Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature

2024 Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal Winner - LGBTQ+ Non-Fiction
2023 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist in LGBTQ+ Adult Nonfiction

"We're starting to see...diverse voices on the shelf, a wider variety of experiences on the page, and many different reasons for getting outside. -- Jaime Herndon, Book Riot

Encompassing identity, inspiration, ancestry, and stewardship, the essays and poems by leading Black women and nonbinary scientists in Been Outside explore how experiences in the natural world and life sciences shape the self. These writers and researchers contemplate the moments that sparked their love of nature, as well as the ways time in the field and outdoor adventures have enhanced or expanded their perspectives about what is possible.

What does it mean to be a Black woman or nonbinary scientist studying the natural world? Camille Mosley considers how the rich fishing tradition of Black Americans relates to their career in freshwater ecology, Sharon Dorsey reflects on her reaction to finally meeting a wildlife professional who looks like her, and Tanisha Williams shares her powerful emotional journey of returning to South Africa to study plants. Edited by Amber Wendler and Shaz Zamore, these stories from twenty-two writers showcase the challenges and joys of carving out your own path through the natural world--and will inspire anyone seeking to craft their own outdoor life. In this way, Been Outside promotes collective action toward an outdoor community that welcomes everyone.

Author: Shaz Zamore
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
Published: 09/11/2023
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 7.90h x 6.00w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781680515923


Award: Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards - Honorable Mention

About the Author
Zamore, Shaz: - Dr. Shaz Zamore is a teaching assistant professor and STEAM coordinator at Colorado University-Boulder. They apply their background in neuroscience and STEAM communication to their company, Craniate, which makes culturally responsive neuroscience comics and experiment kits for marginalized learners. Zamore is a seasoned snowboarder, runner, and fire performer. Visit them online at curiousdrz.com.Wendler, Amber: - Amber Wendler is a PhD candidate in biological sciences at Virginia Tech and earned a BA in biology from Boston University. She has studied organisms ranging from birds to fishes to plants in Latin America and across the US. Wendler is passionate about making STEM and the outdoors more inclusive. Visit her online at amberwendler.com.