Celia Symons

She/Her

I am queer and I am an ecologist.//

I am an ecologist at UC Irvine. I do most of my research in the Sierra Nevada of California studying how mountain lakes respond to environmental change. I also use zooplankton as a study system to test fundamental ecological theory. As a queer woman studying ecology I am often viewed as a stereotype, while rarely seeing myself reflected in the institutions in which I work. I try to be open about my identity which has allowed me to connect with some students and colleagues in ways that would not be possible without this dialogue. I do this mostly to encourage an open and inclusive workplace, but also because I know that discovering other similarly-identified people in academic spaces feels exciting and affirming.

Twitter: @celiasymons