I first met Dylan Feldmeier indirectly through his work as a chronicler of life at CT Alpha between 2016-2019. His iconic photo of Ed Kaplan pontificating at the podium now hangs at the SigEp house in honor of Ed’s devotion and contribution to our Fraternity. As I came to learn through the following interview, Ed was a mentor and friend to Dylan, and was one of the first people to congratulate Dylan upon his admission to Yale University’s Master’s program.
In Dylan’s words, “This is not just a picture of Ed pontificating. It is a picture of Ed being Ed, and this image is the exact summary of who Ed was to me and to many others.” He added, “Ed’s support and guidance meant the world to me and the rest of our brothers. His spirit certainly lives on in this photo.”
What follows is a fun and fascinating interview (lightly edited and reorganized to facilitate flow) with a bright young man already making his mark on this world. For a closer look at the true breadth and majesty of Dylan’s work, please visit his amazing website and story map.
BACKGROUND
Dylan – you epitomize the term “world traveler”. Let’s start with where you currently live.
I’m currently living in Oxford, CT, where I am staying before I start my next adventure this fall. Prior to this I was living in the Makgadikgadi Region of Botswana. I was there completing research for my master’s degree. My next move will be in September, when I’m headed to Oxford, England. This is where I will be pursuing my PhD. I guess you could say I’m doing the Oxford to Oxford switch (Laughter). I then expect my field work to take me to Uganda.
Is Oxford, CT, your hometown?
Yes. I grew up in Oxford, which is a small farming community located to the northwest of New Haven County. Being exposed to lots of farms and livestock at a young age is one reason why my research includes these animals.
When did your love of travel originate?
Well, I had family in Alaska, and in middle school my parents used to send me on the plane by myself to go visit. I also had some big trips during high school and knew back then that I wanted to see the world.
Describe a favorite memory growing up?
It was when I got my first real camera when I was 14. My parents gave me a Sony camera, and I’ve been a Sony user my whole life. Related to this was when I participated in a local photography contest. I submitted a picture of a gondola from my trip to Italy, and I won!
How have your loved ones influenced the young man you have become?
My parent’s support has continuously provided me with the confidence to push myself outside of my comfort zone. My father constantly encourages me to learn new skills and to “train the basics.” This has translated into the skillset I have today, and molded me into a valuable asset to my research teams.
My mother is incredibly diligent and meticulous. For example, she just recently received her BS in Nursing earning a 4.0 GPA. My family used to wonder where I got my smarts from – now they know (Laughter). She is my biggest fan, but also my biggest critic . . . in the best way possible. She has spent countless hours reviewing video footage and photographs with me, and even suggests edits in my writing. At times she is more aware of my capabilities than even myself, and consistently encourages me to challenge myself.
As many of my SigEp brothers will attest, my girlfriend Ella is the most incredibly supportive partner. She has shown me what it means to have a partner in life, especially at times when we are thousands of miles apart. I’ve been very fortunate to have her come and visit me in the field, our last adventure was a 25-day camping trip throughout Botswana searching for wildlife. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Quantitative Livestock Genetics, and we are incredibly supportive of each other’s careers as researchers.
ENROLLING AT UCONN
Before Oxford, before Botswana, and before Yale there was UConn. Tell me how you ended up in Storrs.
(LAUGHS) – I had big dreams to travel the world, and the idea of going to UConn was not part of my plan. I remember having a yelling match with my parents on Commitment Day . . . right in the middle of Fairfield Way. But it was the right thing to do because of the financials, so I begrudgingly enrolled.
You graduated with a dual degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as well as Molecular and Cell Biology? How did this all come about?
At the time I enrolled, I had no idea what I wanted to major in. So, when I filled out the on-line enrollment form, I clicked the boxed entitled “Undecided.” This put me into the ACES (Academic Center for Exploratory Students) program. The advice I received at that time was to take as many different classes as possible and try to figure things out.
