In late February 2023, the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center welcomed Allison (Ally) Scott to our team as a Deputy Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison. Ally is based at the College of Menominee Nation’s Sustainable Development Institute and works to facilitate stronger relationships between Tribes, climate researchers, state and federal organizations, academic institutions, and the MW CASC.
Ally grew up in Virginia with a love for the outdoors and animal trivia. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation with a minor in Environmental Policy & Planning from Virginia Tech and a master’s in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Before coming to the MW CASC, Ally worked on a variety of wildlife research projects involving amphibians, bats, songbirds, mammal carnivores, and small mammals. She also worked as a wildlife policy intern and as a social scientist. “I love learning about diverse taxa and ecosystems, but I am most compelled by the place-based connections that human communities have to them,” Ally said. “Climate change is one of the biggest threats to these connections. In my master's work supported by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, I learned about culturally important snow-adapted species, like American martens, that are vanishing from their traditional territories, in part due to climate change. As the new Deputy Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison, I am excited to work at the intersection of science and human communities in support of climate change adaptation.”
Through previous work with Tribal entities, she realized the limitations of her own perspective and the shortcomings of the research profession in serving diverse human communities, especially Tribes. “My formal training as a western-educated scientist was incomplete, because it did not acknowledge other systems of knowledge that contribute to understanding relationships between people and the environment.” She hopes to help other western-educated scientists appreciate the importance of different knowledge systems and become aware of opportunities and appropriate ways to effectively collaborate with Tribal entities for shared goals.
Looking ahead to her first year, Ally’s priority is to build relationships with the MW CASC’s Tribal partners. “Meeting our Tribal partners and learning more about their perspectives, priorities, and goals will be an important foundation for building thoughtful and effective collaboration.”
Ally lives in Madison, WI, with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband Caleb. They have a dog, Django, and a cat, Conan, who are best friends. Outside of work, she enjoys playing music and hiking. She also loves board games, movies, and baked goods.