Help Rachel safely work in the zoo industry again

I specialize in researching, fact-checking, and teaching people about the zoological industry - you might know my work from the blog Why Animals Do the Thing, interviews on the Zoo Logic podcast, presentations at industry meetings, or from my journal article and white papers. But with the end of Covid precautions, I can no longer safely engage in the conferences and meetings that are crucial to informing what I do. I'm one of those folk who is super high-risk for bad complications, and for the past three years, I've had to choose between my health and doing what I love. For my 30th birthday, I'm asking for your help raising the funds to purchase a specialized set of PPE that will allow me to safely return to industry meetings and events.

The thing I want most to be able to do right now is attend the AZA and ZAA annual conferences this fall: I'm finishing up a couple major projects this year and dreaming of presenting on them at both. As a person with both a freelance career and a disability, though, I have to work extra hard to protect my health and my ability to work. Conferences - especially those with thousands of attendees like AZA annual - are pretty much the riskiest situations for me.

I'm hoping to purchase the kit pictured below. It's called a Cleanspace Halo, and it's PPE designed for protection in medical/biohazards situations. It has an integrated air filter and battery pack, meaning it would let me carry around my own little HEPA-filtered, positive-pressure air bubble. Sort of like a scuba kit, but electric! It's the sort of thing some physicians are wearing in the ER when dealing directly with covid-positive patients - I'm confident it will protect me far better than an N95 respirator during big, crowded meetings.

I'm asking for help because all the research and writing I do about the zoo industry and exotic animals in human care is unpaid. Aside from a small amount of support on Patreon, I don't make money from anything I do! It's a labor of love. But it also means I need help if I want to be able to keep on being heavily involved in the field - I have to be an active part of the zoo world to do my work.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will support getting a Cleanspace Halo kit to use at conferences this fall. $1315 will cover the cost of the mask, filter, and battery pack, as well as all other necessary accessories and shipping.

I can't thank you enough for any support you can throw my way, even if it's just a couple of dollars.