Kristen Lear, PhD
Bat Conservationist & Science Communicator
National Geographic Explorer
AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador
© K. Lear, Ejido Guadalupe Victoria, Coahuila, Mexico, 2016
I started a blog in 2015 to chronicle my dissertation field work adventures, as well as other project updates. The blog is a way for me to share my stories with family and friends, as well as record my thoughts as I progress through my PhD. The posts are a mix of fun and more serious, with stories of field work expeditions, thoughts on doing integrative research and the struggles I encounter, and more lighthearted tales of the experiences working in Mexico. Below is the link to the blog homepage, as well as brief summaries and links to each specific post. Enjoy!
Summer 2017
Friday, July 7, 2017
While having tons of field equipment that requires batteries and daily recharging is a pain when doing remote fieldwork, fancy equipment does have its perks. Like getting cool zoomed, slow-motion videos of the bats feeding on the agave nectar!
Monday, July 3, 2017
What does doing a PhD project involving bats, agaves, and people entail? What is a "typical" day in the field like? Read on to find out!
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Agaves attract an amazing number of animals, both wild and domestic. I've managed to get some cool videos and photos of these visitors, including bats!
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
The field season started off a bit rough with some issues with getting my equipment to Mexico, but I got everything worked out and have had some amazing field trips so far!
Summer 2016
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Waiting for a package in Mexico can be a long process, and it's even worse when the package is addressed to the wrong address...!
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Mysterious itchy bumps on my fingers sent me to my first doctor visit in Mexico. It's quite the experience not knowing Spanish quite well enough to know exactly what they're telling you is the problem...
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Field work is all about timing: timing of finding the people you need to talk to and timing of finding agaves in flower to monitor. The timing of this trip was off but I got to do an interview with an agave harvester, with some tasty perks!
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Despite some (more) car troubles, we made a great trip back to an ejido in Coahuila and got a tour of the area and an interview with several community leaders and agave harvesters.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
The cockroach invasion is back!
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
I spent the 4th of July in an ejido in Coahuila learning about their new agave planting and harvesting program to make and export destilado.
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Adjusting to the language and culture has been a challenge, from learning to greet someone with a kiss on the cheek, to hearing the dreaded "Ella no entendió" ("She didn't understand") during a conversation. My time in Mexico has been an eye-opening experience!
Friday, July 1, 2016
Two great field trips to two COMPLETELY different areas: the Chihuahuan Desert in Coahuila, and the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in Nuevo Leon.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Being a gringa in Mexico entails getting used to the differences in everyday experiences, like going to the grocery store, and getting used to the fact that it's really hard to truly be "you" in another language.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Taking a walk with a long-time agave harvester in the mountains to learn his harvesting techniques, and tasting my first agua miel!
Sunday, June 19, 2016
I'm learning so much about the uses and harvest of agaves in Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, and tying my findings to bat conservation is the next step.
Friday, June 17, 2016
I have some unwanted visitors to the house: the pesky cockroaches. Good thing I brought some mosquito netting for my bed!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
A trip to Ejido Estanque de Norias in Coahuila, and my first bat activity at the agaves during infrared monitoring!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
I had the opportunity to go to D.C. for a few days back in April for some hands-on training in science policy through the Ecological Sciences Coalition Congressional Visits Day. I wrote a blog post and gave an interview for the Ecological Society of America. Check them out if you're interested!
Friday, June 10, 2016
First infrared monitoring and agave surveys, done! No bats, but good practice and lessons learned.
Monday, June 6, 2016
My first interview of the summer (with an ejido comisariado (leader)) and my first time working with a translator. Classes definitely don't quite prepare you for this...
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Getting out into the "real world" and trying to apply what we've learned in class and discussed in the Integrative Conservation program is a challenge, but I know in the end I'll be a better bat conservationist for it.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Working in a country where you're still learning the language is a never ending process of what feels like gradual improvement and then many setbacks. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
Sunday, May 28, 2016
Back in the field for a second summer! I was pretty busy during the school year, with a trip to Austin, Texas for the first official meeting of the Nivalis Conservation Network, and a visit to D.C. for the Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition Congressional Visit Day.
School Year 2015 - 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Doing a PhD in another country where you are still learning the language presents many challenges, but also opportunities for personal and professional growth...
Sunday, January 17, 2016
I received an Ecological Society of America Graduate Student Policy Award to go to Washington, D.C. and learn how to incorporate science and policy!
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Developments with my dissertation project, and my first NASBR (North American Symposium on Bat Research) since 2013!
Summer 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Mist netting for bats in a pecan orchard brings back great memories of working as a field assistant in Texas as an undergrad!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
I'm learning some of the cultural differences between Mexico and the US.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
I spent three days at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Monterrey meeting with researchers working on bats or agaves, and collecting great background information on this amazing study system.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
My first blog post from Mexico! I'll be spending the summer in/near Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (northeast Mexico) completing a bat conservation internship with a local non-profit and learning the ropes so I can start my own dissertation research!