DeepSummary
Elena Green, an undergraduate student at Michigan State University, is interviewed about her research on the gender dimensions of urban wild meat trafficking in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She discusses her journey to pursuing zoology, navigating college as a woman of color, and the challenges of finding her passion. Her research involves analyzing data on the different roles men and women play in the wild meat trade, from hunting to selling.
Green shares some interesting findings, such as women being involved in trafficking rare species like dwarf crocodiles and ivory. She highlights the need for an intersectional approach to understand the nuances of gender in wildlife crime. The conversation also touches on Green's plans for graduate school, her advice for other students, and the importance of quitting activities that don't serve you.
Overall, the episode offers insights into Green's inspiring path as a young conservationist, her thought-provoking research on overlooked gender dynamics in illegal wildlife trade, and her commitment to amplifying diverse voices in environmentalism.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Elena Green is an undergraduate zoology student researching gender roles in urban wild meat trafficking in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Her findings indicate women play crucial but underexplored roles across the wild meat trade supply chain.
- Green takes an intersectional approach, connecting conservation with social justice causes like veganism and slow fashion.
- As a woman of color in STEM, she has faced marginalization and lack of representation.
- Green advocates for quitting activities that don't serve your goals or bring fulfillment.
- When selecting PhD programs, she prioritizes advisors and resources that align with her intersectional research interests.
- Green plans to pursue graduate studies focusing on wildlife conservation, community sustainability, and women's empowerment.
- She encourages undergraduates to explore diverse opportunities without fear of 'quitting' to find their passion.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “There's a very distinct connection between women and the types of products that they're handling, where they're sourcing the products and where they're sending the products. Say we removed women from this industry, we would be removing our knowledge on the products that are coming from x country, and we'd also be removing our knowledge on that product and where that product's being sent to.“ by Elena Green
- “Once you get into, like, say, your undergraduate classes and you're the only person of color within the space and the only people of color that you will see ever within these spaces are very rarely in textbooks or as seen as I know in one of my classes, we were talking about how overpopulation is becoming an issue for conservation and climate change. But they didn't show pictures of white people. They only showed pictures of people of color.“ by Elena Green
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Episode Information
Breaking Green Ceilings
Sapna Mulki
11/3/20
Aalayna Green (she/her) is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Zoology. Her research focuses on the nexus between conservation criminology and women's studies. She's specifically studying the gendered implications of urban wildmeat trafficking in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A self-proclaimed intersectional conservationist, Aalayna has plans to attend graduate school and focus on wildlife conservation, community sustainability, and women's empowerment.
See Show Notes - https://watersavvysolutions.com/trafficking
Topics Discussed:
- Navigating Through Academia as an Undergraduate
- Women in wildlife trafficking in Africa
- Conservation Criminology
- And more!
Follow Breaking Green Ceilings:
- Instagram - @Breaking_Green_Ceilings
- Facebook- @breaking green ceilings
- Twitter- @sapnamulki
Follow Aalayana Green
- Twitter - @aalayna23
- Instagram - @aalayna.green