Resilience Is where You Find It

Many scientists in the fields of biology and ecology can trace the origin of their life’s work to a common thread of biophilia – the love of life. With biophilia comes a desire to explore, uncover, connect with, and marvel at the secrets of organisms, communities, and the environmental systems in which they are embedded. This connection can provide a source of energy and purpose for the often-laborious scientific endeavor and evoke inspiration for the creativity essential for novel work. But scientific careers come with a host of ancillary activities, constraints, and frustrations that can drain the creative energy of even the most optimistic scientist. In this presentation I will propose that the resilience of scientists in the face of soul-deadening stress can be nourished in a variety of ways that are independent of funding, political winds, and the crises of the moment.

Impact/Purpose

The scientific process requires energy, creativity, and discipline. Scientists within federal research agencies, universities, or other organizations are constantly dealing with financial stress, changing priorities, bureaucratic burden, and project changes. How do we as scientists continue to produce quality science under the face of competing demands for time and energy? What wisdom would we impart to the next generation of leaders? This invited talk is a contribution to a training session held at the Annual Meeting of the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. In this session, presenters have an opportunity to share stories of personal or professional resilience, providing an opportunity for mentorship across the stages of a career. This talk will explore the role of biophilia in shaping and inspiring scientists across the career arc.

Citation

Ebersole, Joe. Resilience Is where You Find It. Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Bend, OR, March 02 - 06, 2020.