BU Biology Alum, Sinlan Poo, Co-edits new book
Sinlan Poo, a herpetologist, along with her colleagues Umilaela Arifin and Itzue Wendolin Caviedes Solis, initiated the “Women in Herpetology: 50 Stories from Around the World” project after recognizing the lack of diversity in their field. They aimed to collect narratives from women and marginalized gender individuals in the study of amphibians and reptiles. Originally planning to feature a few herpetologists, their project expanded to include contributors from 50 different countries and regions, highlighting the intersection of cultural backgrounds, education, gender, and professional experiences. The authors shared their personal stories, offering insights into their journeys, relationships with peers, and reasons for choosing herpetology. The book also includes illustrations of the authors and the species they study to showcase diversity within the field.
Karen Warkentin, a contributor to “Women in Herpetology: 50 Stories from Around the World,” is a professor of biology and women’s, gender & sexuality studies at Boston University. Their story in the book highlights their childhood in Kenya and their discovery of escape hatching in frogs, which occurs when young animals hatch early to avoid danger. Warkentin shares the twists and turns of their life journey, from early interests in biology and living in Kenya to starting college in 1979 with a strong focus on research and field biology. They spent several years in environmental education before returning to graduate school and conducting PhD research in Costa Rica. Since 2003, Warkentin has been bringing students to Gamboa, Panama, for fieldwork at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Sinlan Poo, one of the book’s editors, credits Warkentin as a teacher and mentor who inspired her to pursue a career in the field of herpetology. Warkentin’s inclusion in the book demonstrates the diverse paths that herpetologists take in their careers and the importance of mentors in shaping the future of the field.
Proceeds from the book will fund scholarships for underrepresented students in herpetology, addressing the field’s challenges in terms of recognition and publication compared to other disciplines. Women in Herpetology aims to give these researchers a platform to share their work and experiences.