Danielle N Lee’s favorite time of day is what she calls “that twilight summer song”, that beautiful time at dusk when the world seems to still. Lee spends a lot of time outside at dusk, no matter where she is in the world. It’s the time of day when she sets her traps to catch and study nuisance rodents who live their mysterious interesting lives overnight.

In this episode of the No Boundaries Book Club, Clare and Gabby are talking with Danielle N Lee, a mammalogist and outreach scientist who studies the animal behavior and natural history of wild nuisance rodents.

About Danielle:

Danielle N. Lee is a biologist and outreach scientist who studies animal behavior and works to increase minority participation in STEM fields. Lee is currently researching the behavior and biology of wild rodents, such as landmine-sniffing African giant pouched rats, to better understand how we can use them to save lives. In addition to her research domestically and abroad in Tanzania, Lee is passionate about science communication and is well-known for her science promotion and outreach through social media. She was selected as a 2015 TED Fellow and named as one of EBONY Magazine’s Power 100 and a White House Champion of Change in STEM Diversity and Access.

About the No Boundaries Book Club:

Dr. Clare Fieseler and Gabby Salazar are National Geographic Explores and authors of No Boundaries. No Boundaries features 25 women explorers and scientists who protect animals, tell stories, preserve history, and achieve incredible athletic feats.

Join them on this 8-part adventure to hear stories and advice from National Geographic Explorers around the world.

This is the No Boundaries Book Club on the Lenovo EDU Community.

Anonymous
  • Cool topic. I love hearing about the landmine rats, such a cool idea. 

    I used to have pet rats when I was growing up, they are sweet as pets, just really short lived. 

  • Great work.
    One thing that always gets me, well bothers me, is how people exterminate  predators that keep an ecosystem in equilibrium, and then tend to label any critters (or plants) that multiply as a result of it as "nuisance".

  • WOULDN'T  NORMALLY THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE AN AREA OF INTEREST. HOWEVER, IT SHOWS THAT ALL LIFE IS IMPORTANT TO STUDY.

  • Danielle N. Lee  is much braver then me.  i would be scared to go near rats this size.

  • This would be perfect for me. I'm nocturnal and think these are the cutest rodents. Thanks for this insight into these interesting animals.