Content uploaded by Alexios-Fotios A. Mentis
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Alexios-Fotios A. Mentis on Jun 04, 2022
Content may be subject to copyright.
14 FEBRUARY 2020 • VOL 367 ISSUE 6479 749SCIENCE sciencemag.org
PHOTO: AUSTIN GALLAGHER
contributing millions of dollars to local
economies through dive ecotourism (9).
The Greater Caribbean region relies
on healthy oceans to drive tourism and
sustain livelihoods. These developing
nations are poised to face mounting pres-
sures for access to fisheries in return for
development, as well as the increasing
impacts of habitat degradation and climate
change. MPA creation and enforcement
are admittedly complex; however, to arrest
the decline of threatened species in the
region, establishing large-scale MPAs in the
Greater Caribbean is both an opportunity
and a necessity.
Austin J. Gallagher1*, Diva J. Amon2,3, Tadzio
Bervoets4, Oliver N. Shipley5, Neil Hammerschlag6,
David W. Sims7,8
1Beneath the Waves, Herndon, VA 20172, USA.
2Department of Life Sciences, Natural History
Museum, London, UK. 3SpeSeas, Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago. 4Dutch Caribbean Nature
Alliance, Kralendijk, Bonaire. 5School of Marine and
Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University,
Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. 6Rosenstiel School
of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of
Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA. 7Marine Biological
Association of the UK, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
8University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14
3ZH, UK.
*Corresponding author.
Email: austin@beneaththewaves.org
REFERENCES AND NOTES
1. D. Juffe-Bignoli et al., “Protected planet report 2014”
(UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK, 2014).
2. N. Qu eiroz et al., Nature 572, 461 (2019).
3. C. M. Ro berts et al., Science 295, 1280 (2002).
4. C. Smyth, Q. A. Hanich, “Large scale marine protected
areas: Current status and consideration of socio-eco-
nomic dimensions” (Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington,
DC, 201 9).
5. G. Bustamante et al., Aquat. Conserv. Mar. Fresh.
Ecosyst. 24, 153 (2014).
6. A. P. Guarderas, S. D. Hacker, J. Lubchenco, Conserv. Biol.
22, 1630 (2008).
7. C. A. Ward-Pa ige et al. , PLOS One 8, e11968 (2010).
8. F. Ferretti, R . A. Myers, F. Sere na, H. K. Lo tze, Conserv.
Biol. 22, 952 (2008).
9. A. J. Gallagher, N. Hammerschlag, Curr. Issue. Tourism
14, 797 (2011).
10.1126/science.abb0650
The Caribbean needs big
marine protected areas
Large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs)
(>100,000 km2) seek to protect and connect
large pelagic ecosystems, enhance ecologi-
cal processes, and promote socioeconomic
benefits including sustainable fisheries (1).
One of their greatest benefits is the potential
to conserve highly migratory species such as
sharks, which can travel long distances span-
ning multiple national exclusive economic
zones (2). Despite a growing international
interest among many national govern-
ments, nongovernmental organizations,
and academic and philanthropic communi-
ties to create large-scale MPAs, the Greater
Caribbean, which contains the greatest
diversity of marine biota in the Atlantic
Ocean (3), has been grossly overlooked.
There are currently 33 large-scale MPAs,
but not one is in the Caribbean Sea (4).
Although there is a rich history of the estab-
lishment of MPAs in the Greater Caribbean
(5), the majority allow fishing (6) and do not
take into account the full representation of
ocean habitats and connectivity required
to encompass the space use of migratory
species. Large sharks are overfished in the
region; because they are caught locally
in high numbers, they are sparse across
most of the Greater Caribbean (7). [The
Mediterranean ocean basin, which is simi-
larly lacking in large-scale MPAs, provides
another glimpse of this trend—there, large
sharks have virtually disappeared due to
fishing pressure (8)]. Fortunately, in certain
countries where commercial longline fishing
has been banned (such as The Bahamas),
shark populations remain strong, thereby
Edited by Jennifer Sills
LETTERS
Imposter syndrome
threatens diversity
As higher education institutions adopt
admissions and hiring policies that promote
diversity and inclusion, they must also
implement policies to acknowledge and
combat the feelings of self-doubt known
as imposter syndrome. Those with impos-
ter syndrome have an innate fear of being
discovered as a fraud or non-deserving pro-
fessional, despite their demonstrated talent
and achievements (1). Imposter syndrome
has been found to be more prevalent in high
achievers (2, 3), women (3), and under-
represented racial, ethnic, and religious
minorities (4–7). If institutions and depart-
ments don’t take steps to allay these fears,
the science pipeline could suffer.
