Seeking Opportunities
I’m seeking to partner on projects related to…
Shift towards a balanced system for interacting with animals in human care, which prioritizes the evolutionary/physiological needs of the species in our care.
Increased observation of animals, from as neutral a position as possible to improve their lives, even if this costs us convenience.
Designing zoos, our homes, agriculture spaces, “working” animal spaces (barns & kennels), with animal comfort, our understanding of the species natural tendencies, innovative ideas for improved animal care, and positive interactions first
Continued investigation of mental health of humans and animals, using that understanding to improve outcomes of human-animal interactions on both sides
Improving Human-Animal interactions
Chimpanzees at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, as observed during my dissertation work. C. Lyon
Better Leveraging of University to non-profit partnerships
Students want to have tangible impacts on their communities
Non-profits, from zoos to therapeutic horse-back riding facilities, need support from many sources
Volunteers are heavily relied upon, leaving some volunteers quickly burnt out
Non-profits can struggle to attract the help they need, due to already being over stretched
My aim: Set up better non-profit to university student partnerships in my community. There are endless options for students and many programs or facilities in need of engaged helpers! We can make this connection easier for both sides.
Academic Graphic Design
ISAZ Conference Poster, 2023
Graphical Abstract and presentation elements, Zoo Biology paper, 2023
I’ve greatly enjoyed trying out unique and aesthetic ways to show scientific data! I’m always looking for opportunities to partner with people hoping to make fun and attractive visuals for their presentations or projects.
Advising
“Advising” feels too formal, but, if you are a student or just a person looking to talk about anything from applying to college or grad school, working in zoos, conducting research, partnering with collaborators, writing, or anything else I could be helpful with- reach out!
Email: cassandra.e.m@gmail.com