Deja is an urban ecologist, science communicator and birder who grew up on the southeast side of Chicago. Join us (via Zoom) on a walk through her conservation journey, and learn how she discovered her passion for birds on her path to becoming an urban bird ecologist. 

Bio: Deja Perkins is an emerging expert on urban ecology and environmental justice. Her research focuses on the intersections of urban ecology and environmental justice, with emphasis on looking at how bird habitat is influenced by human culture and historical socioeconomic structures. An alumna of both Tuskegee University and North Carolina State University, she has expertise in community science, climate change, birds and socioecological structures in urban environments.

Deja is one of the co-organizers of the #BlackBirdersWeek social media movement and currently the President of BlackAFinSTEM, the membership organization that organized Black Birders Week.  She has been featured in the Scientific American, Science News, Discover Magazine, Wttw Chicago and the Ologies podcast. Her groundbreaking work as a researcher, science communicator and activist has equipped her to become one of the leading young voices on matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the environmental space, as well as nature in your backyard, and academic and career development for youth and young adults.

Registration required - see the link above.