Posts in: Reflections

“I can't be a pessimist because I am alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter. So, I am forced to be an optimist.” —James Baldwin We have had many dark days this year. There have been days when it has, both figuratively and literally (on the West Coast at least), been hard to see any light at all. Humans di...

This week, the Twitterverse leads in the celebration of Black excellence in mammalogy with the first event of Black Mammalogists Week, Misunderstood Mammal Monday. In a dual-purpose event, researchers and scicomm-ers were interviewed on a panel to dispel myths about wildlife that are often perceived poorly by the general public. Given the current sociopolitical ...

Nothing can dim the light which shines from within. - Maya Angelou For 20 years, COMPASS has supported thousands of scientists to reimagine their roles as changemakers. We’re committed to creating a future where people and nature can thrive, and our experience shows us that investing in leaders is a powerful way to realize that vision. To this end, we’ve bu...

This pandemic does more than affect the productivity of graduate students. Their health (both physical and mental) is compromised and it is important to recognize the ways in which academic institutions are ill-equipped to support students in this time. ...

When I joined COMPASS three years ago, it felt like a time of great change. There was an explosion of interest in science communication, urgent reports on the concerning state of the climate and biodiversity, and a rapidly shifting political landscape. COMPASS itself was an organization navigating its first ever executive transition - a challenging time for any non...

Nancy Baron, Director of Science Outreach and author of “Escape from the Ivory Tower”, has been with COMPASS since just after its founding. Executive Director Amanda Stanley recently interviewed Nancy to reflect on 20 years of leadership in science communication and engagement. What was the landscape for science communication and ocean conservation like when C...