Hi there! I’m Emily, and I’m thrilled to bring you along on my adventures through the world of natural history and exploration. It’s been a while since my last “Ask Emily” episode, so there’s plenty to catch up on. Let’s dive into some of the exciting experiences and discoveries I’ve had recently!
Our friend Kyle asked how I’ve been and how I spent the pandemic. Well, it was quite a journey! Like many, I found the pandemic to be a long and challenging time. I left my job at the end of 2020, which made the transition even more significant. However, I’m happy to say that I’m doing well now and have moved past the quarantine phase.
During the pandemic, I discovered a passion for native plants and transformed my backyard with over a hundred different species. I also enjoyed exploring and filming tiny creatures with a macro lens attached to my phone. It was a delightful way to connect with nature right at home.
Kyle also wondered if I traveled anywhere interesting. Indeed, I did! I visited the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, where I reconnected with friends from a previous adventure in Montana. We had discovered a Triceratops skull together, and it was incredible to see some of the animals we unearthed now on display.
Another memorable trip was to South Dakota, where I learned about tropical fish living in a hot spring-fed river. It was astonishing to witness a breeding population of tropical cichlids thriving in such an unexpected environment.
One of the highlights of my travels was witnessing the Sandhill Crane migration in Nebraska. Seeing over half a million cranes gather was a breathtaking experience, and learning about the dedicated volunteers who support this event was truly inspiring.
I also joined a fossil dig with the Carter County Museum in Montana, where I discovered a Triceratops bone. It was an unforgettable experience, despite feeling a bit under the weather afterward!
Many of you asked about Soon Raccoon. In 2021, he returned to the University of Montana Zoological Museum and is now on display. It was heartwarming to see the museum’s growth and the enthusiasm of its students. However, this means we need a new mascot for the show, so feel free to share your suggestions!
Interestingly, I’ve had some unusual encounters with raccoons in nature, including one unfortunate incident involving a raccoon near my deck. It was a challenging situation, but it reminded me of the unexpected surprises nature can bring.
Jason H asked about my future projects and whether I’ll have a Discord. I’m thrilled about many upcoming endeavors! While “Brain Scoops” will continue to explore natural history and biodiversity, I’m also excited about the possibilities of 3D printing. If you have any creative ideas, please share them with me!
Alyssa inquired about my travel plans to other natural history museums. Absolutely! I’m eager to visit and film at various museums, including the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, Austria, and others around Chicago.
Kyle also asked about my dream destinations. While outer space and the deep ocean aren’t on my list, I’m excited to visit the Gothenburg Museum in Sweden, home to a taxidermy whale I’ve wanted to see for over a decade.
Allison wondered if there are areas I couldn’t explore while at The Field Museum. Now, I have the chance to visit different collections and collaborate with other content creators, which is incredibly exciting.
Charlie mentioned missing the hands-on learning experiences, and I agree! I believe in the value of engaging with anatomy and physiology, and I promise to bring more “Brain Scooping” content with the necessary permits.
John and Amy asked about bivalves, and yes, they’ll definitely be part of future explorations!
Kyle also wanted to know how you can support my video-making efforts. While funding is essential for on-location shoots, your comments and support are invaluable. Joining my Patreon or purchasing art prints are great ways to help, but simply being here and sharing your thoughts means the world to me.
Stay tuned for new videos starting in the new year! In the meantime, I’ll be sharing some art lab videos and a book recommendation video. Thank you for being part of this journey!
Take a walk around your campus or local area and identify native plant species. Document your findings with photos and research their ecological roles. Share your discoveries with classmates in a presentation or a blog post.
Borrow or use a macro lens attachment for your smartphone and capture images of tiny creatures or plants. Create a photo gallery and present your work to the class, discussing the ecological significance of your subjects.
Organize a virtual tour of a natural history museum, such as the Royal Ontario Museum. After the tour, engage in a group discussion about the exhibits, focusing on the connections between past discoveries and current scientific research.
Participate in a simulated fossil dig activity. Use tools to excavate “fossils” from a prepared site and identify them. Discuss the process of fossilization and the importance of paleontological research in understanding Earth’s history.
Work in groups to design a new mascot for “Ask Emily.” Consider the themes of nature and discovery in your design. Present your mascot to the class, explaining the symbolism and how it represents the show’s mission.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[Music][Applause][Music]
Hi, I’m Emily, and I like to do “Ask Emily” episodes where you ask me questions, and I provide answers. It’s been over three years since I’ve done an “Ask Emily” video, so there’s a lot to catch up on!
Kyle wants to know if I’m okay and how I spent the pandemic. That’s a great question, Kyle! I’m okay now. The pandemic felt really long for all of us. It felt especially long for me because I left my job at the end of 2020 without a proper farewell. Once things started opening up and people returned to work, I didn’t have a job to go back to. Now, I feel like I’m finally moving past the pandemic and the whole quarantine experience.
Did I pick up any new hobbies? Yes! During the pandemic, we got really into native plants and added over a hundred different species to our backyard. I also spent a lot of time wandering around and filming all the little critters I could find with a macro lens that attaches to my phone.
