Werner de Gier

He/Him

I am gay and I am a master’s student in evolutionary biology and research intern. //

I’m currently working on shame-faced crabs at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden (The Netherlands) focusing on their diet and ecology. In addition, I try to work as much as possible on my education and science-communication skills whenever I get the chance. While I had some problems coming out at home, I was very happy I could just be out and more importantly, be myself when I’m around my colleagues in the museum. I’m thankful I work in a LGBT-friendly country and environment, but I have to say I’m still a little scared about fieldwork in more LGBT-unfriendly areas. I feel devastated when I hear about countries where scientists get banned or experience an even worse fate while practicing what they love. In any case, that should not stop me from saying I’m proud to be a gay biologist and scientist and I’m thankful I can say that publicly.

https://www.instagram.com/werner_degier/ and https://twitter.com/Werner_deGier