Unearthing identity: The pitfalls of a queer scientist

Preliminary results of a novel systematic survey method for subterranean ants are presented, acquired from a premiere study of the subterranean arthropod fauna of Stebbins Cold Canyon, a site belonging to the Natural Reserve System (NRS) and located in the inner Coast Ranges of northern California. This study is novel in that few subterranean ant surveys have been conducted in the Nearctic region, and none have been produced using California's valuable NRS, in the globally recognized biodiversity hotspot that is the California Floristic Province. I also relate my personal experiences as a queer scientist, emphasizing the importance of speaking up despite adversity, and finding solidarity in the entomology community. In today's society equal opportunities for academic pursuits are not always given, even in institutions touting diversity and inclusivity. I provide my story to push back against this inequity, working to increase queer visibility in the sciences.