Above is a photo of Áki Láruson working on a model of sympatric speciation (photo used with permission from Áki).  Áki is studying speciation and evolution in sea urchins, which includes diving, collecting, dissecting, microscope, and wet lab work; however, another part of what many of us do is to work with and try to better understand mathematical models of evolution.  It can get messy, and often takes a lot of patience and time to think through the process.  I have filled up many boards like this in the past (and Áki has another board full on the other side of the room out of camera view).  Often starting from something fairly simple you end up at a point that is very messy, but sometimes, just past that point, things start to work out and simplify, and you discover something new and insightful---or weird and interesting---or both.