English: Name: Dr. Christine Browne-Nuñez

Title: Social Scientist

Duty station: Natural Resource Program Center

Amount of time worked in public service: 4+ years

How much of this at USFWS? 10 months

Female Conservation Hero or Mentor? Why?

I have several female conservation heroes, but the most influential in my life has been Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project and director of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. Cynthia has dedicated her life to the work of researching and conserving elephants and was the first to open my eyes to the critical need to consider people in the conservation equation.

When you began your career, did you ever see yourself working for the USFWS? (why/why not?)

Yes, I always imagined the possibility of working for the Service. As a child, I dreamed of being out in the field in a ranger uniform protecting wildlife and wildlife places. Though I now spend most of my time in front of a computer, I am passionate about supporting my colleagues across the Service in addressing the human dimensions of conservation.

The mission of the USFWS is “Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people” How do you contribute to this mission?

As part of the Human Dimensions Branch, I support the mission of the Service by helping to build capacity to identify, understand and address the social elements of today’s conservation issues. The HD Branch does this by fostering understanding of human dimensions through training and communication; by providing technical support, tools and resources for incorporating rigorous social science into program planning, implementation, and evaluation; and by leading or partnering in research efforts.

It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to public service. Why did you choose this path?

When it comes to science and conservation, my interest is in how science is applied to help us conserve wildlife and habitats – not only for the health of the planet, but also for the well-being of present and future generations. I have worked in other sectors, including academia, and feel that it is with the Service that I can be most impactful.

What do you like best about working for the USFWS?

As a relative newcomer, what I like most about working for the Service is having the opportunity to collaborate across programs and disciplines. I enjoy the exchange of knowledge and ideas, and working collaboratively to develop approaches to address complex issues – from engaging new, diverse audiences to evaluating program impacts to finding ways to understand and address wildlife crime.