Eco TrailBlazer - Emily Stanford

A 26-year-old biologist from Texas shares her passion for bats, sparked by a chance encounter. She received a Thomas J Watson Fellowship to study global perceptions of bats and their impact on conservation. Bats are often misunderstood, associated with myths and diseases, yet they play crucial ecological roles in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal. The biologist discusses human-bat conflicts, particularly with farmers, and highlights solutions that balance conservation with livelihoods. She addresses threats to bat populations, including habitat loss and white nose syndrome, and emphasizes the importance of education and conservation efforts to change perceptions and protect bats.

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