Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  Ryerson University

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I am interested in the effect of climate change on plants, and how we, as scientists, can develop strategies to combat climate change through strategical plant use. My most recent project focused on how climate change affects the fatty acid composition of plants, and how changes in fatty acid composition works its way up the food change (i.e., through livestock to humans). I am also very interested in conservation efforts, particularly involving pollinators and their relationship with plant species and how we can help preserve them.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  My favourite plant is milkweed (Asclepias). Not only is it beautiful to look at when it is in bloom, but it provides important resources for pollinators and their larvae. Bees and butterflies drink their nectar, and monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars) live on the leaves and eat them until they experience metamorphosis. Milkweed is also interesting because it secretes a latex substance when it experiences tissue damage, which I find unique and interesting.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  Do you have advice for students about preparing for a science career?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  There are SO many different types of science, it is hard to know what to pursue. Start reading about upcoming science news and talk to as many scientists as you can. That will help you navigate which topics you are most interested in. Then, when you are ready to choose a career, you will have an idea of what you want to pursue. And remember, if you DO choose wrong, you can always change your path; research is always changing and evolving and so can you!

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What was the first science experiment you ever designed? How did it turn out?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  My first experiment was my undergraduate thesis project; I designed an experiment with 1600 plants, comparing the effect of crowding on plant size. Half of the plants were alone, and half were crowded with Timothy grass. It has been my favourite research experience so far, because I got to spend my days essentially gardening at the Queen's University greenhouse! I collected some interesting results that I was excited to present to the scientific community.

  
  
• Help represent the outreach efforts of your societies. Please click all those organizations you are a member of:

  (not set)

  
  
• Availability

  I am NOT available, please temporarily remove me from the available mentor list

  
  
• Preferred Student Level(s)

  Middle School Students (Grades 6,7,8)
  High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12)
  Undergraduate Students

  
  
• Preferred Investigation Themes

  Celery Challenge (plant anatomy, osmosis and diffusion)
  The Wonder of Seeds (seed germination and growth)
  What about Pollen? (pollen and pollination)
  Agronomy Feeds the World (where does food come from?)
  The Power of Sunlight (photosynthesis and respiration)
  Foundations of Genetics (traits, variation and environment in rapidly cycling Brassica)
  C-Fern in the Open (sexual reproduction, alternation of generations)
  Genetics in Arabidopsis (investigation with a model species to track transmission of traits)
  Plants Get Sick, Too!

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  5

  
  

Recent Posts

Tangy Tangerines- Project 5 Emily Susan Morris Nov 18, 2019

Great work everyone!

Tangy Tangerines- Project 5 Emily Susan Morris Nov 13, 2019

Great work on the project everyone! It was wonderful mentoring you and helping you work through your experiment. You are a very bright group of students. Good luck in the future!

Tangy Tangerines- Project 5 Emily Susan Morris Nov 8, 2019

Awesome everyone! Thank you for keeping me in the loop with your experiment. It was lots of fun working with you, you are all so bright!