Given my interests in photography, science and travel, I met Professors Morty Ortega, who is in the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment. He teaches an African Field Ecology class, which includes a trip to the Limpopo Province of South Africa. I told him I was good with the camera and could take pictures during the trip to help promote the program. He gave me my first big shot, and I went there twice as part of this program. While in Africa, I also interned as a field guide at the Honeyguide Ranger Camp in Mokopane, South Africa, where I learned wildlife tracking skills.
As a quick aside, I had a student tell me that the video I shot to promote the program inspired her to take Professor Ortega’s class. That is the best achievement I could ask for – and it has become my raison d’etre – telling stories through the visual arts that inspire people to act.
Not bad for a kid from Oxford who did not know what he wanted to major in at college! Any method to the madness?
Yes. I had the confidence to say I am good enough to do this, and this confidence was fostered by my SigEp brothers. They were always pushing me to work on my photography. They leaned into my art and pushed me to progress it.
UConn obviously has influenced your life. Looking back, can you describe how your experience at UConn has impacted your trajectory?
Going to UConn was the best decision I could have made. Not only did it afford me the opportunity to travel and become a global student, but it also offered me many doors to open and got me comfortable trying different things.
You mentioned that while you were at UConn you traveled twice to South Africa. These must have been incredible experiences. Tell me more.
Well, while I was there, I lived on the private game reserve called Entabeni, which in Zulu means “place in the mountains.” This was my first dive into field ecology. As part of the course, we learned how to track and monitor animal behavior, including populations of lions, rhinos, and wild dogs. It is very important to be respectful of these amazing creatures and to anticipate their behavior to ensure safety when studying them.
During this experience, my eyes were opened to the challenges of human-wildlife interactions. For example, we had to deal with a local lion that escaped from the reserve and killed livestock from a nearby farm. Naturally, the farmers reaction is to kill the lion.
Seeing both the problems and beauty within the worlds of wildlife and public health set my future course. These experiences reinforced my understanding of the delicate relationship between conservation and the perspectives of communities that live amongst wildlife. I’m now on a mission to tell stories through my camera and use science to both conserve wildlife and recognize communal livelihoods.
SIGEP EXPERIENCE
How did you first get involved with SigEp?
I rushed my first semester freshman year. I didn’t know anyone in the fraternity, so this was my first big step to put myself out there. I could tell during that first rush event that the brothers were intentional with their work and genuine with their friendships. This was a dynamic group in terms of interests, and I knew I could fit in.
Describe your experience in the Fraternity.
Well, from the time I was a new brother, I was encouraged to bring my camera and document events. Sharing images was a great way to build connections and it started to click (pardon the pun), because the guys realized there was something missing within the chapter. We needed someone to capture the memories and to catalogue our full library of events, and this was a natural fit for me.
Do you have any favorite pictures or memories of your time as a SigEp at UConn?
There are so many, but one that jumps to mind involves my friend and brother, Kyle Barker, who is an amazing guitarist/singer. On one particular night, I was taking pictures of him playing on stage at Huskies, and he was killing it. All the brothers were there. After the event I shared my photos with him, and he said he never had anyone take his picture playing before. It was a great moment, and something I knew I needed to keep doing.
You were at UConn from 2016 to 2019. This was an incredible time of growth and accomplishment for CT Alpha. Needless to say, you were surrounded by lots of over-achievers. Describe a key take-away from your experience as a SigEp during this time.
(Laughter) Hmmm. The overachiever comment makes me laugh. It was inspiring how motivating these guys were – the GPA, the Buc Cups, these accomplishments took a lot of work. I’m not content with the same wins – I’m looking for something impactful, and this brotherhood inspired me to work hard.
The support my brothers have given me is amazing. I don’t think they even know how important their support was on my work – they had more confidence in me at the time than I had in myself. And this is still happening today. I cherish this experience.
What advice would you give a SigEp undergrad?
When I first started at UConn, I was pretty focused on finding myself, and it wasn’t until my junior year that I really became involved with the fraternity. So, I recommend taking time to form memories with others and to know more about what your brothers are interested in.
For example, we started something called “Brother Talks” – loosely based on the famous TED Talks brand. It was about intentionally learning the stories of our brothers. It could look like anything – sharing anything about your personal life. It was an excellent way to get to know the guys.
