Not being a scientist made me a better scientist

And that shouldn't actually surprise us.

Me conducting field work for a bison study in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan (Image: J.A. Merkle, 2013)

Last fall the co-author of my first book¹ and I were walking through a botanic garden in New Brunswick where he serves as board president². We were working our way down a slightly slippery, wet slope in a thick forest, delighting in the abundant, varied fungi, when Steve asked me:

"Do you consider yourself an ecologist?"

I was stumped (no pun intended, but oh, the joys of puns!).

I'd never actually considered that question. Then, I prevaricated. I don't officially have any science degrees. I certainly don't have any ecology degrees. I definitely don't have a PhD (just ask all the administrators who still care!).

But, as Steve reminded me, I've worked in and adjacent to science my entire career.

I can …