Kayleigh Carrillo
Presentation Topic: Predator-Prey Interactions: Eat or Be Eaten
My name is Kayleigh Carrillo, and I am an Animal Science major, Entomology minor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Most of my childhood was spent being fascinated by the outdoors, and particularly anything that moved. I would run through woods, splash through the water, catching any little creatures I could find and caring for them as my own. That fascination never subsided, and this past summer I got the chance to work at the San Diego Zoo, and I absolutely loved it. What was once a childhood hobby is now a very graspable dream. I cared for creatures then, and I will work hard to continue to care for them in the future.
Elias Diakolios
Presentation Topic: Spider Diversity and Webs
Since I was a child, the world around me always seemed so wonderful and mysterious, so I’ve been staring at it ever since. I became a scientist to better my understanding and appreciation of all the things I’ve seen and dreamed about. In turn, I use all the fantastic things I’ve learned and studied as inspiration for writing and art. Hopefully one day, I’ll get the opportunity and stage to teach others to be curious, academic, and creative.
Iriel Edwards
Presentation Topic: Ant City: The Diversity of Ant Societies
My name is Iriel Edwards, I’m from West Monroe, Louisiana, and I study Environmental Science and Sustainability at Cornell. Currently, I work at the Lab of Ornithology with Project Feeder Watch where I analysis and confirm bird sightings from across the country. Studying birds is one of my favorite hobbies, but I also enjoy watching ant colonies and reading about their natural history and complex social structures. After school, I’m hoping to combine my passions for environmental research and outreach education to bring greater environmental awareness to public education, especially in the South.
Hannah Fuller
Presentation Topic: Seeds On The Move! Why and how plants disperse their seeds
Hello I’m Hannah! I’m a junior in Plant Sciences from Portland, Oregon! I’m really passionate about improving our food system and helping communities grow and improve their health through gardening. At Cornell I work in a lab that does research with how tree roots respond during draught, which I think is so cool and important! I love hiking, camping, dancing and growing vegetables but learning and teaching about plants is my favorite so ask me anything.
Emilie Gurnon
Presentation Topic: Tap for sap: The Sweet Science in Maple Syrup
Hi! My name is Emilie Gurnon, and I am a junior majoring in animal science, minoring in visual arts, and am an identical twin. I was born and raised in downtown Boston, so my introduction to backyard biology consisted of public parks and my rooftop garden. Even in the city I grew up with a menagerie of animals, including cats, dogs, mice, fish, and parrots. I have a passion for marine life, growing up visiting the New England Aquarium and volunteering at the National Marine Life Center. I have experience with exotic animals from volunteering at an animal rescue center in Costa Rica and experience with farm animals from working on an organic farm in Vermont. A future goal of mine is hopefully attending vet school.
Allison Killea
Presentation Topic: Invasive Plants: Mechanisms and Effects of Invasive Species
My name is Allison Killea, and I hail from north Florida. I was lucky enough to grow up with the St Johns River right in my backyard. Most of my time was spent mucking about and finding cool animals. Fast forward about a decade, and I am doing pretty much the same thing. I’m a senior majoring in Environment and Sustainability Science looking forward to a career in wildlife conservation and management.
Erin Krichilsky
Presentation Topic: Wasps: So Much More than Stings!
Greetings! I am a senior Entomology major. I transferred to Cornell from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in pursuit of all things insect. I have always been curious about nature and ways to conserve it. As a child growing up in the suburbs I would collect wounded insects from the sidewalks and bring them home to rehabilitate. My favorite insects are wasps and bees! At Cornell, I conduct research on solitary bees and curate wasps in the insect museum. To me, outreach is critical part of science, it is how we effectively communicate research to the public, and inspire the next generation of scientists. I hope to pursue a PhD in Entomology and to always be teaching others about the intricate and exciting world of insects.
Matthew Lin
Presentation Topic: How do birds defy gravity?: mechanics, habitat, and adaptations for flight!
Hello! My name is Matthew Lin, a junior biology major, and I attended Cayuga Heights Elementary, Boynton Middle School, and Ithaca High School, graduating in 2015. Having grown up in Ithaca, nature and sustainability have always been at the front of my mind. I remember being absolutely awed when “Finding Nemo” came out, and thoroughly exploring all the natural areas Ithaca offers while on the high school cross country team. As an undergraduate, I have experience volunteering at the Sciencenter, interning at the Cayuga Nature Center, and tutoring AVID students at Ithaca High School. In five years I hope to become a high school biology teacher, and inspire the next generation of scientists with all the living world has to offer.
Ami Mineta
Presentation Topic: Winter Adaptations: How Animals Adjust to Life in the Cold
Hi! I’m a junior studying Environmental and Sustainability Science with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology. Growing up in Westchester County, NY, I spent as much time as I could outside with my dog and my passion for nature has only intensified since. I’ve been fortunate to have had many inspiring educators throughout my life who have fueled my excitement for the natural world and stimulated my interest in education.This past summer I worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo, which gave me the opportunity to connect with others and get them excited about the animals and the conservation efforts to protect them. I hope to continue doing informal science education and outreach in the future, no matter where my career may take me!
