Wyatt Million
Wyatt has a PhD in biology and his current work focuses on the ecology and physiology of tropical coral reefs under warming oceans. This type of work has built skills in data collection and analysis as well as science communication and mentoring.
Two defining experiences growing up have directly contributed to my current trajectory in life. First, a viewing of the Baltimore Aquarium's dolphin show planted the idea being a marine biologist and now I have successfully followed through with my "what I wanted to be when I grew up" plan. Second, my family vacations to the Addirondack mountains as a child instilled a passion for nature, the things inhabiting it, and the ways in which we move through it. These things, together with experiences from a lifetime of athletics, a long academic career, and the people I have met along the way, have guided me toward becoming the marine biologist and ultra mountain athlete that I am today. Specifically, I have a PhD in biology and my current work focuses on the ecology and physiology of tropical coral reefs under warming oceans. This type of work has built skills in data collection and analysis as well as science communication and mentoring. My job has taken me to so many cool places where I get to scuba dive on beautiful reefs, help replant coral to restore degraded reefs, and experiment with future ocean conditions in an aquarium in the center of Germany! Similarly, my running has allowed me to explore new places and further connect with the natural environment. I am a competitive ultra marathon runner and have run (and won!) races from 10 to 100 miles. I particularly enjoying spend long days in the high mountains doing and seeing things that are only accessible by foot.
While on the surface, running and coral biology aren't too connected, I find lots of overlap between my two passions. For example, the project management skills I develop during my PhD help build an execute ultra marathon race plans. Similarly, the most fulfilling thing I find about my job and about running is the chance to mentor. I love sharing my knowledge with the next generation, whether that is teaching a new student how to extract DNA or showing a new runner a hidden single track that links up a new route for them. The fact that Footprints blends science and running and that this program provides an opportunity to mentor in that space, makes me so stoked to be writing this application!
