About Us

Our bat detector waiting for nightfall on the High Line, Fall 2025

Our Mission

Urban Bat Project NYC is a community science initiative dedicated to making bats and environmental science more accessible to the people of New York City. We have four main aims:

Help New Yorkers experience their local bats first hand
Create opportunities for community members to participate in bat research
Contribute to the scientific understanding of urban bat populations
Serve as a reliable, evidence-based information source to combat misconceptions and misinformation about bats

We offer bat walks and lectures throughout the summer, conduct research on bats in NYC's green spaces, and serve as a general resource for bat-curious New Yorkers.

Our People

Nic Comparato (they/them)

Founder & Principal Ecologist

Nic is a bat biologist and long-time New Yorker. They are currently a Ph.D. student at Rutgers University with the Aronson Lab for Urban Ecological Studies. As a bioacoustic specialist, Nic primarily studies the bats of NYC by recording their sonar. They began their career in science as a volunteer for NYC Audubon (now Bird Alliance) and started Urban Bat Project NYC as a way to offer similar opportunities for people interested in bats and science. Nic is also very active in New York City's science communication community. They co-host and produce a STEM-themed drag show, They Blinded Me With Science (with our outreach associate, Maude), and serve as a regular guest on shows like Facts Machine and Science Tonight.

Though they are actually a lifelong fan, Nic is non-binary and prefers not to be called Batman (thanks in advance and, if you're wondering, my favorite story lines are Sirens and Long Halloween).

Maude Addams (they/them)

Outreach Associate & Bat Impersonator

Maude is a busy producer and performer in New York City's drag scene as well as a general bat enthusiast. They are one half of the drag production team, Cringe Compilation, and co-host and produce They Blinded Me With Science with our founder, Nic. Maude regularly assists with bat walks and events and occasionally serves as our resident bat impersonator. Their favorite Pokemon are Muk and Garbodor.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

As an initiative founded and supported by gender non-conforming people, we are firmly committed to the ideals that science can be a powerful tool for equity, everyone deserves to see themselves represented in STEM, and STEM education events should be open and welcoming to all. We make an extended effort to ensure our events are as accessible as possible. If you have concerns, ideas, or general feedback regarding the accessibility of our science and events, we encourage you to share them via Instagram (@urbanbatsnyc)

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