Ceili Peng
Presentation Topic: Bats: Mammals in Flight, Masters of the Night
My name is Ceili and I am a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences studying Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. At school I am a member of the Herpetological Society and I am currently doing research on genes involved with butterfly wing pigmentation. I spent this past spring semester in Cuba, where I was taking classes at the University of Havana and working on a project studying the reproductive cycles of Anolis lizards. Despite my love of reptiles I’ve always had a passion for bats, and my favorite day trip in Cuba was when we got to climb through a cave that was absolutely full of them! In the future I hope to get my PhD in ecology or conservation biology and continue a career of research.
Caroline Pflueger
Presentation Topic: Hiding in plain sight: Camouflage and mimicry in insects
I am Caroline Pflueger, a senior in CALS Biological Sciences concentrating in insect biology. I have participated in an ongoing research project on ticks since I came to Cornell. I have been working with young kids starting in middle school and continuing through college as a tutor for math and science. I like to draw, paint and play piano, and I like being outside no matter how hot or cold it is.
Emma Kathryn Regnier
Presentation Topic: Let’s Talk Hawk! Get to Know Birds of Prey in Upstate NY
I’m a senior Concurrent Degree student majoring in Fine Arts and Environmental Science & Sustainability and I’m originally from Wilmette, IL. Engagement with the natural world is a fundamental part of who I am. I’m passionate about ecology and wildlife conservation, and my artwork most often features animals, especially endangered species. My current fascination with birds of prey comes from the 2+ years I’ve devoted to volunteering with the Cornell Raptor Program. This past summer, I was an intern for the CRP and was responsible for coordinating education outreach, feeding, training, and looking after our resident raptors.
Sarah Scott-Cruz
Presentation Topic: Forest Giants of the Adirondacks: Moose and their Ecosystem
Hi! I’m a junior animal science major and hope to be a veterinarian someday. I grew up outside Asheville, NC, a beautiful place in the mountains with lots of outdoor activities around. I’ve always had a passion for taking care of animals and being in nature and had many opportunities to do both from a young age. I spend a lot of time rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, climbing trees and just being outside! As a Doris Duke Scholar at Cornell, I had the opportunity to do field research this past summer in the Adirondacks. I hope to bring my enthusiasm for nature and animals to this course and show people how cool a backyard in upstate NY can really be!
Charlie Stone
Presentation Topic: Bioindicators: A Closer Look Into Aquatic Ecosystems
My name is Charlie Stone and I am a junior at Cornell University studying Animal Science and Entomology. Growing up on a farm in rural South Carolina sparked a intrinsic love for nature that has persisted into my college years. I have aspirations of becoming an exotic veterinarian and traveling to globe to educate people about conservation and animal care.
Doga Tekin
Presentation Topic: Mushrooms: Below and Beyond
Hello! I am a senior in College of Agricultural Life Sciences studying Linguistic Anthropology, Education, and Fungal Biology. Although my background is mostly in biology and environmental science, I recently started looking into symbioses between humans and non-human beings, how these relationships are reinforced through culture and language, and how they can be explored in the context of education. Fungi are the non-human beings whom I know best! As one of the presidents of Cornell’s mushroom club, I have taught and hosted multiple workshops on cultivation, foraging, and identification. Mycophobia (fear of mushrooms) is still pretty prevalent in the United States, and part of my mission is to help people get comfortable meeting fungal friends. My future plans are not very clear, but education will certainly be in the picture.
Anita Tendler
Presentation Topic: Backyard Bird Biodiversity
My name is Anita Tendler and I am currently working on my senior thesis at the Lab of Ornithology. I am working on a comparative analysis of urban and rural populations of house sparrows, specifically their blood mercury levels. Although these birds may be an invasive species, this analysis can demonstrate how the urban environment may impact other native bird species. I am interested in conservation and learning more about how we impact the wildlife around us.
Sam Willden
Presentation Topic: Beneficial Insects: BIG Jobs for Small Bugs
My love for arthropods began with my pet tarantula, Rosie. Interacting with her really changed how I viewed and felt about the “creepy crawlies” that once triggered fear, and ultimately disgust. Since then, I decided to follow my passion and pursue a career in entomology that focuses on the utilization of beneficial insects, and arachnids, to provide natural control of pests in agriculture. My PhD project at Cornell is centered on this philosophy by evaluating the efficacy of predatory mites to control two-spotted spider mites in strawberry, a high value crop in New York. In the future, I hope to obtain a faculty position in extension and outreach to share what I’ve learned in my career, but ultimately to convince others (especially those unwilling to house a furry, voracious predator) that those “creepy crawlies” in your yard aren’t so bad, and even play an integral role in everyday life.