Biodiversity Center Volunteers

2023
	Bill Azerrad BA Math Brooklyn College. MS IT Keller School of Engineering. Fall 2022 – Spring 2023: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Worked as a software engineer for Boeing on the C-17. Lives in Los Angeles.
2022
	Lauren Wall University of Southern California Summer 2022: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Lauren is a current student at Redlands High School. She is most interested in biology and literature, and plans to go to a university in Northern California after she graduates. Outside of work, she enjoys playing sports such as soccer and volleyball, and is an avid reader.
2019
	Alyssa Nelson California State University, Long Beach Major: Marine Biology Fall 2017 – Fall 2019: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Alyssa attends California State University Long Beach and is majoring in Marine Biology. When she isn’t volunteering in the MBC lab at the museum, she is studying in the school library, working out in the gym, or exploring what Southern California has to offer.
2018
	Derek Morimoto University of California, Berkeley Major: Environmental Engineering Science and Marine Science Spring 2018: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Derek is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Engineering Science and pursuing a minor in Marine Science. He hopes to explore these two interests and help create technology that protects the oceans. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, snowboarding, and maintaining his fresh and saltwater fish tanks.
	Eva Hilton University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Health and Human Sciences; Healthcare Studies Summer 2017 – Spring 2018: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Eva is going to be a senior at USC planning to pursue a career in the healthcare field. She is part of the USC ENST Scientific Diving Team and enjoys diving with her friends whenever she can. Her dream job is to be a trauma surgeon living on the beach so she can enjoy all of the things she loves. She also likes to go to as many concerts as she can, wake surf in San Diego, watch Game of Thrones on repeat, and eat sushi all day long.
2017
	Sean McNeely University of Southern California Fall 2017: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Sean is a USC freshman studying biology… or anthropology… or economics… or something. Despite his intellectual indecision, he has maintained a love for biological discovery and research since an early age. Raised in Washington D.C., he enjoys big cities and cool weather. By working at the Biodiversity Center, he hopes to do his small part in preserving and understanding our local ecosystems.
	Jennifer Pan University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biomedical Engineering Fall 2016 – Spring 2017: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Fall 2015 – Spring 2016: Marine Biodiversity Center research student Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Jennifer is a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering at USC. She is also a coffee addict and thinks museums are awesome. In her free time she likes to go running, try new restaurants in LA, and play video games.
2016
	Jessica Carrillo University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biomedical Engineering Fall 2018 – Fall 2019: Marine Biodiversity Center student Spring 2018: Marine Biodiversity Center research student Spring 2017 – Fall 2017: Marine Biodiversity Center student Fall 2016: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Jessica is a sophomore at USC planning to major in Biomedical Engineering. She is a Latino Alumni Association Scholar, writer and social media chair for the online magazine Society.19, and works with USC Viterbi’s pre-college engineering program. She enjoys cooking and baking, spending time with friends and family, weight training, and making people laugh .
	Katharine Balakhovsky University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Environmental Studies; minor: Cinematic Arts Spring 2017 – Summer 2017: Marine Biodiversity Center intern Fall 2016: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2016: Marine Biodiversity Center intern Katya is a student at the University of Southern California, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a minor in Cinematic Arts. She is a member of the USC Ski and Snowboard team and of the USC ENST Scientific Dive Team. She enjoys spending time in nature and interacting with all sorts of different animals. She also likes to travel, draw, and go to concerts.
	Jim Cline 2002 – 2016: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer 2003 – 2006: NSF Isopods volunteer Jim's urge to be a wide-view visionary has resulted in three technical papers, numerous electronic documents, and two websites. He foresees a time when DNA from creatures living today may be used to create thriving ecosystems in huge space colonies orbiting the Earth, connected by space elevator technologies — perhaps only a few decades from now. Jim has not only volunteered for Invertebrate Paleontology making thin sections of fossil corals and for the MBC until 2004 helping with curation, but he has also been instrumental in databasing and preparing the online Isopod Image Database, work that is ongoing: Check it out.
	Dean Pentcheff — DISCO Project Manager Duke University and University of California at Berkeley Fall 2016 – present: Marine Biodiversity Center staff Summer 2015 – Fall 2016: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer 2013 – Summer 2015: BioSCAN staff 2012 – 2013: Marine Biodiversity Center staff 2005 – 2012: NSF Decapoda staff Dean is coordinating NHM’s Diversity Initiative for the Southern California Ocean. Prior to that, he was a co-founder and coordinator of NHM’s BioSCAN survey of urban-to-non-urban arthropod biodiversity. He has a background in bioinformatics related to taxonomy and specimen collections and, prior to that, research experience in marine biomechanics focusing on animal-fluid interactions.
