What is Episode 50 all about?
Let’s face it: technology has become an inseparable part of our lives with social media being at the center of our attention. Young or old (everyone’s grandma is on Facebook nowadays), we all spend several hours a week consuming content and connecting with others. While the verdict is still out on whether or not phones and social media are detrimental to our health, there is no denying the power that these items possess. So, how can we as conservationists, nature enthusiasts, or biologists leverage technology for both scientific inquiry and entertainment? That, my friends, is what we’re going to learn today!
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Dillon Jones, a graduate student at San Diego State University who is studying the evolutionary history of herpetofauna in Middle America. (Quick definition: herpetofauna are reptiles and amphibians found in a particular region or time period, which you’ll soon learn more about). He also uses social media as a powerful science communication tool and has reached Instagram Influencer status. Dillon and I obviously connected online after I found his engaging videos and decided to reach out and say hi. We’ve been Insta buddies ever! Dillon and I discuss so much it’s almost difficult to recap, but a few highlights include the huge potential of his herp evolutionary study for advising conservation priorities, the why and how of him becoming an Instagram Influencer with many tips and tricks, and a huge rant session between us about the broken wheel of academia.
Today is also American Frog Day, which is why I’m releasing this episode this week! If you dig the conversation, add this episode to your Instagram story and tag Rewildology and DillontheBiologist with #AmericanFrogDay. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast wherever you’re listening to never miss a future episode.
Alright, everyone. Here is my conversation with Stotra.
Listen to this episode.
Watch this episode on YouTube.
Key Takeaways
🐸 How Dillon overcame his intense fear of nature as a child
🐸 The story that fostered his love for herps
🐸 His current graduate project that looks at the evolutionary history of herpetofauna in Middle America and what it could mean for conservation priorities
🐸 The how and why he became an Instagram Influencer and Science Communicator
🐸 Tips and tricks for anyone that wants to use social media to spread their message
Links & Resources
Dillon’s Websites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dillonthebiologist/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DillonTheBiologist
Website: https://learnadventurously.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdihyBzjnXQusxPerecOD0g
Twitter: https://twitter.com/biologistdillon
San Diego State University
Department of Evolutionary Biology: https://biology.sdsu.edu/eb/
Department of Biology: https://biology.sdsu.edu/
Contacting Dillon
You can reach Dillon by messaging him on Instagram (link above).
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Check out other Rewildology Episodes.
Ep. 48 Show Notes | Asiatic Lions: Dark Past, Successful Present & Unknown Future with Stotra Chakrabarti, PhD
Nature Based Solutions for Tackling Our Greatest Societal Challenges (Episode 47)
Ep. 46 Show Notes | Passion Turned Purpose: Rescuing Costa Rica’s Sloths with Sam Trull
