The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology have awarded three projects for their DEI initiatives. Each project was representative of the different facets of IGB’s mission to bring science to society. The proposals that have been funded include teaching local K-12 schools about poison frogs and how to care for them, helping graduate students feel a sense of belonging to the IGB community, and providing postdoctoral fellows, students, and professionals an opportunity to learn about careers at community colleges.

Studying behavioral and morphological responses to environmental cues in poison frogs

Ask Lisa Surber her thoughts on science and the natural world and you’ll find passion and excitement practically radiate off her as she responds. For Surber, who is currently a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior department at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this interest in science and nature has been present within her ever since she was young:

Many animals produce sounds to communicate with others, often for the purpose of attracting mates, or warning others of nearby predators. Sometimes calls evolve for new and unique purposes, such as the egg-feeding calls of Ranitomeya imitator, otherwise known as the mimic poison frog. While the behaviors surrounding this call have been documented in observations by both natural historians and hobbyist pet owners, the call itself had not been previously characterized.