I would admit that I am a relatively late-bloomer to the arena of scientific research. As a child, I looked at the outdoors with joy and curiosity, as a friend to be played with, swam through, wandered within, but not studied! It was enough for me to sit in the presence of the magnificent Sequoia of California without wondering about how these amazing creatures used hydrogen bonding to draw water to such heights. Then, in the fifth grade, that all changed with after a two week natural sciences course in the coastal range of California, where I learned the intricacies of the butterfly life-cycle, the incredible diversity of mushrooms, as well as a host of other amazing topics. After that, I was hooked on outdoor education! Then, over a period of years, it became increasingly apparent to me that our society was having significant detrimental impacts on our global ecosystem, from CFC's breaking down the ozone layer in the stratosphere, to nitrogen deposition acidifying great deciduous forests in the northeast, to deforestation in the tropics removing creatures not even discovered yet by mankind. Through my volunteering with many wonderful though often ineffective public interest groups, it also became clear that a love of nature was not enough to guarantee it's protection, and that we must understand the complex physical, biological, and chemical, interactions in ecosystems in order to be effective stewards. It was this journey that led me to the decision to study physics and environmental sciences as an undergraduate, and subsequently to hone my education by pursuing a Ph. D in ecology. It has been a wonderful journey thus far, bringing me to the tropical forests of Costa Rica, the artic tundra of Alaska, and now to the prairie grasslands of Minnesota. My research examines the impacts of nitrogen deposition from human activity on grasslands of Minnesota, focusing specifically on the complex biological and chemical changes that occur in the plant and microbial communities. This research will help us better differentiate the long versus short term impacts of nitrogen deposition, and determine the ecological mechanisms that may stimulate or inhibit recovery of degraded ecosystems. Though I still often find myself wandering in the woods without a care in the world, that calm is often framed with images of the complexities that roil beneath the surface of an otherwise peaceful scene.

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I have long had an interest in insects, the many-legged things that jumped about the grass, and rested so lightly on flowers. My interests quickly became focused on moths and butterflies, and these insects are the centerpiece of my research. I worked with butterfly populations for my Masters' research project on biodiversity indicators and became intrigued with insect diversity. The idea of reconstructing the family trees (phylogenies) of insects, and gaining insight into how species are related to each other fascinated me. My research at the University of Minnesota now focuses on tiger moths. Using both physical features and genes, I am building family trees for a group of Neotropical tiger-moths. I am interested in using these trees to examine the evolution of behavioral traits and physical characteristics such as color. My career goal is to conduct research and teach in a university setting. While research will be conducted mainly in the lab, I envision teaching in both the classroom and research lab. I have had the opportunity to work closely with undergraduate students as a teaching assistant and in my advisor's lab, on their research projects. I have found this interaction productive for all and intellectually satisfying personally. I hope to inspire students to careers in science and entomology!

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Science has interested me since elementary school, but my fascination with the natural world became focused on biology and plants during my undergraduate years at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In graduate school I became interested in environmental “maternal effects:” how aspects of a mother plant's environment influence her offspring. Maternal effects can influence seed traits that are commercially important in agricultural crops. Because crops germinate and mature seed across a wide range of plant densities; my research examines the role of maternal effects in crop plants across a range of competitive environments.
In addition to working on my research, I love being outdoors and teaching people about the world they see when they walk outside. To that end I have taught natural history of Northern Minnesota when working as a naturalist on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and I try to discuss local flora in my classes at University of Minnesota. I have also been able to combine my enthusiasm for the outdoors and teaching by leading trips for the Center of Outdoor Adventure (COA) at University of Minnesota. On COA trips I get to teach people the basics of camping, cross-country skiing, and kayaking, which are three of my favorite activities. I also enjoy backpacking and learning about the native wildflowers that I pass by when hiking.

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Jacob Egge is a South Dakota native with a lifelong interest in fishes. After graduating from Luther College in 2001 with a B.A. in Biology and History, he began work on his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. Jacob's current research involves the evolutionary biology of North American catfishes. He uses DNA sequences, skeletal material, and preserved specimens to answer questions about the processes of speciation and spine evolution within this group. Jacob also has a strong interest in teaching. He has experience as a teaching assistant for General Zoology, Ichthyology, and Evolution. Jacob has also taught a Field Zoology course at the Itasca Biological Station. He has performed research at a variety of institutions including the Ocean Research Institute in Tokyo, Japan and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Jacob also has field experience in southern Arizona, north-central Mexico, and across the southeastern U.S.

