I'm doing a report on Dr. Dagmar Werner, I need help.?

Question

She is a really cool zoologist who is down in South America breeding Iguanas so the local populations that eat them can continue to eat them without devastating their wild population. She is also trying to get farmers to switch to raising Iguanas so they have an incentive to try and keep the edges of the rainforest intact.
Here's the part I'm having trouble with; she is "new enough" to not have any official biographical information online-I have no idea what her birthdate is or where she grew up, etc. I have her contact information, but I am really nervous to contact such an accomplished scientist because I, an aspiring zoologist myself, don't want to sound like a weirdo randomly asking for her birthday.

Answer 1

I think you could contact her without sounding 'weird'. As long as you explain to her what it is you would like to know, and why you need this information.
After all, she is trying to educate people and you are a way for her to do this. If she is one of the 'newer' names in her field, then I think she may welcome having a platform to become better known.
Has she written any books or articles? That may be another indirect method of contacting her, you might not hear back from her personally, but the information could be sent via a press office.
I think as long as you aren't asking her for her bank details or her address, she will probably be very flattered to know she has a fan and that her work is being noticed :)