Black Mammalogists Week kicks off

Black Mammalogists Week features multiple days of virtual content meant to inspire current and future mammalogists while also highlighting historic and present-day Black contributions to the field of mammalogy. Through Saturday, Sept. 21, those of any age or background can tune in to online workshops, games and expert-led panels.

Black Mammalogists Week, sponsored this year by the National Geographic Society, takes place on multiple social media platforms, making it accessible to a broad audience. A full event schedule can be found online. Anyone hoping to learn more can join the conversation by searching the hashtag #BlackMammalogists on X and Instagram. Most panels and workshops will be recorded and shared later on the Black Mammalogists YouTube channel.

The following free events are part of Black Mammalogist Week this year:

• Wednesday, Sept. 18:
  • 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET: Human-Wildlife Coexistence Panel with Dr. Zoliswa Nhleko, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant and Kudzai Shaun Mpakairi. [https://tinyurl.com/BMW2024Coexistence]
• Thursday, Sept. 19:
  • 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET: African Wildlife Filmmakers Showcase with Kiki Cheptoo Ng’ok, Clement Kiragu, Antony Mwangi Njoroge, and Erica Rugabandana. [https://tinyurl.com/BMW2024WildlifeFilmmakers]
  • 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET: Diversifying Wildlife Media/Science Communication Panel with Aalayna Green, Tyus Williams, Chelsea Connor and Anwar Abdul-Qawi. [https://tinyurl.com/BMW2024ScienceCommunication]
• Friday, September 20:
  • 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET: Resilient Mammals in a Changing World with Dr. Mukami Ruoro-Oundo, Dr. Kwasi Wrensford, Cesar Estien and Jahiya Clark. [https://tinyurl.com/BMW2024ResilientMammals]

The week also provides an opportunity for Black/African American, African, or Indigenous students and early-career professionals to apply for the Black & Indigenous Scholars in Mammalogy Award. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15, 2024.

Find a list of speakers and more on Black Mammalogists website.