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Like many of the other fellows, I have determined that much of what makes a person a natural scientist is lots of exposure to the outdoors. I grew up primarily in Arizona, where I spent much of my time exploring the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and the beautiful ponderosa pine forests on the Colorado Plateau. On family vacations, I fell in love with the red rock deserts of northern Arizona and southern Utah, and the grandiose mountain ranges of the American West. However, I realize, now that I live in an upper Midwestern state, that I am truly a desert rat, which influences my research interests.
I like all aspects of the outdoors, from the plants and animals to the dirt and rocks to the chemical, water, and climatic cycles that we cannot directly see. As an undergraduate, I attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where I discovered that the major “natural history” disappeared in the 19th century. So, I compromised and majored in geology, with an emphasis in paleobiology, and biology, with emphases in evolution and ecology. I eventually found a field that combines all of these—paleolimnology, the study of old lakes. It is likely that I will continue research as a Ph.D student and beyond in paleolimnology.
As a master's student at the University of Minnesota, I am studying the biodiversity of a group of insects in relation to water chemistry in Mongolian lakes. The Valley of Lakes in western Mongolia is an arid, cold, high altitude region where the lakes range from freshwater to hypersaline conditions. This creates many varied habitats for these insects. I hope to discover whether or not the biodiversity and relative abundance of these highly diverse insects is dictated by water chemistry.
I believe this type of research is important for many reasons. Humans are using the lion's share of the world's readily available fresh water, and we insist on living with high population densities in areas where water is scarce. With global climate change and continued population increases, water pressure is likely to increase, especially in arid areas. We need to understand how these changes have and will affect the organisms and the environment they, and we, depend on, so we can plan and adjust our water use accordingly. The Valley of the Lakes region in Mongolia, in particular, is highly utilized by nomadic herdsmen, and is already under water pressure. It's a great place to start my studies of global climate change, arid lands, and water use.

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Although I didn't know it at the time, I have been interested in ecology—the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment—since I was young. Growing up in Emporia, Kansas the ponds and prairies of the Flint Hills provided me with my first lessons in biology. By hunting and fishing I indirectly learned about concepts such as populations, habitat, conservation, and diversity. As an undergraduate at the University of Kansas, my interests in ecology deepened as I pursued a B.S. in Environmental Studies. This area of study allowed me to see the linkages between society and ecology and the importance humans play in shaping our natural world and altering ecosystem processes. It was my interest in these topics that led me to study abroad in the Tropical Studies program in Golfito, Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica I not only developed a love of Latin American language and culture, but also had the opportunity to conduct independent research in ecology. My coursework and research on bats of the neo-tropics, marine ecology, and maritime anthropology was my first introduction to the study of field biology and laid the foundation for my career as a scientist.
As a graduate student, my research now focuses on how ecosystem processes such as the breakdown and cycling of carbon and nutrients is influenced by disturbance or changes in the environment. Carbon and nutrient cycling affects all organisms in an ecosystem, from the plants on up the food chain, and understanding what drives these processes is important for determining how ecosystems will respond to change. In addition to my research, I have maintained a commitment to teaching throughout graduate school. I have been a teaching assistant for several courses in biology and ecology, worked as a coordinator for a summer research program, volunteered teaching ESL to new immigrants, and most recently taught a course in ecology as a visiting professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.

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My love of animals and nature began as a child. I grew up on a small hobby farm where I cared for animals such as dogs, cats, horses, cows, ducks, geese, chickens. In addition, any injured wild bird or lost baby squirrel also received my care. I spent my free time outdoors, usually in the forest or pond down the road. I loved dissecting fish or other animals to learn about their anatomy and see what they had been eating!
In college, I began studying science more formally. Several disciplines, such as medicine, engineering, and computer science caught my eye. In the end, I graduated with degrees in Biology and Physiology and am now pursuing a master's in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior.
For my master's project, I am investigating the population genetic structure of European corn borers in Minnesota corn fields. I look at genetic data to determine the mating and movement patterns of the insects. This research has applications for developing strategies to delay corn borers' evolution of resistance to Bt corn, a genetically modified corn variety toxic to corn borers.
I will finish my master's in the summer of 2007 and begin a PhD or MD/PhD program in the fall of 2007. I plan to merge my interests in disease ecology, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology in my future studies.

