I will be attending two days of the 2025 Ecological Society of America conference, and I’d love to meet you (or catch up) while I’m there! But because I’m not attending the whole meeting, and because ESA is so big that you can’t really hope to randomly run into someone there, I’m writing up where I’ll be so you can find me. Feel free to reach out in advance so we can be sure to meet up.
My activities will include leading a professional development workshop on public science engagement, speaking on virtual branding for early career professionals, and speaking on a panel on careers in marine and coastal ecology. Here’s more information on each.
Workshop 06: “How to use social media to communicate ecology to the public, and why you should!” Monday August 11, 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 P.M. in Room BCC 323
It’s never been more important for experts to break out of the ivory tower and engage with the public. Modern communication tools like social media make it easier than ever before in human history for experts to share their expertise with the masses, but a changing social media landscape make this challenging.
In this short course, award-winning public science engagement specialist (and ESA-certified senior ecologist) Dr. David Shiffman, one of the most -followed scientists on social media @ WhySharksMatter, will walk you through some tips and tricks for online public science engagement and go over some of the most effective tools for these jobs.
Bring a laptop and bring your questions!
Career Central: Virtual Branding. Monday August 11, 2:45-3:45 p.m. Career Central Room 1 / Exhibit Hall.
Led by David Shiffman, PhD, this session will focus on virtual branding for students and early-career professionals. Learn how to build a strong professional presence online, use social media strategically, and develop tools like personal websites to support your career goals and amplify your work.
Career Central: Careers in Coastal and Marine Ecology. Tuesday August 12 2:45-3:45 P.M., Career Central Room 1/ Exhibit Hall.
This panel features experts conducting ecological research in coastal and marine environments on topics such as jellyfish, sharks, marine ecosystems, and quantitative ecology. Panelists from research, consulting, and academia will share insights and career advice for those interested in diverse marine science careers across regions and disciplines.