Meeting #26 Not-So-Sexy Elements of Shark Research and Conservation Panel.
Thank you again to all of you who attended our meeting and for providing such incredible question to our panelists!
The highlight of our meeting on Monday was a panel on the not-so-sexy elements of elasmobranch research and conservation. Thank you to our spectacular panelists Faqih Akbar Alghozali, Dr. Andrew Chin, Meghan Warren, and Mina Hatayama!
Some highlights from the panel included:
Learning about how to manage career expectations, particularly how you do not need to have all the answers. The panelists expressed the importance of not being afraid to ask questions and accept imperfections when it comes to breaching into this field.
Delegating how to approach people with conflicting interests in either public or political settings. To foster effective dialogue, it is critical to manage your own emotions and leaving space to understand differing perspectives.
Discovering how to navigate opportunities. Focusing on your mission—why you are in this field—can help to determine which opportunities are right for you to avoid burnout.
Hearing about how everyone experiences rejections, whether it is from grant applications, journal publications, or job opportunities. The panelists emphasized that failures are not often discussed and comparing yourself to others will only harm your growth.
“Work expands to fill the space you let it”
Finding hobbies, interests, and a support network that gives you space to not think about science is critical for generating work-life boundaries.
