Dragonfly Visiting Assistant Professor Michelle Szydlowski Ph.D, Department of Biology, was recently published in the book, Emerging Voices for Animals in Tourism and in The Conversation, an online resource of a nonprofit, independent news organization dedicated to providing news straight from scientists and scholars themselves.

Her eye-opening article on elephant tourism sheds light on an industry that is putting a huge strain on ecosystems. She also shares insights on how to be an ethical tourist. "Wildlife tourism – which involves viewing wildlife such as primates or birds in conservation areas, feeding or touching captive or “rehabilitated” wildlife in facilities, and bathing or riding animals like elephants – is tricky business," she writes. "I know this because I am a researcher studying human relationships with elephants in both tourism and conservation settings within Southeast Asia."