Sometimes the rebellion looks like showing up to serve your community in the way you always do: infiltrating spaces that were not meant for you and changing the system brick-by-brick. It's a slow process, but if we work together the paradigm shift is just around the corner.
Up for tenure this year and spent the first couple of months of the semester working on my portfolio, prepping a new Entomology course (and lab), teaching first year Biology, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in my lab. I'm barely dragging to the end. It's only getting busier!
As a response to all the crazy things happening lately, and to provide a way for students to feel empowered I along with some of my research students started Scientists Supporting People Advocating for Community Equity. They have been so busy this semester reaching out to our communities!
It's research time in the Contreras Lab!
Wowza this semester has been crazy busy! We are in the middle of research in all my teaching labs. I love seeing students fall in love with science! Undergrads and grad students are also filling my lab, trying to finish up/starts projects. It's like Christmas up in here (but also exhausting).
Decided that the world needs more people to be curious about the natural world. So, I started a kids program on the topic of sound ecology. So far, they have learned about the physics of sound, the science behind sound recording, and then went to capture nature sounds. Natureunmuted.com
Now, this might be a silly question, but to all of you freshwater scientists out there: What is the best wader you have used? In one week of field work, two out of our 3 waders sprung a leak. Any suggestions are appreciated!
We made it home! Next week is data analysis time. On the drive back, one student said: This was honestly a life changing trip!
Music to a mentor! Thank you @keithkueny.bsky.social
There's no better workplace than this! The canal we are surveying will soon have a floating solar panel. We are interested in studying the aquatic ecology of the area before/after. We shared space with golden eagles, terns, pelicans, and a river otter!
Water samples packed and sent off to our collaborators! We are so excited to get results back soon!
Field work means spending the day in beautiful places, shared with Osprey, Bald Eagles, countless dragonflies, lady bugs, and bees! After 15 hours, we were 4 very tired but very happy people with tons of water samples and macroinvertebrates to analyze. @csusb.bsky.social @keithkueny.bsky.social
Prepping and calibrating equipment at our AirBnB is the definition of field work. We are ready to collect water samples and conduct our macroinvertebrate surveys!
Day two of our trip to Oregon. We made it to Klamath Falls after a bit of hiking and some good eats. First thing we visited in Oregon was our field site. We saw lots of birds and 2 deer there!
The Contreras lab on a roadtrip to Oregon to do some science! @keithkueny.bsky.social thanks for this opportunity! One day into the trip, not even there yet, and we are ecstatic!
Field work Day #2!
DAY 1 of our summer field work @csusb
Some of my 2024 -2025 research students (5 are not pictured here). Three graduated this Saturday, one graduated in the Winter, one has a cool summer research gig lined up, and 2 are my family. :) Transitions are hard, I hate saying goodbye to students but at the same time I am SO PROUD!
So proud of all of my students! I can't believe I am living my dream by making other people's dreams come true!
That time of the year when 1st year Biology students showcase their semester long research. All of this learning without funding. Imagine how much we could do if science was supported! I was writing a grant to support this work, due date was May 31st. The current administration defunded it.
My research lab and Club SSPACE spreading some science love at the CSUSB CNS Science Carnival this week.
My Principles of Biology I course is at the point of data collection for their drinking water quality projects. It's my favorite part of the year!
CSUSB Club SSPACE doing their thing spreading community and knowledge about the ramifications of federal funding cuts to science.
Seeing my students grow professionally is a kind of love that is hard to define. I absolutely love my students. Each of them decided to pursue graduate school after their experience in my lab. I can't wait to hear their stories and how they end up changing the world!
My best comes out when I am surrounded by tropical rainforests. My first time at El Yunke National Forest did not disappoint. I am hoping this place, and all the rangers, will still be here 4 years from now.
"Poo-tee-weet"
I have a meeting coming up in Puerto Rico, and I am honestly concerned about whether I will come back home. I'm still going because I'm not letting their fear mongering work, but it's 100% on my mind.
We Stood Up for Science
Seasonal cycles of greenness (MODIS EVI) over much of North America, 2019-2021. The burst of greenness across the Midwest and Great Plains is the main attraction, but I especially like the August response to the monsoon in NW Mexico and if you look closely, AZ and NM.
Well, in response to the post below it seems like I might be returning to my country sooner than I thought.
Trump posted: ‘All federal funding will STOP for any college, school, or university that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!’
