Dr. Dan Baldassarre is an ornithologist and an academic at the State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego, where he delves into the fascinating world of northern cardinals and their interaction with urbanization. His research spans behavioral changes due to urban settings and avian plumage color variation using reflectance spectrometry. Under his guidance, SUNY Oswego undergraduates lead field and lab work, contributing significantly to the ornithological field. Notably, Dr. Baldassarre and his students operate the Rice Creek Bird Observatory banding station. With a PhD from Cornell University and experience in various parts of the world, he brings an international perspective to his field of expertise.

Dr. Anastasia Shavrova is a sexual conflict researcher with a focus on extreme mating behaviors in the animal kingdom. She has a keen interest in exploring the evolutionary reasons behind mating strategies and the resulting conflicts between sexes within different species. Dr. Shavrova has delved deep into the world of arachnids, studying their complex mating rituals, and has contributed significantly to our understanding of sexual cannibalism and its implications on evolutionary biology. She also brings humor to the scientific conversation and engages audiences with her expertise in a relatable manner.