Supportive Work Environment and Successful Science

Bonnie Eyestone is the Rangeland Monitoring Network Coordinator for Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue), and she and her son were recently featured by Point Blue in a social media post celebrating her fieldwork with her child.  They wrote "Training the next generation of scientists is helpful with an early start! Check out our #RangelandMonitoring Network Coordinator Bonnie Eyestone monitoring vegetation this past field season in Sonoma County with her baby boy in tow. This mama is getting work done! Bonnie sent these photos to us, saying, " I am incredibly grateful to Point Blue for their family friendly culture, allowing me to bring my baby to work and inspire the next generation of conservationists." We are inspired by your multitasking prowess Bonnie! And little guy Axel looks like a great field partner "

Bonnie Eyestone and Axel, getting fieldwork done. Photo by Taj Hittenberger

The family friendly environment at Point Blue is so obvious from the celebration of Bonnie's accomplishments in that post. Bonnie shared some more stories, and they further confirmed what a positive experience doing fieldwork while parenting in that supportive environment has been like.

"With my first son, my team at work gifted me an Osprey child carrier backpack so I could take the baby along with me for work.  My second boy was born in February and got to join me for fieldwork when I returned from leave.  I brought a pop-up sun tent for him to take naps in and play in the shade while my coworkers and I collected vegetation data.  Newborn child care is hard to find, especially without family living nearby, so I am grateful I'm able to bring him with me.  My team at work is supportive and flexible even when our work gets interrupted for breastfeeding or to calm a fussy baby.

A great Covid work-from-home parenting moment occurred this past January when I was hosting a virtual event and set my "office" up in the back yard so I could watch my then 18-month-old play while I gave a presentation.  Of course, he was playing happily and safely during the whole event until it was my turn to present.  Nine-months pregnant I had to dash off-screen to rescue him out of some landscaping and proceeded with the rest of the presentation with him on my hip, snuggled against my huge belly.  Everyone was gracious about it and his smile charmed the audience."

Bonnie Eyestone and Axel, taking a break in the shade during fieldwork. Photo by Taj Hittenberger

We applaud Bonnie for all the good work she does as a scientist, a field scientist, and a mother.  We also applaud Point Blue for providing the kind of culture and environment that makes sure the good work done by scientists in their organization can continue through many life phases, including parenting young children.  This is good for the science, it's good for parents, particularly women in science, and this is a wonderful model for other organizations.  

Sweet Success Story

Hannah Melanie Parry-Wilson is a PhD student studying the biogeographic range shifts and physiological tolerances of native gastropods in response to climate change effects.  She had a positive story of her fieldwork that she was willing to share here as inspiration for others.  

"[I was] terrified to go on a PhD fieldwork trip for a week away from my little one (14 months) whilst we were still breastfeeding and co-sleeping…

Well, I got back from my fieldwork trip late yesterday (whilst baby was in bed) and thankfully the entire trip wasn’t half as stressful as I was expecting."

"Dad and baby now have a much stronger bond. Baby has been eating, drinking cows milk and sleeping like a trooper since I’ve been away, and thankfully hasn’t been distant at all from me since she saw me this morning (after her confusion wavered) - she is now happy to be held by both Mumma and Dadda and not being too preferential as she was before.

Thanks again to everyone that offered their stories in similar situations and I’m pleased to say the fieldwork trip was a success! 

Photo is of my gorgeous girl asleep with her dolly that she decided has become her comforter/sleeping partner since I left."

Value of Child in the Field During Survey - Nature Conservancy Report

The Nature Conservancy co-organized an “Expert BioBlitz”, similar to the public BioBlitzs, but using professional biologists, to explore a 26-mile stretch of the Amargosa River, located in the Mojave Desert.  One of the researchers brought their child.  The organizers of the event found the child to be such a valuable addition to the effort, that they included the following paragraph in the official report.

Section VII. e. Inclusion of Children "BioBlitz events are sometimes organized to involve children and families, with the goal of increasing science literacy and public engagement. In contrast, the Amargosa River BioBlitz included primarily adult experts, and the invitation list was restricted to small group of well-trusted individuals. However, one of the participants during the Amargosa River BioBlitz was a seven-year old child. While our event was not geared towards children, we discovered that judicious inclusion of this one, very well- behaved and field-ready child allowed for survey work to occur unimpeded while providing a set of eyes closer to the ground. This facilitated discoveries that otherwise would not have been made."

https://www.scienceforconservation.org/products/amargosa-bioblitz-2017