Tomorrow is the 8th annual Worldwide Girls and Women in Science Day, a day put aside to acknowledge the function of girls and ladies in science. As a result of the apple typically falls near the tree, MI Surroundings requested staffers on the Michigan Division of Surroundings, Nice Lakes, and Power (EGLE) to spotlight their daughters who’ve an curiosity in science or already work in science-related careers.
Whether or not it’s a toddler colleting worms or a daughter becoming a member of her father working to guard Michigan’s setting as an EGLE environmental high quality analyst, we’re happy with our daughters!
Identify: Bryn Abrams
Age: 5
Daughter of: Cassie Abrams, Water Useful resource Division, Marquette
Bryn’s ardour: The perfect half about planting our backyard every spring is all of the worms and grubs we discover. As seen in Bryn’s image, the twin use necklace and specimen container will get its fill of grasshoppers, toads, snakes, and an occasional salamander or butterfly. They’re all launched after correct documentation in her unicorn journal. Bryn doesn’t know precisely what Mother does for work, however she tells her pals that “she protects the water.” Residing within the Higher Peninsula has given Bryn so many choices to take pleasure in our stunning environment. Her favourite locations are on the seashore selecting rocks or waist deep within the river chasing water striders at our camp. Bryn is in kindergarten and as of this week she desires to be a music trainer when she grows up. That can doubtless change subsequent week, perhaps even tomorrow. Whether or not it’s a interest or a profession, she is beginning a strong science basis to construct from.
Identify: Brooke Armstrong
Age: 8
Daughter of: Brandon Armstrong, Aquatic Biology Specialist, Water Sources Division
Brooke’s ardour: Brooke is an avid hunter and angler. She harvested her first whitetail deer this previous fall and caught a grasp angler sized lake whitefish this winter. Her favourite interest is chasing down tip-up flags and pulling in northern pike by way of the hardwater. Whereas solely midway by way of third grade, Brooke hopes to pursue an engineering profession similar to her mother.
Identify: Hazel Armstrong
Age: 5
Daughter of: Brandon Armstrong, Aquatic Biology Specialist, Water Sources Division
Hazel’s ardour: Hazel is a biologist in coaching. There’s not an insect or animal too small, slimy, or scary that she doesn’t need to convey residence as a pet. She enjoys tenting at Michigan’s state parks, spending her days digging within the grime trying to find critters. Hazel desires to be a bug catcher (entomologist) when she grows up.
Names: Autumn, Winter, and Audra Boothroyd
Ages: 7,4,3
Daughters of Jeremy Boothroyd, Senior Geologist, Midland/Sanilac County Undertaking Supervisor, EGLE-RRD-Bay Metropolis
Passions: These ladies spend extra time outdoors than one might ever hope for. With the benefits of homeschooling permitting for numerous discipline journeys and plenty of playtime, they’re often exploring nature someplace. Autumn actually likes observing birds and reptiles and serving to dad with the native flower beds within the yard. Win is our fearless crocodile hunter sort, at all times delicately holding no matter she’s discovered. She found out early on that she might deal with the native bumblebee with out a lot problem. Audra is our bug hunter and turtle counter and loves spending time strolling within the woods and observing. All the children love spending time on the nature heart and the native gardens, in addition to strolling on public wind up north and round our residence. They love to assist with our conservation efforts on varied properties and focus on the geology.
Identify: Isabelle Clark
Age: 17
Daughter of: Alexandra (Alex) Clark, Enforcement Part Supervisor, Supplies Administration Division
Abstract: Izzy is captivated with studying how advanced issues work, and this limitless curiosity is what gravitates Izzy to all issues science. When she’s not busy finding out for her AP lessons or engaged on her newest drawing, Izzy’s favourite issues to do are climbing and photographing anyplace with water, rocks, mountains, or forests (close to or far). Izzy is in her junior yr of highschool and is planning a course of research in medication or the organic sciences when she attends school.
Mother and father’ favourite “science curiosity” reminiscence: When she was 5, Izzy chased a flock of seagulls down a Lake Michigan seashore in hopes of studying extra about them. Her dad and mom have been mortified when she truly caught one, however fortunately shortly launched it.
Identify: Izzy Cuncannan
Age: 15
Daughter of: Nancy Cuncannan, EQA Grand Rapids, WRD
Izzy’s ardour: Although she is a youngster, she nonetheless likes to play outdoors, discover, dig within the sand, and make elaborate fairy homes. Izzy is at all times taking the trail with the downed logs to stability beam throughout a stream or looking for a patch of hidden spring flowers. Izzy’s favourite flowers are cardinal flowers and lavender. Her favourite creatures are reptiles and amphibians, with the Massasauga rattlesnake being within the high spot. When different children have been screaming and leaping out of the lake when a snake was noticed swimming by way of, Izzy would instantly go straight for it to research. Izzy’s favourite place is a little bit camp in Hastings the place she will unplug. She has spent numerous hours at her camp catching crayfish and frogs in Falls Creek, and he or she nonetheless appears to be like ahead to her summers the place she will simply chill out, make bracelets, paint, eat smores, and be outdoors along with her pals.
Izzy is a sophomore in highschool and is determining her future profession selections. Choices at present into account embody herpetologist, some avenue with biology or ecology, however her most up-to-date curiosity is anatomy and turning into a health care provider.
Quote: As Izzy and a buddy have been strolling again from taking part in within the creek when she was 10 years outdated, I overhead them speaking; the little boy along with her mentioned, “Your mother goes to be so mad that you’re all moist and muddy” and Izzy responded with, “The wetter and dirtier I’m is an effective solution to present what an excellent day I had with out utilizing phrases, plus my mother would ship me proper again outdoors if I got here to the cabin clear.”
