Zoology graduate and conservationist engages people through art

By immersing herself in the course, Vagner gravitated even more towards seabirds as she learned that they have a whole different array of physiological adaptations that make them unique from other organisms – dense, waterproof feathers, a desalination system to expel excess salt and an ability to withstand depths of over 100 feet.

As an experienced diver on the San Diego coast, Vagner cherishes the privilege to be up close and personal with marine wildlife. On one remarkable occasion, she recalls throwing a pebble down into the water to estimate how deep it was and watching a cormorant dive down to retrieve it for her. This resulted in an impromptu game of fetch that proved to Vagner that “it wasn’t a fluke” – rather, it was tangible evidence of avian intelligence and their need for mental stimulation from interaction or play.

Once Vagner realized that she wanted to work with birds, she decided to do something about it. In 2018, she began volunteering as an intern at Avian Behavior International in San Diego, where she focused on wildlife conservation education and positive reinforcement training programs to help people take better care of their birds, ranging from parrots to birds of prey.

To Vagner, the hands-on experience was most valuable. “Hilary, the owner, is so knowledgeable,” Vagner said. “Listening to her passion about strengthening the connection between animals and the humans who care for them was infectious.”

“Enrolling in OSU’s Ecampus zoology program in January 2019 was an opportunity for me to study birds without sacrificing who I am, the person who loves skateboarding, free diving and creating art.”

This experience encouraged her to look for flexible zoology programs that allowed her to continue doing the work she loved. “Enrolling in OSU’s Ecampus zoology program in January 2019 was an opportunity for me to study birds without sacrificing who I am, the person who loves skateboarding, free diving and creating art.”

Vagner’s passion for art is not just a hobby; in fact, she hopes it can bridge the ever-widening gap between people who do science and the people they do science for.

“I’m a visual learner. And I don’t think I’m the only one, which is why I want to help others like me.”

Classes such as figure drawing, art history and ceramics directly help Vagner understand the zoology material she is learning. Vagner prefers to draw out her notes as opposed to merely jotting down a string of words or phrases. Rather than attempting to memorize huge walls of text in her biology textbook, she might illustrate and label the parts of a eukaryotic cell herself to better integrate the content into her memory. “I’m a visual learner,” she said. “And I don’t think I’m the only one, which is why I want to help others like me.”

In the future, Vagner’s vision is to work in scientific illustration to make science more accessible to the public. After earning her Master of Fine Arts in science communication, Vagner is considering Cornell’s Bartels Science Illustration residency program to bring to life the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s educational and outreach materials, videos and scientific research.

By doing so, her work has the potential to be published across renowned platforms, including the Cornell Lab’s Living Bird magazine and All About Birds website, as well as in various scientific publications. Ultimately, Vagner hopes to introduce scientific illustration programs to community colleges and universities.

“My dream is to help people understand science – the physiology and anatomy of DNA, viruses, animals, people, and everything in between ... It’s only then that we can raise awareness and work together to preserve the world we live in.”

“Every time you open up a field guide or a textbook and come across an image that isn’t a photograph, you’re seeing scientific illustration at work,” Vagner reveals. “My dream is to help people understand science – the physiology and anatomy of DNA, viruses, animals, people, and everything in between – by taking the time and care to pick apart these crucial processes necessary for our understanding. It’s only then that we can raise awareness and work together to preserve the world we live in.”

Amid her excitement for her future career, Vagner notes the lack of recognition that zoologists often receive for their important work. “People have the misconception that it’s easy in comparison to other STEM majors, but I’m right there taking o-chem and calculus alongside them,” Vagner laughs.

“We are elbow-deep in important work, and if this field is what matters to you and you know you can contribute to serving the earth and its inhabitants, it’s all worth it.”

“We are elbow-deep in important work, and if this field is what matters to you and you know you can contribute to serving the earth and its inhabitants, it’s all worth it.” For future zoology students, she recommends being proactive about understanding the career paths available after graduation by considering the big picture. “Being aware of where you are now and planning out where you want to go can make all the difference.”