The Big Question: Why Are There So Many Insects? (Ages 5-8)

Hey y'all- I'm Rin and I absolutely love insects! I grew up mostly in North Carolina and partially in China, with a lens to the natural world through hiking, rock climbing, and outdoor exploration. I didn't always know I wanted to be a scientist but when I first got to college I took a class about bees and was taught how important and understudied they are, from that point my passion took root. In 2017 I graduated from Cornell with a degree in Entomology and since have lived in Costa Rica, Panamá, Taiwan, and around the US studying diversity and evolution of bees and wasps. Now I am a PhD student at Columbia and the American Museum of Natural History working with Dr. Jessica Ware to continue my knowledge quest of all things 6-legged. I also care deeply about making science more collaborative, accessible, and equitable for the global South and future generations. You can almost always find me outside with a collecting net, at a museum with their rare, old, and worldwide treasures, or in the lab getting DNA from insects to glean insights at the molecular level. I learn something new about these fascinating creatures everyday, and I can’t wait to learn with you.