Lauren Dean joined the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), a division of the Prairie Research Institute, on July 1, 2024 as an assistant research scientist focused on Hunter Research for the Learn to Hunt program. She is originally from Maryland and received a BA in Anthropology from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, before completing an MA in History at the University of Missouri Columbia. She recently reskilled and completed an MPS in Wildlife Conservation and Management through Unity Environmental University’s Distance Education Program, where she conducted research focused on exploring waterfowl hunting regulation complexity as a constraint to adult novice waterfowl hunter recruitment and retention in Illinois in conjunction with the Illinois Learn to Hunt program. Personally, she enjoys hiking and using wildlife photography as a tool for observation. She is also interested in any activity she can do with her dog, including hunting. We sat down with Lauren to learn a bit more about her.
What is your background before coming to work at INHS?
Until recently, my background was more based in social science and the humanities than anything else, but it’s amazing how helpful an anthropology degree can be when it comes to wildlife conservation and hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation research!
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role at INHS?
I am passionate about being able to positively impact my local community, and this role gives me a direct opportunity to connect with people and help them figure out how to become part of the Illinois hunting community and participate in supporting conservation within their state. I also love a job that allows me to be intellectually fulfilled while also getting my hands (and boots) dirty! The Learn to Hunt team is also made up of an incredible group of people, so I’m looking forward to working with them.
How old were you when you first became interested in science? What sparked your interest?
I spent a lot of time falling into streams, working with livestock, and collecting interesting rocks as a kid, so I would say I’ve been interested in the world around me all my life. Wanting to know how things work was a good driver to learn more about science. I was also quite active in 4-H and raised rabbits, so biology was particularly interesting to me.
Who or what drew you to study hunter R3 research?
Initially, my capstone project for my Wildlife Conservation and Management MPS drew me into this area of study. I had to find a local organization to partner with, and I already knew about Dan Stephens and the rest of the Learn to Hunt crew from attending a few of their events in the past, and thought there might be a great opportunity for collaboration there.
What are common misconceptions about your career?
I want to emphasize that hunting is for everyone if you’re interested in taking part, and that hunters (and anglers and sports shooters) fund wildlife conservation and management programs for game AND non-game species. If we lose these traditions, we will lose our funding streams for wildlife management, to say nothing of losses associated with an important element of American culture.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career?
I’m quite new to this career, so I’ve been lucky enough to not have had many direct challenges yet. However, I find myself having to immediately explain what “hunter research” is and why it is important whenever it comes up, because quite a lot of people find it either distasteful or strangely niche (and thus, not useful).
What do you wish more people understood about science or being a scientist?
Qualitative data is valid data, too, and quantitative data can also be biased! Also, it doesn’t have to involve a lab coat or goggles to be science.
What advice would you give to future scientists?
Most people hate networking (myself included), but it really is important, even if you simply informally connect with someone or reach out virtually. And in a similar vein, if an article you want to read is behind a paywall, reach out to the author directly – they will almost always send you a copy.
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Lauren can be reached by email at ldean22@illinois.edu.
