Inquisitive PhD graduate helping to inspire the next generation of scientists

On Feb. 6, Caitlin Hawley stood in front of peers, mentors and ASU School of Human Evolution and Social Change faculty as she presented the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Ninety minutes later, Hawley walked out of the room as a newly minted doctor of environmental and social science.

Although Hawley initially planned to center her doctoral thesis around primates, her focus changed when she became an instructor at the University of Arizona Sky School in the fall of 2021. The Sky School program provides inquiry-based science education to Arizona K - 12 students in the Catalina Mountains near Tucson.

“I began my PhD research studying aspects of baboon socioecology. As I progressed as an intellectual and an individual, I became increasingly interested in applied aspects of research, including primate conservation and science education. So the nature of my PhD shifted into how we can communicate effectively about primate conservation and how we can inspire young people into conservation and science career pathways,” said Hawley.

As an instructor, Hawley has strived to inspire the next generation of scientists.

“I had an ‘aha’ moment when I was the age of Sky School students when I met a primatologist and learned that I could be a scientist. That was the spark for me but learning about primatology and ecology throughout my undergraduate degree set something ablaze in my mind,” said Hawley.

While Hawley plans to leave Arizona to pursue post-doctoral work at Swansea University in Wales this fall, the effect the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow recipient had on the students she mentored will likely live on for years to come.

“I loved hearing from students that they felt they had learned more in their two to three days at Sky School than they had in their entire year in their science class at school. One of my favorite memories was a group that tested whether turkeys respond to human imitations of gobbles,” laughed Hawley.

ASU News caught up with Hawley to talk about her time at ASU and what the future holds for this passionate educator.

Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study primates and ecology?

Answer: Part of the reason I was inspired to work as a Sky School instructor was to provide “aha” moments to students. I found using evolutionary theory to understand physiology and behavior to be the most cognitively engaging subject I’ve ever encountered. I wanted to provide opportunities for young people to find that thing that got their mind going and excited as a Sky School Instructor.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: I was fairly steeped in evolutionary theory for many years but as my research trajectory into the human dimensions of conservation grew, I was surprised to see my worldview shift as I learned more about cultural theories and the ways that humans interact with their environments. I feel now I have a much more holistic understanding of human processes as it pertains to the environment, all of which I learned while at ASU—in the classroom and journal groups, in discussions with colleagues and mentors, and in my reading of the literature.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: Caitlin Otten Drummond, an associate professor with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. She taught me a lot about mentoring styles, supporting students, and work norms and values. I feel that I really developed as a professional in my experience with her and endeavor to carry the lessons she taught me into my professional interactions with mentees in the future.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Think of yourself like a plant. If a plant were dying or struggling, you wouldn’t blame the plant itself, but you would think about whether or not the environment it is in is giving the appropriate nutrients to live. While in school, there are many demands on us, but we need to ensure that we’re getting the proper nutrients and healthy soils to flourish. So I would really recommend students to take care of their overall well-being, from their mental health, to their physical health, to their professional development, to self-care and hobbies. I would stray away from self-blame and working one’s self into the ground and instead see investment in the self as a way to long term health and success while in a demanding academic program.

Q: What is your proudest moment as an ASU student?

A: One of my proudest moments was when I submitted my National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow application. I felt extremely confident in the packet that I submitted and knew whether or not I would be awarded the fellowship that I had sound scientific abilities, and was really proud of the narrative that I crafted for that application. I was extremely honored to be awarded the fellowship some months later to continue my research.

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: There is a beautiful little garden and some chairs in the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing that I loved to go to to take a break and meditate for a few minutes between studying. I would sometimes go by with friends for a quick coffee break to connect and enjoy the present moment.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I will be investigating variation in little baby monkey coat colors. Just like little baby humans might have bright hair as a baby that darkens over time, similarly some non-human primates have brightly colored coats. I will be quantifying the variation within and between species using phylogenetic modeling and perceptual modeling from a photo database.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would identify the most vulnerable primates species that would also be the most impacted by conservation dollars and then I would come up with ways to support livelihoods for people and those areas. In this way, I would attempt to impact both the humans and the nonhuman primates in the area for a more sustainable and balanced coexistence.