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What was a critical turning point for wildlife biologist Lucy Spelman? “Working with the gorillas taught me how readily our emotions, our sense of compassion, and our humanity influence conservation decisions. I finally understood that conservation is more than a science. I realized it was time to shift gears in my career and start teaching. I no longer wanted to work to save the last of a species or focus just on the science of veterinary medicine. I wanted to help inspire the next generation of conservationists.” From the National Geographic 2020 Almanac, out now.

Tomorrow in the PHOTOGRAPHY newsletter, Whitney Johnson, our director