Five Interfaces of Global Change (IGC) fellows, Courtney, Kesevan, Sophia S., Sophia V., and I, met with Valentina Gómez-Bahamón on March 18 for an IGC Coffee Conversation, an informal gathering designed to connect IGC students with faculty affiliated with the Global Change Center (GCC) at Virginia Tech. Dr. Gómez-Bahamón studies birds to answer big questions about how life on Earth responds to environmental change. Her research explores why some bird species migrate thousands of miles each year while others remain in the same place, and what happens when these long-standing patterns begin to shift. By combining hands-on fieldwork in South America with genetic and ecological analyses, her lab investigates how behavior influences evolution and shapes a species’ chances of survival in a rapidly changing world. As climate change and habitat loss continue to reshape ecosystems, her work helps identify which species may be most vulnerable and which may be capable of adapting.

If you are a GCC Faculty member and interested in participating in an upcoming IGCoffee Convo, please contact IGC GSO Professional Development Committee Chairs Ying-Xian Goh and Mary Adebote. Fellows should keep an eye on their email inboxes for opportunities to join in on future IGCoffee Convo meetings!

Our conversation extended to SELVA, a nonprofit organization where Dr. Gómez-Bahamón contributes to research and conservation efforts. We learned how findings from SELVA projects help inform conservation strategies and policymaking by translating scientific knowledge into actionable solutions for biodiversity protection. SELVA’s work focuses on generating science-based knowledge that supports both conservation and human well-being across the Neotropics. She also shared an inspiring outreach initiative called The Migratory Truck, an annual collaboration with local leaders and SELVA researchers. The program brings science and culture together through experiential activities, including movement workshops and traditional joropo flatland music from Venezuela and Colombia, fostering appreciation for local bird diversity while strengthening community connections to conservation.

Beyond research, we discussed her career journey and sought her advice on navigating and establishing a path in academia. Hearing candid reflections about the challenges, uncertainties, and personal decisions behind an academic career offered insights that students rarely get to experience in formal settings. The conversation was both insightful and refreshing. Listening to faculty share the “behind-the-scenes” stories of how they built their careers broadened our perspectives and reminded us that scientific paths are rarely linear.

IGC Coffee Conversations continue to create valuable spaces for mentorship, curiosity, and connection. Current IGC fellows are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and sign up through this link for the next Coffee Conversation!

This article was written by Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. student Ying-Xian Goh, IGC Fellow and GSO Professional Development Co-Chair.

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