2015
	Claire Malarkey University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Piano Performance Fall 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Claire is a freshman at USC studying Piano Performance. She loves hiking and skiing, and spends a lot of her free time on the coast in Washington.
	Lindsay Hafen University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biological Sciences Spring 2015 – Fall 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Spring 2014 – Fall 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center research student Spring 2014 – Fall 2014: BioSCAN research student Summer 2013 – Fall 2013: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2013 – Fall 2013: BioSCAN volunteer Lindsay is studying biological sciences at the University of Southern California. She enjoys traveling, reading, painting and, of course, biology! She isn’t sure what her future career will be, but she has been inspired by the Natural History Museum and thinks it will have something to do with biology. Her favorite insect currently are European honey bees.
	Chen Liang University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Chemical Engineering Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer My name is Chen and I am a freshman majoring in chemical engineering (struggling over the possible emphases in ChemE). I come from Beijing, China and I speak Mandarin. This is my first time studying abroad and I feel excited and overwhelmed at the same time. I have been doing Taekwondo for two years and currently I am a member of the USC Taekwondo club. I love to cook and bake. My favorite food is Korean food (can’t live without Kimchi) thus my favorite part of LA is Ktown. I am a dog person and I have two dogs back at home, a poodle which looks like a teddy bear and a Yorkshire terrier. I miss them a lot! I have never thought of working with insects but I believe I will learn a lot from this experience.
	Christina Rouse University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Environmental Studies Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Christina is a Trustee Scholar and a Sophomore Environmental Studies major at the University of Southern California. She is rescue and scientific diver certified; in her free time she is active in philanthropic work in Los Angeles.
	Daniel Kim University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Neuroscience Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer
	Rebecca Fang University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Environmental Engineering Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Rebecca is a sophomore studying Environmental Engineering at USC. Aside from exploring the great outdoors, she enjoys playing guitar, creative writing, and basketball. One day she hopes to work in the clean energy industry while learning as many languages as she can!
	Sivakami Ananthasingam University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Neuroscience Fall 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center student Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Hello everyone! My name is Sivi. I'm a junior studying Neuroscience/Pre-Med at USC. I hope to one day become a physician of emergency medicine. I have a passion for volleyball, global health, and reading. I have always had a fear of insects and feel that working on BioSCAN projects will help me conquer my fear and learn about a branch of science that I wouldn’t have normally been able to study in-depth.
	Emma Ross University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Environmental Studies and Italian Fall 2014 – Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Fall 2014 – Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Emma is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies and Italian. After graduation, she plans on going to Brisbane, Australia to see where life takes her. Ever since she was 12, and began scuba diving, she knew she wanted to help the marine environment. She hopes to find a career in Coral and Coastal Management, focusing in outreach and ecotourism. Her favorite animal is the sperm whale (who on average can dive 4000 ft., how cool!). She enjoys listening to music, learning new languages, and really loves cheese!
	Sonia Boller University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Environmental Studies Fall 2014 – Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Fall 2014 – Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Sonia Boller is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies. Ever since she was little she has loved being outdoors and exploring the wonders of the natural world. In addition to her love of nature, she also enjoys reading, listening to music, and cooking vegan food. Her dream job involves traveling around the world taking photos that promote awareness and conservation of our natural resources.
	Ben Refoua Milken Community High School Summer 2014 – Spring 2015: BioSCAN volunteer Summer 2014 – Spring 2015: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Benjamin is a junior at Milken Community High School. Ben has always loved bugs and science. Benjamin also likes to spend his time playing sports. Benjamin is a part of the Milken Community High School water polo and swim team. Benjamin also loves to travel and visit new places.
2014
	Christy Lee University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biology Fall 2014: BioSCAN volunteer Fall 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Christy is a freshman majoring in Biology at USC. She loves watching tv and reading and often procrastinates on all her work. Her favorite foods are all fruits except apples, which she finds pretty boring. Currently, her goal is to find good, cheap boba tea close to USC if she ever finds time to explore.
	Milo Borsuk Freedman Wildwood School 2013 – 2014: BioSCAN volunteer 2013 – 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer
	Allara Uota University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Human Biology with minor in Web Technologies & Applications Spring 2014: BioSCAN volunteer Spring 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2014: BioSCAN research student Allara enjoys swimming, surfing, wasting time on the internet, hand-lettering, and obsessing over Australian hip hop. At this point in time, she has no idea what she wants to do with her life after graduation, but she’s working on figuring that one out.
