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Ximena Bernal
Dr. Ximena E. Bernal is a Professor of Biology at Purdue University and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. She is also the Director of the Research Excellence, Access, and Learning (REAL) Scholars Program and co-leader of the Biodiversity Research Community at the Institute for a Sustainable Future at Purdue University. Dr. Bernal holds a master's degree in Behavior and Physiology from Los Andes University in Colombia, and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from The University of Texas at Austin. Her main area of expertise is animal communication, and her research focuses on understanding the ecology and evolution of eavesdropping behavior. By investigating sensory pollutants, her work also examines how humans impact animal communication networks. Dr. Bernal has published over 70 peer-reviewed studies and two book chapters and has been a guest speaker in several podcasts. She is also passionate about promoting equity and inclusion and has led the conversation about the role of machismo in excluding Latin-American women from science.About Key Conversations 
Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa is a podcast featuring in-depth conversations between Fred Lawrence, Secretary/CEO of Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholars. With a new episode released monthly, each podcast invites listeners to take a seat at the table to learn more about the featured Scholar's background, research, and how they have taken their respective paths to where they are now, and where they are headed.
Since 1956, the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Program has been offering undergraduates the opportunity to spend time with some of America's most distinguished scholars. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus by making possible an exchange of ideas between the Visiting Scholars and the resident faculty and students.
