Methods in Ecology and Evolution: International Women’s Day 2024

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of our new Associate Editors. In each post, our editors discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion‘, means to them.

Dr Lorna Hernandez-Santin (She/her)

What work do you do?

These days I work mostly with restoration ecology. I work at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, which is part of The University of Queensland. Here, I use my experience in ecology to help the mining industry (regulators and mining companies alike) to reach better outcomes in the rehabilitation of mined lands, fill in information gaps, and give a voice to biodiversity. There is a long way to go still, but I feel that my work contributes to make this a better place.

In my ‘previous life’ I worked mostly with carnivore ecology, conservation ecology, urban ecology, and avifauna. Now, I tap into these areas of interest as often as I can, and I advocate for greater inclusion of fauna in the mine rehabilitation space.

How did you get into ecology?

I wanted to be an ecologist my whole life, even before I knew what an ‘ecologist’ was. I love field work and I wouldn’t change it for the world. So, I made sure to seek and embrace every chance to bring me closer to my goal. I have been lucky to have had the opportunities that have allowed me to reach my goal and continue to do research.

What is your proudest achievement?

I am proud every time that my work contributes to expand our understanding of species in a way that entails palpable actions. For example, my PhD contributed to understand how feral cats were restricting the distribution of the endangered northern quoll, among other findings. My research has been used as the base of subsequent research, as well as used in management plans for the species.

I am also proud every time that my work contributes to give a voice to biodiversity. My proudest moment may be when my work contributed to understand that the impacts to a fauna species posed a significantly high risk for a proposed mining project. In the end, the proposed project did not go ahead.

What does ‘Inspire Inclusion’ mean to you?

To me, inspiring inclusion means living a life that embraces diversity and has empathy towards different types of human experiences. It means rejecting discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual preference, religion, age, body type, etc. It means starting conversations with an empathetic ear. It means knowing that different people have had experiences different than your own and all are equally valid.

Who inspires you?

People who defy odds to reach their goals. People who are kind. People who give voices to those who cannot speak up (may it be different groups of people, biodiversity, or the environment in general). People who don’t give up in face of adversities.