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Evolutionary Biologist - An interview with Dr. Ross Nehm

Q: Why does science interest you?
A: “I enjoy exploring the world—whether it’s a new place, a new species, or a new question. I am excited by discovery and the unknown…and being a scientist is really about trying to figure things out. Sometimes science is frustrating, because there is no one to tell you if you are right or wrong, if your study will work out, or if people will be convinced that your conclusions are correct. But there is nothing more exciting to me than finally figuring something out that has been bugging me for a long time. And I enjoy challenges—especially ones that I am interested in. And the best part of science is that you can often work on the things that excite you. I also love being skeptical of everything in the world. Is what we think really true? Are the textbooks correct? How do we know what we claim to know? These are some of my favorite things to think about, even if they annoy some people.”

Q: How did you first get involved in scientific work?
A: “This question really depends on how you define scientific work! When I was very young I used to collect fossils of ancient marine animals from rocks, and my confusion about how marine animals could have existed where there is dry land today counts as science for sure. Confusion is an important part of science! My “official” beginning was when I was an undergraduate. I called up a professor who I barely knew and asked if I could help with some of her projects relating to evolution. I remember being incredibly nervous! I was worried that I would sound stupid, or that she would say ‘no’. Fortunately, she gave me a chance to work on her projects. I had such a great time that I knew I wanted to be involved with science for the rest of my life.”

Q: What is the connection between your work and the Dominican Republic?
A: “The professor that I called up was working on fossils from the Dominican Republic. The DR has a thick stack of layered rocks filled with fossils of marine snails and clams. I wanted to study how evolution really happens (how long it takes, what causes it to occur) and so I traveled to the DR to collect more snails and learn about the rocks where they came from. I did lots of measurements and analyses and discovered how one species evolved into another one. That was more than ten years ago! I found the DR such an interesting place, with such great data, and the people were so incredibly nice, that I never really wanted to work anywhere else. So today I am still studying the DR”

Q: What areas of the Dominican Republic have you studied?
A: “I have mostly worked in the Cibao Valley. But I have also worked in the southwest coast near Pedernales and near Lago Enriquillo. The DR is a relatively small place, but it has a great diversity of ecosystems and geological features. That’s one of the reasons that I love working there.”

Q: What is it like being a scientist?
A: “Because I am a professor at a college, I do lots of different things. I teach classes several days a week, I work in my lab with students and undergraduates, I advise research projects, travel to conferences to present my work to other colleagues, and sit on a lot of committees that make decisions that are important to the day-to-day running of the college. Each day is very different, and I am always working with a lot of students, which is something that I really enjoy.”

Q: What types of educational experiences were helpful to you becoming a scientist?
A: “My courses in high school and college really helped me learn a lot, but working on my own research projects is really how I came to understand science and the practical realities of exploring something that is unknown. My own experiences traveling to museums, different places around the country, and around the world were very important too. Being good with my hands and solving practical problems on our farm when I was young helped much more than I would have ever thought. Sometimes there is no device or equipment that you can buy to do something, so you need to develop it yourself.”

Q: Tell us about some of your interesting experiences in the Dominican Republic.
A: “Several experiences come to mind: For one of my projects I remember worrying for weeks about whether I would be able to find specimens of a certain species of fossil snail in the DR. It was crucial for determining whether a particular idea was correct. When I was in the DR in a place called Cañada Zalaya [in the Cibao Valley] I remember being so excited to find what I had been looking for! I also remember trying to drive across the Rio Cana, which was filled with big rocks, and ripping the muffler off of our rental car and hoping that no one would notice when we returned it. I also remember trying to drive our car up a steep muddy hill during a rainstorm. It was a nightmare because we kept sliding down. After nearly an hour of trying a bunch of methods to get up the hill, we finally made it to the top only to meet a large herd of cattle that were being led to the river; this caused us to slide down yet again. Finally, I remember this wonderful family that lived along the banks of the Rio Gurabo. Every time we came they helped us collect specimens, and we brought medical supplies in return. They were incredibly welcoming to us.”

Q: What are some ways that Dominican-American students can get involved in science?
A: “There are so many different ways! Many students live in neighborhoods that have challenges that need to be solved using science—like pollution control and monitoring. Students can make a difference if they work together and have support from the local community. Most schools also have connections with colleges—like The City College where I work—that welcome students to get involved in research projects. Science fairs also provide opportunities to work with teachers to develop individualized scientific projects. Museums, like the American Museum of Natural History in New York, have many outreach programs for students and education activities relating to science. Remember that getting involved in science includes just being curious about the world and exploring it with an open mind!”

Q: Have you ever felt like giving up? What kept you going?
A: “Absolutely! Sometimes my projects fail and I want to give up. Sometimes the snails that we raise in the lab die and we just can’t figure out what we did wrong. Other times the samples that we collect in the DR are damaged during shipment and the data are lost forever. But I usually get over these problems and look to other opportunities that I find exciting. And I try to never forget how lucky I am to study what I am interested in.”