At an individual level, imposter syn-
drome can lead to psychological distress,
emotional suffering, and serious men-
tal health disorders, including chronic
dysphoric stress, anxiety, depression,
and drug abuse (8). In many cases, the
phenomenon manifests as early as high
school or college (9). Strikingly, in college
students belonging to racial minorities,
mental health problems have been better
predicted by imposter feelings than by
the stress associated with their minority
status (10). By constantly downplaying
their own accomplishments, those suffer-
ing from imposter syndrome may sabotage
their own career (4). At the societal level,
imposter syndrome may explain the higher
drop-out rates of women and minorities
from the science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics pipeline (3, 11).
To effectively increase diversity, institu-
tions must address imposter syndrome by
increasing the visibility of the problem,
Migratory species such as
tiger sharks benefit from large
marine protected areas.
Published by AAAS
on February 13, 2020 http://science.sciencemag.org/Downloaded from
providing access to mental health coaching,
and implementing supportive organi-
zational policies. Professors, principal
investigators, and peers should encourage
students and fellow scientists to focus on
factual evidence regarding their academic
performance and to set realistic expecta-
tions. Open discussions about imposter
syndrome at the institutional level should
put a name to these feelings and normal-
ize them as common experiences rather
than pathologizing them (3). Group peer
mentoring can allow mentees to gradu-
ally transition into mentors, building their
self-confidence as they become indepen-
dent scientists (12). Institutions should
provide training for mentors to help them
recognize the negative consequences of
the imposter syndrome. Finally, outreach
programs to high schools should make
students aware of imposter syndrome to
help them identify and overcome it as they
pursue their own education and careers.
George P. Chrousos1* and Alexios-Fotios Mentis2,3
1University Research Institute of Maternal and
Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO
Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and
Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia”
Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece. 2Public Health
Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens,
Greece. 3Laboratory of Microbiology, University
Hospital of Larissa, School of Medicine, University
of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
*Corresponding author.
Email: chrousge@med.uoa.gr
Fossil records show that the koala spe-
cies (Phascolarctos cinereus) is about 30
million years old (1). Koalas are robust—
the species has persisted in part because
it has evolved to metabolize and excrete
eucalyptus toxins (2). However, koalas
have undergone genetic bottlenecks and
drastic population declines due to hunt-
ing, car accidents, deforestation, climate
change, and diseases such as Chlamydia
and koala retroviruses. These threats have
caused direct mortalities, reduced the
koalas’ reproductive capacity, and limited
population distribution (3–5). A 2018 study
estimated that the koala population might
be as low as 43,000 individuals (6).
Despite the koala’s historic resilience,
recent Australia wildfires have put them in
grave danger. Since September 2019, nearly
1 billion animals have died in the fires,
including at least 25,000 koalas (7). In the
New South Wales region alone, 30% of the
koala population has likely been killed (8).
The koala’s habitat is now even smaller
and more fragmented than before. In the
face of these setbacks, koalas could soon
become functionally extinct (9).
To help the koala population, the current
IUCN listing of koalas as Vulnerable should
be immediately upgraded to Critically
Endangered. In addition, Australia should
increase forestation in the key habitat areas.
This will not only help the koalas but also
reduce the carbon footprint and climate
change currently threatening so many other
species and the region overall (10).
Su Shiung Lam1, Courtney Waugh2, Wanxi Peng3,
Christian Sonne4,3*
1Henan Agricultural University at Zhengzhou,
China, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu at
Terengganu, Malaysia. 2University of Queensland
at Brisbane, QLD, Australia and Nord University
at Steinkjer, Norway. 3Forestry College of Henan
Agricultural University at Zhengzhou, China.
4Aarhus University at Roskilde, Denmark.
*Corresponding author. Email: cs@bios.au.dk
REFERENCES AND NOTES
1. K. H. Bl ack et al., Gondwana Res. 25, 1193 (2014).
2. B. D. Moo re, W. J. Foley, Nature 435, 488 (2005).
3. S. Farzin et al., Ecography 42, 1587 (20 19).
4. V. Gonzalez-Astudillo et al., Sci. Rep. 9, 17494 (2019).
5. B. S. La w et al ., PLOS One 13, e0205075 (2018).
6. Australian Koala Foundation, “The koala—Endangered
or not?” (2020); www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/
koala-endangered-or-not.
7. G. Readfearn, “Kangaroo Island bushfires: Grave
fears for unique wildlife after estimated 25,000
koalas killed,” The Guardian (2020); www.the-
guardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/07/
kangaroo-island-bushfires-grave-fears-for-unique-
wildlife-after-estimated-25000-koalas-killed.
