Dee Boersma (2009)
From a “Focus on Ecologists” maintained by the ESA Education Office about 2009-2011.
| Full Name | Dee Boersma |
| Degree | PhD |
| Job Position | Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science and Professor of Biology |
| Organization | University of Washington |
| Department | Dept of Biology |
| Professional Affiliation | Academic |
| Research Discipline | Conservation Biology |
| Describe what you do and briefly describe the activities that your job encompasses | I am interested in using seabirds as reflectors of the environment and for several decades have concentrated my research on penguins. I also founded Conservation Magazine (www.conservationmagazine.org) to inform and educate the public on the science behind conservation. |
| What do you love most about your job? | The variety of what I get to do and the time I spend in the field among wildlife. |
| For each degree you’ve obtained, list the degree, field, and institution. | BS, Biology and Conservation, Central Michigan University Ph.D. Zoology, Ohio State University |
| Briefly describe your job path. | I took a tenure track job at the University of Washington and have stayed at this institution for my career. |
| What challenges did you need to overcome? | Sexism |
| What’s one thing you hope to do in the future? | I hope to educate the public and help them see that the quality of our environment depends on what each one of us does. I feel that I can do that through the platform of Conservation Magazine. |
| How do you describe your job when you meet people at a party? | I work with penguins. |
| What is your family background and what did they think of your career choice? | My Father owned his own business and was in travel and my Mother was a teacher. They supported my career choice. |
| Who or what inspired you to become a scientist (or other profession)? | I was interested in nature and that interest was fostered by my family. |
| Who currently inspires you? | Nature and wildlife. |
| What is the most valuable advice a mentor gave you or that you would offer to someone who’d like to do the same job as you? | Find your passion and find a way to do that as a job. |
| What would you like people to remember about your life as a scientist (or other profession)? | That I helped the conservation of penguins. |
| How do you feel your work has contributed to society? | Education helps people in making better decisions and we must have better decisions if we are to share the earth with other forms of life. Humans have a poor record of restraint in their breeding or consuming. Our research has helped reduce the illegal discharge of petroleum along the coast of Chubut, Argentina. |
| Award Name | Heinz Award |
| Year originally profiled. | 2009 |