When fieldwork "engenders" danger: Unique challenges faced by queer and transgender ecologists and how allies can help

Fieldwork plunges young ecologists into novel situations and highly unconventional work environments. This can be exciting as they explore new ecosystems and socialize with peers. But for LGBTQ+ scientists, fieldwork can put us in vulnerable and potentially dangerous situations that can become a barrier to pursuing an ecology career. Challenges include navigating gender-segregated dorms, queerphobic incidents in remote areas, and geographic isolation from our support networks. My talk will highlight personal experiences of fieldwork as a transgender scientist to illuminate these challenges and provide insight into how to reduce barriers and make fieldwork safer and more accessible for queer scientists.