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Kristen Poppleton's interest in the natural world was sparked from summers spent in the north woods of Minnesota. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 1996 with a BA in Biology and Hispanic Studies. After volunteering a year for AmeriCorps at a Wetlands Preserve in Portland, Oregon she returned to Minnesota to fulfill her dream of living in northern Minnesota. She worked as a naturalist in Ely, at Widjiwagan and then at the International Wolf Center while attaining a Med in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In 2000 she traveled to Argentina with her now husband, Matt to work at an environmental learning center. Kristen is now a PhD student in the conservation biology graduate program.She has had the opportunity to TA ES 1011, Issues in the Environment and co-instruct FW 1001, Wildlife: Ecology, Values and Human Impacts. Her research focuses on how climate change is being communicated by two different organizations and the role of these organizations as communicators between conservation biologists and policymakers. Her interests include plant identification, cross country skiing, hiking, canoeing and anything that involves being outside with her husband Matt, daughter Rachel, and dog Eddy.

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My passion for natural history and biology began while growing up in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, an oasis of protected land located in the heart of one of the most industrialized and polluted regions of the U.S. It was there that I explored sand dunes, splashed around in creeks, and searched for frogs, snakes, and bugs. Those experiences led me to pursue a degree in Biology at Northern Arizona University. While in Arizona I studied stream ecology and quickly became fascinated with the world of aquatic insects, and their role in aquatic ecosystems. I also had the opportunity to study tropical biology in Costa Rica, where I developed an interest in environmental issues in Latin America. Seeking adventure, I joined the Peace Corps and served as an environmental education volunteer in Bolivia for over 2 years. My projects included community development, teacher training in environmental ed., environmental health education, and the establishment of youth clubs.
As a graduate student, I have been able to fuse my love of aquatic insects with my interest in Latin American conservation issues. In many Neotropical regions, the vast majority of insect species remains undiscovered and unnamed. In fact, many species of insects may become extinct before they are even known to exist. My research is dedicated to the discovery, description, and classification of new species of a group of aquatic insects known as caddisflies. This species-level information provides the foundation for analytical research in many fields of science and is also necessary for monitoring and assessing land and water use, global climate change, and the economic value of natural resources. In addition to my research, I have been a teaching assistant in Entomology and have guest lectured in several courses. I have also continued work in environmental and science education through various outreach activities with the Bell Museum, and the University of Minnesota Insect Collection.

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I spent a lot of time at my family's lake house in Otter Tail County, Minnesota while growing up. It was there that my appreciation for natural resources grew, and I began to understand the need for sustainable management of these resources. This led me to earn a Bachelor's degree in biology from Iowa State University and then to enter the Water Resources Science graduate program at the University of Minnesota, where I am working on a Master's degree. My research has focused on the water resources and landscape of the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. Stormwater runoff from the St. Paul campus passes through Sarita Wetland, a wetland located on the southeast corner of campus. Like in many other places, water quality at Sarita Wetland has been impaired by human impacts. To better understand the links between the landscape and the water resources on campus, I am monitoring water quality at Sarita and am creating an aquatic nitrogen budget for the St. Paul campus. The aquatic nitrogen budget will detail the import and export of nitrogen from the campus and will specifically focus on nitrogen inputs that have the potential to interact with surface water and groundwater. The completed nitrogen budget will include actual amounts of nitrogen that each input contributes and the amount of nitrogen leaving through each system of export. By creating an aquatic nitrogen budget, I hope to encourage the use of best management practices at the university to limit nitrogen export from the campus through Sarita Wetland. I am very excited to participate in the GK12 program and look forward to developing science communication and teaching skills.

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Ever since I can remember I've been interested in the natural world. My sisters and I wandered the woods and fields near my house growing up in Maine following animal tracks, examining wildflowers, and capturing insects and amphibians for further inspection. I love camping and have been participating in outdoor programs since the third grade. I have led outdoor trips for friends and fellow students while living in Belgium after high school, as an undergraduate at Middlebury College, and now for the Center for Outdoor Adventure at the University of Minnesota.

I became interested in studying biology when I was at a summer camp in Acadia National Park between 7th and 8th grade. Since then I've been doing research and taking science courses in Maine, Cape Cod, Vermont, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Kansas, Minnesota, and Alaska. I have had a variety of research experiences including a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) studying snail behavior, an undergraduate thesis on decomposition in peat bogs, and volunteering in Alaska for a project on root carbon cycling before coming to the University of Minnesota. My current research interests are in ecosystem ecology, studying how nutrients and carbon move from terrestrial to aquatic systems. I am working on an MS thesis and completed my fieldwork last summer in the tundra at Toolik Lake Research Station in northern Alaska.

A summer leading nature walks and programs at a conservation center in northern Minnesota solidified my desire to share my enthusiasm about ecology with younger people through teaching. Someday I would like to be a professor at a small liberal arts college where I could teach undergraduates, involve undergraduates in my research, and continue outdoor education. I have been a teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota for the last two years. After I graduate next year I would like to get a job working as a science teacher in a high school/international baccalaureate school before going back to school for my PhD.

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