Supporting participants in remote field expeditions

I came to ecological fieldwork from a place of relative privilege, and have contributed to scientific expeditions from the deserts of Arizona to the canopy of the Amazon rainforest to the glaciers of Antarctica. Leading students on expeditions for research and educational programs, I have increasingly confronted barriers that face them unequally, including equipment, skills such as going to the bathroom outdoors, and concerns about physical safety and reporting unacceptable behavior in remote locations. I have been challenged to consider what our food choices say about our team culture. I will share lessons I have learned and strive to implement.