ISSET Seminar Series - Prof. Adetola Adesida - University of Alberta

Prof Blumstein in the field, photographed by Emily RenkeyThe story of Prof Dan Blumstein’s decision to share videos of the marmots in the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory’s field study on an OnlyFans account called OnlyMarms has captured the world over the last few weeks. 64 years of research into marmots can provide incredible insights into their evolution and socioecology, but the study is as expensive to run as it is valuable — and funding challenges have forced Blumstein, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA and Field Chief Editor of Frontiers in Conservation Science, to innovate in new and surprising ways. In this instalment of Frontier Scientists, Blumstein explains to us why this long-running study of yellow-bellied marmots is so important for science, how funding losses are putting it at risk, and how he’s fighting back. What inspired you to become a researcher? I’ve always been interested in nature and spent a lot of time outside — exploring, watching animals, as well as hiking, climbing, and skiing while growing up.