I love that idea! Everyone has a story, but not everyone is willing to listen to it. Why do you think it is important to get to know someone else’s story?
It is how I form my best memories of people. If I can know them on a personal level – know their story – then I can establish a core memory of who they are. To really know someone, you have to drill down below the surface and be intentional. It is also how I approach photography. I have taken a lot of pictures of brothers, and I try to capture who they are – their face, their persona, their spirit.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tell me more about your desire to tell stories through your craft.
It has always been my goal to transport someone to a foreign world through my pictures. For example, when I was in South Africa, I wanted to share my experience with my friends back home. Most recently, I was very excited to have my first public gallery showing. It was about the people of Botswana and their relationship with wildlife.
What do you hope people captured from your show?
To help them better understand the people of Botswana and the conservation work on the ground. To see it from their perspective as part of their daily lives. In other words, to understand the scene within a scene.
How has your technique evolved over time?
I’ve become more intentional in the images I am capturing. I’ve moved away from the point and shoot mode to being more intentional with the shot. I have found myself getting more technical – lighting, editing, out of camera stuff. If I had to choose between black and white and color – I would choose black and white. It tells the story in a more subtle way with the shadows and lighting. It is more about the image instead of the color.
Any long-term goals in mind?
Yes. As part of my Ph.D. I intend to apply for a National Geographic Story Telling grant. It has been my dream to be a National Geographic Explorer.
RESEARCH
While at UConn, you spent time in three different labs studying such diverse things as cancer cell signaling pathways, human-wildlife conflict, and mapping insect populations and biodiversity trends. How did these experiences prepare you for the kind of work you now are focused on?
Broadly – they taught me to be inquisitive, to not be afraid to ask different questions – I’m comfortable studying socio-ecological interactions and systems – thinking about different interactions and how they affect something else. This all started for me in cell biology and cell chemistry. For example, if I cause some impact on one gene, then how will this impact other genes? The expression of a protein has a cause and an effect, so there are interrelationships between and among things both at the molecular level and at the landscape level.
Since graduating from UConn, you enrolled at Yale University. What did you major in there?
This spring I received my Masters in Environmental Science. It was a two-year program, and this was the first time I built my own independent research project. It was a non-traditional approach, which required me to learn how to design a project. I took classes in survey design, interviews, and participatory mapping. I learned how to blend qualitative and quantitative research methods to conduct holistic field research.
This approach took me to Botswana, which allowed me to really focus on my interaction with the farming community, and tapped into my love of wildlife ecology, science communications through my photography, and human interactions while being in the field. While the classroom is great, I don’t see a better way to learn than being in the field and experiencing my subjects firsthand.
While at Yale you ended up in an area of Botswana called Makgadikgadi. It sounds like an amazing place.
Yes, Botswana it is an incredible place. In fact, anthropologists, with help from geneticists, believe that this is the region where modern humans first evolved around 200,000 years ago. Arguably, it is the first place on the planet where humans and wildlife first interacted with each other.
And now you are heading to Oxford University. What will you be doing there?
I’m so excited! I have been awarded a full scholarship and research grant by the UK National Environmental Research Council, this is equivalent to our National Science Foundation and includes 20 students per year. I’ll continue my studies on the relationship between humans and carnivores, but from a different perspective. My lab has been awarded a $2M grant to conduct research in Uganda, where I will work on placing GPS tracking collars on large carnivores and look at movement in relation to human poaching pressures.
What are your goals of this research?
To take certain theoretical ideas from the field of ecology about human-wildlife conflict and test them in a natural environment that involves actual human interaction. What is novel about this research and where my background comes into play, is to incorporate human behavior as a variable into how these carnivores behave. For example, does the presence of poachers impact how wildlife behaves? This has not yet been incorporated in our current understanding, so I feel very fortunate to be doing this cutting-edge work.
Dylan, it has been such a pleasure speaking with you. I have really enjoyed learning more about you as a person, an artist, and a scientist. Thank you for your time and all you do, and best wishes on your next adventure!
(Laughing) Who knew that this adventure would begin as a 14-year-old kid with a Sony camera in my hand!