Identify: Allyson Hartz
Age: 24
Daughter of: Andy Hartz, District Supervisor in Water Sources Division
Allyson’s ardour: Allyson grew up spending summers on Lake St Clair and tenting at state parks throughout Michigan. She discovered a ardour for geology and went to Michigan Tech to earn a level in geological engineering. After seeing her dad working for the state and defending our pure sources, she determined to hitch EGLE too! Allyson is an Environmental High quality Analyst within the Remediation and Redevelopment Division.
Identify: Ella Kecskemeti
Age: 15
Daughter of: Tracy Kecskemeti, assistant director of Supplies Administration Division
Ella’s ardour: Ella is desirous about sustainability, vegetation, animals (particularly sharks), climbing, tenting, exploring, and the intersection of nature and artwork. Her very favourite place is Camp Miniwanca, the place she spends a number of weeks every summer season unplugged and having fun with the forests and sand dunes on Lake Michigan. This summer season she additionally plans to be a junior counselor on the Detroit Zoo’s summer season camp program. Ella is a freshman in highschool and remains to be contemplating potential careers. Choices at present into account embody trainer and marine biologist, though she’s not ruling out mermaid.
Identify: Grace Klang
Age: 20
Daughter of: Jen Klang, WRD-WQ Unit District Supervisor
Grace’s ardour:
Grace is a sophomore working in the direction of her bachelor’s diploma in aerospace engineering at Western Michigan College. She can also be engaged on double-minors in arithmetic and Japanese. She serves on a number of engineering pupil golf equipment, together with the robotics and the rocket launch groups in a management function designing payload techniques. At present, she is planning to attend grad college the place she will purchase a higher-level diploma specializing in upper-atmosphere and area propulsion. Grace is planning to work with NASA and with Japanese aerospace corporations to advertise the way forward for mankind of their many humanitarian-based missions. If she’s fortunate, she’ll additionally get to be part of NASA’s astronaut program. For now, although, she enjoys taking part in volleyball with pals, studying, and spending time along with her household and boyfriend in her restricted spare time.
Quote from Grace:
“I don’t suppose anybody is born to be or do one factor with their life, however I do know that it doesn’t matter what path you soak up life, it received’t be straightforward. Nonetheless, determining what you need to do together with your time on this planet, and all of the individuals you meet alongside the best way, at all times make the journey worthwhile.”
Identify: Delaney Lauckner
Age: 22
Daughter of: Kris Lauckner, SEMA, Supplies Administration Division
Delaney’s ardour: Each hike, seashore day, and so forth., since Delaney was little, has ended with pockets full of rocks. Delaney has additionally at all times wished to make the world higher: in center college, she created and led an initiative to cease bullying and construct shallowness; in highschool, she created and carried out a plan to panorama round her college buildings with perennials and bushes that assist native pollinators. Delaney is now a junior at Michigan State College within the environmental geosciences program; she desires a lifetime of cleansing up and defending the setting.
Identify: Stella McGregor
Age: 6
Daughter of: Rick McGregor, EGLE RRD – Detroit District Workplace EQA
Stella’s ardour: Stella is and curious in regards to the pure sciences. She loves rocks, bugs, worms, and different animals (particularly cheetahs). She loves exploring the Cranbrook Institute of Science and Johnson Nature Middle in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and at all times finds one thing new on our visits to seize her creativeness. Final summer season, she spent three weeks connecting with nature at Camp Ohiyesa in Holly, Mich. When she grows up, she desires to be a cheetah scientist.
Identify: Katie Philipps
Age: 20
Daughter of: Jennifer Philipps, coaching assistant within the Environmental Assist Division
Katie’s ardour: Katie is a second-year undergraduate pupil at Michigan State College majoring in zoology and plant biology. She obtained a place as a pupil analysis assistant in her first yr and conducts analysis on the connection between root construction development and pure illness resistance in widespread beans. The main focus of the analysis is to determine root system traits that can enhance plant resistance to stressors.
Ecology, evolution, conservation, and biodiversity administration are amongst Katie’s scientific pursuits. She wish to attend graduate college and to analysis the perfect conservation strategies for stopping extinction in small, remoted populations.
In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time open air along with her pals, stitching, crocheting, and watching MSU basketball video games in “The Izzone.”
The sand cat is her favourite animal, and English lavender is her favourite plant.
Names: Charlotte and Riley Steffler
Ages: 9 and 12
Daughters of Mindy Steffler, WRD
Their ardour: They each love tenting, studying about nature, and have a ardour for shielding the earth. One in every of their favourite reminiscences this yr was seeing an enormous manatee swimming within the ocean in Key Largo.
Identify: Kelsi Wygant
Age:24
Daughter of: Adam Wygant, Oil, Fuel, and Minerals Division Director/State Geologist
Kelsi has had a ardour for science and notably fish from a really early age, desirous to be round water and in nature. She set her sights on being a marine biologist from 9 years outdated and by no means regarded again. She obtained her bachelor of science diploma in marine biology with a minor in geology from Bowling Inexperienced State College, with thrilling marine experiences within the College of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Analysis Lab, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Bimini Organic Area Station’s Shark Lab. COVID derailed an internship with the Georgia Aquarium caring for whale sharks, so she accomplished a grasp of science diploma in aquatic ecology at Bowling Inexperienced State College, finding out Sandusky Bay pre-restoration fish group populations. She is at present working for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians at their fish hatchery in Levering, Mich.
Quote: “As a child my dad took me out within the discipline with him each probability he might, and each trip concerned some kind of rock looking journey. I at all times knew I used to be going to change into a fish biologist, however my dad actually formed my mindset of appreciation and reverence for nature. Now I work for a Tribe and get to spend every single day working towards restoring and researching native fish populations in Northern Michigan.”
