To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them.
Arianne-Elise Harris
University of Guyana, Guyana
What work do you do?
I’m a conservation biologist/ecologist and my research work focuses mainly on population ecology. My work has revolved around animal responses to human disturbances, specifically logging, with an emphasis on recovery / assemblage change. Other research areas I’ve worked on have been to human perceptions of wildlife, and wildlife education / science communication. I’ve conducted my research in the tropical rainforests of Guyana, which is also my home country. Located in South America, Guyana boasts a high level of biodiversity and endemism, which makes research and education projects worth while here! Outside of research, I’m a lecturer at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen campus. My courses are within the Department of Biology and spans a range of topics from introductory Biology to Mammalogy.
How did you get into ecology?
My love for this field has been with me since I was a child and I know probably every ecologist says that but it’s true haha. Growing up in a country like Guyana, you’re tossed into nature from a young age – interacting with all manner of plants and animals, trying to understand what they’re doing and why they do it. By the time I left high school, I started exploring my options and getting involved in anything with the word “environmental” in it. This led me to be part of clubs, societies and even volunteering with my local zoo for a period of time. My career fully “kicked off” however, when I enrolled for my bachelors at the University of Guyana. I was introduced to so many researchers both locally and internationally. I went on my first scientific expedition in my second year at U.G. and that was when I really began networking and building my experience in forest ecology research. Some of those scientists (many of whom are women!), I still consider close friends and advisors to this day.
Who inspires you?
I never know how to answer this question because there isn’t just one person/ woman that inspires me. When I think of women who inspire me, I think of my mother, my aunt, my advisor, my high school head mistress and even the roadside vendor I had all but one conversation with. Women who have shown how deep their roots are and how well they withstand a storm are who inspire me. I learned from a young age how difficult life can be – a harsh truth that the Guyanese experience deals to you. But I’ve had the fortune of being placed in the hands of many women who embrace difficulty and rise above it, and I can’t think of anything more inspiring than that. The Guyanese woman is a powerful force to witness, especially when it comes to ensuring a good future for younger generations. I’ve learned through them to not be afraid of hardship if it knocks on your door but always work towards minimizing how often it knocks! Haha.
How do you think we could ‘accelerate action’ within ecology and science, to move towards gender equality?
I sat and pondered this question for what Guyanese would call “a good couple minutes!”. My straightforward answer would be to remind young girls of their place in our world and emphasize that place is not tightly held within a black and white space of “Girls do X and boys do Y”. If you had asked me this question a year or two ago, I would’ve given that exact answer and nothing more, but I don’t feel that answer is complete now. My addition to this point would be to also teach our boys and men that women and girls in STEM are not a threat but a strength. Our world’s changing climate and biodiversity loss don’t care if the research comes from a female or a male, it only requires that it is thorough and true. Gender identity and perspectives are important in research, especially in Ecology science – a field that is deeply interwoven with human experience and impact. So, I believe that to accelerate action in ecology and science, we need to remind our male peers that we’re here to work with them, not against them. This involves recognizing and valuing our perspectives, and approaches, and understanding that our seat at the table is not a courtesy, but an equal opportunity. Gender equality does not mean that I will take over your job nor does it mean that I am asking for pittance or inclusion. To me, gender equality means that I have an equal say in how the job should get done and as Ecologists working together in this big ecology office space, it shoulder never be me against you because that sets us back and it will continue to set us back unless we adopt the mindset that it’s me AND you.
Read the full collection of blog posts for #IWD2025 here!
