Episode 18: Dr. Gwen Iacona

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Gwen Iacona, an Assistant Research Professor at Arizona State University, where she serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes. She also serves on the advisory board for the National Parks Service, where she promotes data-driven ecological decision-making. Gwen’s dissertation research focused on the costs and benefits of managing protected areas for conservation, and her work now primarily focuses on how we can support conservation decision makers in achieving the outcomes they are looking for. Here, Gwen talks about her struggles with her prospectus exam, and how she bounced back with the help of fieldwork and taking the space to realize why she wanted the PhD in the first place. Let’s listen! Transcript: Here Scientist Info: Gwen Iacona Faculty Profile: https://search.asu.edu/profile/3379414   Fail-Safe Science Repository: https://risecenter.asu.edu/fail-safe  International Postgraduate Mental Health Alliance (MHA): https://www.ispmha.com/  Mental Health Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14G5m91FLPY5gZSHUzWXAQ4Jnm4uX9AS0yhypus3gsuQ/edit?usp=sharing  Land Acknowledgement Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10lLcxY7OSsuTnXyq_CSC5Wvst8MSMRurisBfX5hK7AI/edit?tab=t.0