Billerica Public Library

Smitten by giraffe, my life as a citizen scientist, Anne Innis Dagg

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-217) and index

autobiography

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Smitten by giraffe

bibliography

945029789

Anne Innis Dagg

Footprints series, 22

my life as a citizen scientist

"When Anne Innis saw her first giraffe at the age of three, she was smitten. She knew she had to learn more about this marvelous animal. Twenty years later, now a trained zoologist, she set off alone to Africa to study the behavior of giraffe in the wild. Years later, Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey would be driven by a similar devotion to study the behavior of wild apes. In Smitten by Giraffe the noted feminist reflects on her scientific work as well as the leading role she has played in numerous activist campaigns. On returning home to Canada, Anne married physicist Ian Dagg, had three children, published a number of scientific papers, taught at several local universities, and in 1967 earned her PhD in biology at the University of Waterloo. Dagg was continually frustrated in her efforts to secure a position as a regular professor despite her many publications and very good teaching record. Finally she opted instead to pursue her research as an independent "citizen scientist, " while working part time as an academic advisor. Dagg would spend many years fighting against the marginalization of women in the arts and sciences."--, Provided by publisher"Boldly documenting widespread sexism in Canadian universities while also discussing Dagg's involvement with important zoological topics such as homosexuality, infanticide, sociobiology, and taxonomy, Smitten by Giraffe offers an inside perspective on the workings of scientific research and debate, the history of Canadian academia, and the rise of second-wave feminism."--, Provided by publisher

Family life -- Giraffe research in Africa -- Research, first teaching, and earning a PhD -- Being a professor: teaching and research -- Completing research on animal gaits -- First scientific book on giraffe! -- Environmental efforts, 1972-1988 -- A potpourri of interests, 1972-1980 -- A sexist university: how bad was it? Awful! -- Social activism: working for equality for women in the arts -- Follow-up: homosexuality, taxonomy, and mammalogists -- Women and science at Canadian universities -- Follow-up: university life, sociobiology, infanticide, and rape -- Focusing again on animals -- Return to giraffe -- Conclusion