Herpetologia Brasileira Herpetologia Brasileira (HB) is one of the two journals published by the Brazilian Society of Herpetology. The journal is open access (download it here) and publishes articles (portuguese or english) with a general interest to the Brazilian herpetological community, including scientific notes (natural history and geographical notes).
I was a member of the editorial board from June 2020 until January 2022 and contributed with several actions to increase the diversity of the journal's readership:
(1) Using social media (Twitterand Instagram), HB aims to engage more with young herpetologists stimulating undergraduate students to publish their research. Brazilian undergrads' research on herpetology frequently comprises valuable natural history data on amphibians and reptiles that are frequently not published.
(2) Given that the astonishing pictures illustrating the journal (check it out, it's worth it!) are mostly provided by its readers, HB uses this as an opportunity to stimulate women herpetologists to take photos and share with the herpetological community. The herpetological community has been traditionally dominated by men, and as a consequence, the images we receive are mostly from male authorship. HB wants to change this. As a result of these actions, the April edition was entirely illustrated with images provided by women herpetologists (check it out here!).
(3) The journal also provides digests in portuguese about research papers written in english and published in non-herpetological journals. Therefore, HB aims to help making these scientific discoveries also accessible for non-english speakers.
Herpetologia segundo as herpetólogas ("Herpetology according to women herpetologists") H2H is a group of Brazilian women herpetologists mostly based in Brazil that have the goals to (1) promote a more inclusive and diverse herpetology & science; (2) bring science closer to the non-academic community; (3) show to the general public how incredible amphibians and reptiles are.
The team take their actions mainly via social media (Twitter,Instagram and Facebook) but also by giving talks at scientific meetings, schools and local communities. If you want to know more about the initiative check their cool website (in portuguese) or feel free to contact them via social media or email: [email protected].
I was part of the initiative from August 2018, when it was created, until May 2021.
Ana Paula Costa-Rodrigues, a H2H member, teaching about herpetology & herpetologists.
Some outreach publications
Vasconcelos, B.D, Costa-Rodrigues, A.P.V., Mello, A.V.A, Cassini, C.S., Salvino, C.A., Gennari, D.P.T., Fenker, J., Pereira, J.A., Alencar, L.R.V., Souza, L.G., Silva, M.B., Torello-Viera, N.F., Friol, N.R, Mângia, S., Alencar, T., Mossioli, Y.C.S., França, D.P.F. 2021. Herpetologia Segundo as Herpetólogas: A breath of female representation in Brazilian science. Herpetologia Brasileira, 10:96-106.
Gaiarsa, M.P., Sebastián-González, E., Mortara, S.R., Martins, A.B., Maia, K., Marquitti, F.M.C., Lemos-Costa, P., Castanho, C., Birskis-Barros, B., Astegiano, J., Assis, A.P.A., Andreazzi, C.S., Alencar, L.R.V. 2019. The role of sorority in building collective science. Science. Read it here.
Alencar, L.R.V. 2018. To share or not to share the geographical space?. Australian Museum Blog. Read it here.
Del Lama, F.S., Alencar, L.R.V. and C.A.B. Galdino. 2007. Você sabia que alguns sapos não comem só insetos?. Revista Ciência Hoje das Crianças, 186, p.16.
Interviews
Interview to Sterrin Smalbrugge for her children's book "Sterrin's reptile journey".
Research highlights diversification in vipers by Peter Moon, Agência FAPESP. Read it here.
Panelist (career path panel) at the GAINS conference - Girls advancing in STEM 2022