Kyle also wants to know if I traveled anywhere cool. I actually did! I visited some museums that had been on my list for a long time. I went to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and got to see my friends Dave Evans and Danielle Duo. If you watched “Prehistoric Road Trip,” you might remember that they invited us on a dig in Montana where we found an entire Triceratops skull.
It was amazing to visit them at the museum and see some of the animals we discovered together. I also went on some mini excursions. For example, when I visited my parents in South Dakota, I learned about a species of tropical fish that had been documented living in a hot spring there. I couldn’t believe it, so I went to investigate and found this breeding population of tropical cichlids living in a river fed by the hot spring.
Another bucket list item I checked off was witnessing the Sandhill Crane migration outside of Kearney, Nebraska. It’s incredible to see more than half a million Sandhill cranes congregating in central Nebraska every year. Their calls are unmistakable, and it was amazing to learn about these birds and the passionate volunteers who help spread the joy of their migration.
I also ended up on a fossil dig with the Carter County Museum in Montana, where I found a Triceratops bone with my friend CI Moore from Eons. It was an unforgettable experience, even though I ended up feeling unwell afterward!
David, William, Melissa, and others wanted to know about Soon Raccoon. In 2021, Soon Raccoon returned to the University of Montana Zoological Museum, where he was put on display. I was able to tour the collection and see the first specimen I ever prepared as a volunteer back in 2010. It was wonderful to see how much the museum has grown and how passionate the student following is.
However, this means we need a new mascot for the show! If anyone has recommendations, please let me know. I do feel like I might be haunted by the ghost of Soon Raccoon. I’ve had some surprising encounters with dead raccoons while out in nature, which is quite unusual.
One unfortunate incident involved a raccoon that died near my deck while I was out of town. When I returned, I discovered it was in a rather unpleasant state. I had to deal with it and ended up unintentionally bringing fleas into my home because of my interactions with that raccoon.
Jason H wants to know what I’m excited to geek out about and if I’ll have a Discord. I’m really excited about many things! A lot of people have asked if “Brain Scoops” will continue with similar content, and the good news is that there will always be something cool to explore in natural history and biodiversity.
I was recently gifted a 3D printer, and I’m excited about the possibilities it offers for accessibility. If you have any ideas for using 3D printing, please share them with me!
Alyssa wants to know if I’ll be traveling to other natural history museums. Absolutely! I’m excited to visit any place that will have me. I’ve already filmed a bit at the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, Austria, and I’m in talks with various museums and science centers around the Chicago area.
Kyle also asked if there are any dream locations I want to visit. There are a couple of places I’m not super excited about, like outer space and the deep ocean, but I would love to go anywhere else! One place on my bucket list for over ten years is the Gothenburg Museum in Sweden, where they have a taxidermy whale on display.
Allison wants to know if there are any areas I want to cover that I couldn’t while at The Field Museum. The museum has a vast collection, but now I have the opportunity to explore different collections, libraries, and research centers that I couldn’t visit before. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with other content creators more easily.
Charlie mentioned missing all the squishy dead things, and I share that sentiment! I believe in the value of hands-on learning, especially in anatomy and physiology. I promise we’ll try to do some “Brain Scooping” with the necessary permits.
John and Amy asked about bivalves, and yes, there will definitely be bivalves involved!
Kyle also wants to know how the audience can help me make videos going forward. The boring answer is funding, as on-location shoots can be expensive. However, there are many ways to support, including joining my Patreon or purchasing art prints.
The non-monetary answer is simply thank you for being here! Your comments and support mean the world to me, and hearing how the show has impacted you is the best motivation to keep creating.
Stay tuned for new videos starting in the new year! In the meantime, I’ll be reposting some of the art lab videos I made, along with a book recommendation video.
[Music]
Nature – The inherent characteristics and processes of the physical world, including living organisms and ecosystems. – Understanding the complex interactions in nature is crucial for developing sustainable environmental practices.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, encompassing their structure, function, growth, evolution, and distribution. – In her biology class, Sarah learned about the cellular mechanisms that drive genetic inheritance.
Species – A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, sharing common characteristics and genetic heritage. – The discovery of a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest has excited biologists worldwide.
Plants – Multicellular organisms in the kingdom Plantae that use photosynthesis to produce energy and are a fundamental part of ecosystems. – The study of medicinal plants has led to the development of numerous pharmaceutical drugs.
Fossils – The preserved remains or impressions of organisms from the remote past, typically found in sedimentary rock. – Fossils provide critical evidence for understanding the evolutionary history of life on Earth.
Migration – The large-scale movement of species from one location to another, often driven by environmental factors or life cycle needs. – The annual migration of monarch butterflies is a remarkable natural phenomenon studied by ecologists.
Anatomy – The branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. – A thorough understanding of human anatomy is essential for medical students and healthcare professionals.
Physiology – The scientific study of the functions and mechanisms occurring in living organisms. – Researchers in physiology investigate how different systems of the body work together to maintain homeostasis.
Biodiversity – The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or the entire Earth, crucial for ecosystem resilience and function. – Conservation efforts aim to preserve biodiversity to ensure the stability of ecosystems and the services they provide.
Exploration – The systematic investigation and study of unknown or less understood areas, often leading to new scientific discoveries. – The exploration of deep-sea ecosystems has revealed a wealth of previously unknown marine species.