8. E. Newburger, “Australia fires kill half a billion
animals as crisis mounts,” CNBC (2020); www.cnbc.
com/2020/01/03/australia-fires-nearly-half-a-billion-
animals-killed-as-crisis-mounts.html.
9. J. Davidson, “‘Functionally extinct’ koalas have now
lost 80% of habitat following recent fires, experts
say,” EcoWatch (2019); www.ecowatch.com/koalas-
functionally-extinct-fires-2641450078.html.
10. G . Popk in, Nature 565, 280 (2019).
10.1126/science.aba8372
NEXTGEN VOICES: SUBMIT NOW
Mentor a job seeker
Add your voice to Science! In this NextGen Voices survey, a reader asks for your
advice. Have you been in this situation or one like it? Do you have any tips that you would
like to share? Become a NextGen Voices peer mentor by contributing your thoughts.
Dear NextGen Voices peer mentors,
I am the first of my family to go to graduate school, and I’m about to defend my Ph.D.
It has been a really tough few years, but now I’ve completed all the requirements in
my program, published two papers, and coauthored several more. I was even given
an “outstanding student” grant to attend a conference this year! Even so, this all feels
quite average for a Ph.D. student, and I feel like I can attribute most of my achieve-
ments to luck. The support of my peers and adviser also helped me a lot. As I apply for
jobs, I can often think of a colleague who seems more qualified for the position than
I am. I fail to meet many of the requirements listed for jobs outside of academia, but
the jobs I do qualify for seem like they’re all for people with less education than I have.
Still, I don’t want to oversell myself in applications or interviews. How can I realistically
assess my own potential and avoid wasting time applying to jobs I could never get?
Sincerely,
Seeking Career Clarity
To submit, go to www.sciencemag.org/nextgen-voices
Deadline for submissions is 28 February. A selection of the best responses will be
published in the 3 April issue of Science. Submissions should be 150 words or less.
Anonymous submissions will not be considered.
750 14 FEBRUARY 2020 • VOL 367 ISSUE 6479 sciencemag.org SCIENCE
REFERENCES AND NOTES
1. P. R. Clance, S . A. Imes, Psychother. Theory Res. Pract. 15,
241 (197 8).
2. D. Dickerson, Nature 574, 5 88 (20 19).
3. M. Pri ce, Science 4, 10.1126/science.caredit.a1300188
(2013).
4. S. Mullangi, R. Jagsi, JAMA 322, 403 (2 019).
5. A. Parkman, J. High. Educ. Theory Pract. 16, 51 (2016).
6. A. M. Holliday et al., J. Gen. Intern. Med. 10.1007/s11606-
019-05441-5 (2019).
7. K. Cokley et al., J. Counsel. Psych. 64, 141 (2017).
8. C. Sonnak, T. Towell, Person. Indiv. Diff. 31, 863 (2001).
9. D. M. Brava ta et al., J. Gen. Intern. Med. 10.1007/s11606-
019-05364-1 (2019).
10. K. Cokley et al., J. Multicult. Counsel. Dev. 41, 82 (2013).
11. S.-A. A. Allen-Ramdial, A. G. Campbell, BioScience 64,
612 (2014).
12. M. C. Horner-Devine, T. Gonsalves, C. Margherio, S. J.
Mizumori, J. W. Yen, Science 362, 532 (2018).
10.1126/science.aba8039
Wildfire puts koalas at
risk of extinction
In his In Depth News story “Australia’s
vulnerable species hit hard by fires” (20
December, p. 1427), J. Pickrell discusses
the plight of some of the plant and animal
species hit hardest by the wildfires in
Australia. Although perhaps not in as
imminent danger as the species he high-
lights, Australia’s koala population has also
been put in a precarious position by the
fires. As scientists work to assess the dam-
age, they should not overlook the koala.
INSIGHTS |
LETTERS
Published by AAAS
on February 13, 2020 http://science.sciencemag.org/Downloaded from
Imposter syndrome threatens diversity
George P. Chrousos and Alexios-Fotios Mentis
DOI: 10.1126/science.aba8039
(6479), 749-750.367Science
ARTICLE TOOLS http://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6479/749.2
CONTENT
RELATED http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/367/6479/750.1.full
REFERENCES http://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6479/749.2#BIBL
This article cites 9 articles, 1 of which you can access for free
PERMISSIONS http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions
Terms of ServiceUse of this article is subject to the
is a registered trademark of AAAS.ScienceScience, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005. The title
(print ISSN 0036-8075; online ISSN 1095-9203) is published by the American Association for the Advancement ofScience
Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works
Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of
on February 13, 2020 http://science.sciencemag.org/Downloaded from