspiring people and podcasts to follow to learn more and to reach out to organisations to ask for opportunities. The key thing is being an advocate for yourself and to focus on what you would like to do. The women that I know who work in STEM careers have all arrived through different routes so do not feel that there is a set course you are meant to follow to get to where you want to be.
3. Why are you passionate about the MSAs objectives in particular?
The Missing Salmon Alliance aims to fight and reverse the collapse of the wild Atlantic salmon. It brings together organisations from a variety of backgrounds to use the latest scientific research and knowledge to call for more effective management solution to help this species recover. The MSA is a clear demonstration of the value of science and how evidence can be turned into action on the ground to tackle real world problems.
As an Alliance of five organisations, we will build on the existing work of our partners and maximise our impact by taking a coordinated approach and vital action in order to halt and reverse the decline of wild Atlantic salmon.
The goal of the Missing Salmon Alliance is to build an evidence-base to influence national and international decision-makers to regulate activities that adversely impact wild Atlantic salmon.
The Missing Salmon Alliance
The MSA is comprised of the following members:
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Atlantic Salmon Trust, the Angling Trust with Fish Legal, The Rivers Trust and Fisheries Management Scotland.
https://www.missingsalmonalliance.org