Wild Research Bites - a podcast from SLU Wild Research Bites - a podcast from SLU

We’re finally back with a new episode of Wild Research Bites! This time it’s two new students who present their thesis topics for us. They will share their experiences about the master program and doing a 60 credit thesis at the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies at SLU in Umeå. Amber is a Belgian student and currently developing a set of genetic markers to infer relatedness in spotted hyena populations. This can be used to study population structure, genetic health, mating patterns, dispersal, etc. Exiting things! Jaime is investigating diversity patterns and functional diversity of wild bee communities between conventionally managed production forests and the so-called “Eco parks”, where production forests and restoration and protection measures are combined. Both Amber and Jaime tell us about their experience in the field, what they enjoy about doing their thesis and what they like about living in Sweden.

Sit down and enjoy this casual conversation! And please send us your questions on our email: wildpodcast@slu.se

📷 Cover photo by Jaime Ramón Luna Santa-María

In this episode of Wild Research Bites Olli and Emelie talk to two passionate conservation practitioners Phoebe Mottram and Lawrence Steyn about their work as field and trail guides in South African Savanna. Phoebe and Lawrence tell us about their lives in the bush, and share some of their most exciting experiences from their work. In this episode, you can hear how Phoebe and Lawrence got into conservation in the first place, and how they ended up guiding tourists in some of the most beautiful places in the world. They share their experiences in conservation education and discuss their ideas about the importance of tourism in conservation.

Contact us
Email: wildpodcast@slu.se
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wildresearchbites/
Twitter: twitter.com/wild_podcast

Further links:

Ecotraining: https://www.ecotraining.co.za

NJ MORE: https://www.njmorefieldguidecollege.co.za

FGASA course providers: https://www.fgasa.co.za/training-providers (this is a list of all the places in SA and further afield that do the training courses)

Phoebe's and Lawrence's webpage: www.thatchandearth.com
and their instagram page (@thatched_earth).

SafariLive: https://wildearth.tv/safarilive/

Africam: https://www.africam.com/wildlife/

In this episode of Wild Research Bites Emelie interview two students writing their master thesis project at the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental studies at SLU in Umeå. Michelle Etienne is a German student that did her previous studies at Stockholm University and is currently doing a 60 credit thesis about Golden eagle movements in relation to linear infrastructure such as roads. She is studying if these structures form ecological traps for the eagles and how this is affecting the population. She is interested in movement ecology and aspires to continue with a Ph.D. in the future. Raul Lira Rodriguez came all the way from Chile to Umeå to study the master program in Management of Fish and Wildlife populations and writing his thesis linking plant community composition, abiotic factors to competition and management of livestock and wildlife such as Ibex and Snow leopard in Kyrgyzstan. I ask them about their general experience of doing a master thesis so far, what has been the hardest part and the easiest part. Another important aspect of enjoying your work is the setting. What do they think of Umeå as a city to study in? Do the possibilities of seeing the auroras in winter outweigh the huge amounts of mosquitoes during summer? Listen to find out more about their topics, their experiences and their best advice for someone starting their thesis! Thanks again to Michelle and Raul for joining this episode. The plan is to follow this up with more episodes of students sharing their experience with doing a master thesis. Let us know if you think this would be of value to you and if you would like to be featured in a future episode!

Contact us
Email: wildpodcast@slu.se
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildresearchbites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wild_podcast

More information
Become a master at SLU: https://www.slu.se/en/faculties/s/education/mastersofnature/
Master students Instagram: @slu.mastersofnature
More examples of thesis projects at VFM: https://www.slu.se/en/departments/wildlife-fish-environmental-studies/education/advanced-level-courses/master-thesis/meet-our-students/
Doing a thesis at VFM and vacant projects: https://www.slu.se/en/departments/wildlife-fish-environmental-studies/education/advanced-level-courses/master-thesis/
Master program convenor John Ball: john.ball@slu.se
Study convenor Therese Löfroth: therese.lofroth@slu.se

In this episode Olli interviews Dr. Liza Le Roux about her research in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Liza has studied megaherbivores, trophic cascades, and nutrient distribution in the park, and she tells us about her previous PhD research and how it relates to her current post doctoral research. In the end of the episode, Liza gives us a glimpse into what it is like to work among wild animals in a nature reserve such as the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

In this episode, we discuss how to communicate our science to the public and why we think it is so important! Joining me are journalist and communication officer Susanna Bergström and animal ecologist Tim Hofmeester. We start by trying to define what science communication is and how one can go about it in an effective and interesting way. Susanna shares her experience working with scientists, differences from being a journalist, and fun examples of what she is currently up to. There are both challenges and rewards with doing outreach and we touch on subjects of language, pinpointing the correct audience, media experience (or non-experience) and more. A related topic to scientific communication is citizen science where the general public works with scientists to do science in one form or another. Tim introduces the project he has initiated called "Meet your wild neighbours" were citizens in Umeå get to set up a wildlife camera in their garden to find out what animals are there. When I asked Tim what exciting animals the participants of the project had found in their gardens he didn't get the chance to mention it before both I and Susanna spoiled it. What species do you think it is? Listen to find out what it was and also more "hardcore" science insights!

Contact us
Email: wildpodcast@slu.se
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildresearchbites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wild_podcast

Citizen science projects
Meet your wild neighbours: https://www.slu.se/vildagrannar
Tea bag index: http://www.teatime4science.org/category/who-is-who/

More info about citizen science
http://www.medborgarforskning.se

Cover photo by Susanna Bergström

In this month’s episode of Wild Research Bites, we get to follow Emelie all the way to Curitiba, Brazil and listen to her experiences with going to an international conference whilst competing with the birds for the attention of the microphone. She explains how a scientific conference usually works and why maybe you should consider going to one! Emelie had an oral presentation at one of the conference sessions where she talked about a project within her Ph.D. There were over four thousand participants at the conference and Emelie asked three Ph.D. students about their experiences. Listen to the episode so hear Anil, Sarah, and Holly’s thoughts.

IUFRO 2019, home page: http://iufro2019.com/
IUFRO 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden: https://www.slu.se/en/faculties/s/collaboration/iufro-2024/