Sean Vidal Edgerton, M.Sc. (he/him/his)
- Ph.D. Student (One Health & Evolutionary Virology)
Department of Zoology,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus
- Scientific & Biological Illustrator
- Co-Founder of 500 Queer Scientists (et. 2018)

Mission
As The Pen and the Pangolin, I am inspired by the natural world. I work globally to create scientific and biological illustrations in order to make science and the outdoors not only accessible, but relatable for you, your classroom, research, institution, or organization - no matter your field of study. 
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Vision
As a scientist, artist, and educator, my goals focus on conserving our planet's diverse inhabitants, identifying threats to biodiversity, and collaborative efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict for peaceful - and sustainable - coexistence .

Image: Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) illustration with rainbow watercolor background. Created in 2016. 
© Sean Vidal Edgerton / The Pen And The Pangolin, LLC 2022. All rights reserved.

​the Purpose
​
Sean Vidal Edgerton is a gay- and queer-identifying science illustrator, scientist, and educator that has dedicated his studies to natural history, biodiversity, conservation, and visual communication. As a professional Science Illustrator for over 10 years, Sean's work under the Pen & the Pangolin is driven by his innate passion to blend the worlds of art and science. Sean creates art in the service of science and for the purpose of awareness, inclusivity, and education.

the Practice

After studying both Plant Sciences and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, Sean completed the graduate program in Science Illustration at CSU Monterey Bay. Since then he has worked as a Wildlife illustrator in Madagascar, entomological Illustrator at the Smithsonian, art instructor at Filoli Historic Gardens and with the National Park Service.  Alongside The Pen and The Pangolin, Sean works as a Scientific Illustrator, Evolutionary Virologist, and Marine Mammal Necropsy Assistant at the California Academy of Sciences.

the Pangolin

There are eight extant (living) pangolin species, all taxonomically grouped within a single recognized family, Manidae. All eight species live within two continents: four in Africa, and four in Asia. Every pangolin species is listed as threatened to critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Pangolins are used for bushmeat, in traditional medicine to falsely "cure" diseases, and are the most illegally trafficked mammal. Consequently, their populations have declined substantially in the past few decades. Fortunately, international conservation efforts have increased dramatically over the years to raise awareness and protect all eight species from extinction.

​

Art Residencies
2021: Glacier National Park. In collaboration with Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Canada. UNESCO World Heritage Site. (TBA) 

2021: Yosemite National Park. Course: Nature Drawing with Watercolor. Volunteer Art Instructor at Happy Isles Nature Center. (April).
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2020: PLAYA. Art & Science Residency. "Art for Activism" Cohort. Summer Lake, Oregon. (March)

2019: Yosemite National Park. Course: Watercolor Observations. Volunteer Art Instructor at Happy Isles Nature Center (Sept.)

2019: Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake Science & Learning Center and the Friends of Crater Lake National Park. (May)

2019: Yosemite National Park. Course: Nature Sketching Made Easy. Volunteer Art Instructor at Happy Isles Nature Center. (April)

2018: Yosemite National Park. Course: Nature Sketching Made Easy.Volunteer Art Instructor at Happy Isles Nature Center. (Oct.)

2017: Yosemite National Park. Course: Scientific Illustration & Observation. Volunteer Art Instructor at Happy Isles Nature Center. (Oct.)

2011: Entomology Department, National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C.

2011: Centre ValBio. Ranomafana National Park. Madagascar National Parks Association. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. 

Exhibits
2020: RAW: Premiere. RAW Natural Born Artists, 1015 Folsom, San Francisco, CA. (Jan.)

2019: Save Pangolins. Wildlife Conservation Fall Expo, San Francisco, CA. (Oct.)

2019: Art-On-The-Rim. Community Center. Crater Lake National Park, OR. (July)

2019: Green. Yoga Garden SF, San Francisco, CA. (April-June) (solo)

2018: The Art Rangers. Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA. (June)

2017: Save Pangolins. Wildlife Conservation Network Fall Expo. San Francisco, CA. (Oct.) (solo)

2015: 46th Annual Fungus Fair. Mycological Society of San Francisco. County Fair Building, San Francisco, CA. (Dec.)
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2011: Illustrating Nature. Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove, CA. (May)

Courses & Workshops
2021: "Watercolor Observations" course in Yosemite National Park. Hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy and Happy Isles Nature Center (April)

2020: “Botanical Art: Introduction to Graphite” 2.5-day workshop. Lecturer at Filoli Gardens. (Postponed)

2019: “Introduction to Botanical Illustration” 2-day workshop. Lecturer at Filoli Gardens. (Oct.)

2019: "Watercolor Observations" course in Yosemite National Park. Hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy and Happy Isles Nature Center (Sept.)

2019: “Of Whales, Flora, and Viruses: Exploring Nature Through Observation, Creativity, and Art” Invited Lecturer for La Canada Community College (Sept.)

2019: “Exploring Nature With Art” course in Crater Lake National Park. Hosted by Steel Valley Art & Nature Center. (May)

2019: “Nature Illustration & Observation Made Easy” courses in Yosemite National Park. Hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy and Happy Isles Nature Center. (April)

2018: “Nature Illustration & Observation Made Easy” courses in Yosemite National Park. Hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy and Happy Isles Nature Center. (Oct.)

2018: “Science Illustration & Field Sketching” 2 adult, drink + draw workshops at the Montana Museum of Natural History. (Sept.)

2018: “Science Illustration, Design, & Field Sketching” workshop for the Integrated Biology Department at the University of Montana. (Sept.)

2018: “Field Sketching Techniques” workshop for the Society of Conservation Biologists at the University of California Berkeley. (March)

2017: “Science Illustration & Field Sketching” courses in Yosemite National Park. Hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy and Happy Isles Nature Center. (Sept.)

2017: “Pathways to Careers Fair” talk and outreach workshop. John Muir National Historic Site. Martinez, CA (March).

2016: Bay Area Science Festival Drink & Draw. Instructor with UCSF Human Anatomy & Cadaver Lab. Hosted by the Hotel Majestic in San Francisco. (Oct.)

2016: “Botanical Forensics: the Role of Scientific Illustration in Reconstructing Museum Specimens” Invited Speaker at Filoli Gardens for the Northern California Society for Botanical Artists (NCALSBA). (Oct.)

2015: “Exploring Careers in Biology” invited panelist. National Biological Honor Society of University of San Francisco. (Nov.)

Education​
2021 - Present: Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, Ph.D. Student. University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus.

2017: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, M.Sc. San Francisco State University and the California Academy of Sciences.

2011: Scientific Illustration, Graduate Certificate. California State University Monterey Bay.

2010: Plant Sciences, B.Sc. University of California Santa Cruz.

2010: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. B.Sc. University of California Santa Cruz.

Fall 2008: Tropical Biodiversity & Conservation Immersion Program. Monteverde Institute of Costa Rica and the University of California Santa Cruz.

Featured Profiles​
Microbiology Department. California Academy of Sciences. 

500 Queer Scientists

​Author Biography for Inside of A Dog. Simon & Schuster.

Graduate Gallery Portfolio. Science Illustration Program. California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB).

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