	Bronte Yang University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Spring 2014: BioSCAN volunteer Spring 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer
	Tochukwu Madu University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Psychology and Biology Summer 2013 – Spring 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2013 – Spring 2014: BioSCAN volunteer Tochi is a senior Psychology and Biology double major at USC from Cerritos, California. He is pre-med with hopes of becoming an endocrinologist. He is also currently working in the Mind in Development at USC due to his interest in early childhood development and social cognition. When he was a child he used to collect ladybugs and perform operations on fig beetles that got trapped in his pool. In his free time he enjoys playing basketball and watching National Geographic documentaries.
2013
	Jennifer Camello University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Anthropology Spring 2014 – Summer 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center research student Spring 2014 – Summer 2014: BioSCAN research student Fall 2013: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Fall 2013: BioSCAN volunteer Jennifer is a junior majoring in Anthropology and hopes to one day become a pediatrician. She used to want to become a museum curator because she loves Ancient Greek artifacts and history, so maybe this position will sway her back to the museum life. She is fond of baking, global health, dark chocolate, tea, and traveling.
	Brian Loyd University of California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Anthropology and History 2013: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer 2013: BioSCAN volunteer Brian is a graduate of UCLA, with a bachelors in Anthropology and History. Having been both an employee and volunteer in the Education and Exhibits Department at NHM, Brian is seeking to broaden his horizons by working behind the scenes with the BioSCAN Project. Brian’s passions include Indian Pale Ales and 16-bit video games.
	Estella Hernandez Whittier College, Whittier, CA Spring 2005 – Fall 2013: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Estella enjoys camping and hiking. Her interest in the outdoors led her to the Natural History Museum. Estella has learned basic invertebrate taxonomy and identifies Puget Sound specimens under a dissecting microscope sorting them to phylum or class. She also assisted with the curation of the Fiji Collection — organizing specimens by lot number, printing and associating labels with specimens. And she loves bears!
	Mark LeBlanc California State University, Long Beach (M.S. 2014) Spring 2012 – Spring 2013: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Mark is a grad student in biology at CSULA, and he currently plans to present his thesis on the taxonomy of a new species of Caribbean ostracod in summer 2012. Outside of ostracods, Mark’s other hobbies include medieval fantasy novels, dark synth-pop albums and aspirations of travel. After graduating he hopes to pursue a career studying the evolutionary relationships among crustacean taxa.
2012
	Brian Shaw University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biomedical Engineering Summer 2013 – Spring 2014: BioSCAN intern Summer 2013 – Spring 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center intern Spring 2013 – Spring 2014: BioSCAN student Spring 2013 – Spring 2014: Marine Biodiversity Center student Summer 2012: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Brian Shaw is a sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. Ever since he could remember, he has had an affinity for all sciences including biology. In his spare time, he likes to listen to music — classical, rock, and electronica — on top of hanging out with friends. Other hobbies include reading comics, playing the piano, and surfing the web.
	Nicole Chang University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Fall 2011 – Spring 2012: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Fall 2010 – Spring 2011: Marine Biodiversity Center student Nicole is a freshman majoring in Biological Sciences. She loves international travel, shopping, cupcakes, chocolate, and dogs. She is very excited to work at the Natural History Museum.
	Sana Ahmed University of Southern California, Los Angeles Fall 2011 – Spring 2012: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Sana graduated from USC with a B.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies. She enjoys running, photography and reading. In addition to volunteering at the MBC, she works as an Emergency Medicine Scribe. She finds the MBC to be a nice change of pace from the ER.
	Jonathan Sepulveda University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biomedical Engineering Fall 2009 – 2011: NSF Decapoda volunteer Fall 2011 – Spring 2012: NSF Decapoda intern Fall 2009 – Spring 2012: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Jonathan is a sophmore studying Biomedical Engineering. When not up in the mountains shredding the slopes (the recent snow reminds him of home in Toronto, Canada), he is enjoying the California sun playing tennis or basketball. He loves working with animals (dead or alive!) and hopes to become a vet someday.
2011
	Heidi Cho University of Southern California, Los Angeles Summer 2011: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Heidi is a Biological Sciences major. She loves traveling with her family and dog, Disney movies, singing, playing piano, and museums. She enjoys walking around the empty exhibits of NHM before opening hours. At the Marine Biodiversity Center, she loves looking at a variety of organisms in the collections room and helping sort specimen. She's not sure what her future career will be, but hopes it will be fun and inspiring!
	Kasey Hanson Alfred University, New York Major: Ceramic Engineering Summer 2011: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Kasey is a sophomore studying ceramic engineering. He enjoys surveying a wide range of scientific disciplines. In addition to volunteering for the MBC and Crustacea, Kasey works at his summer internship at the City of Hope. Kasey intends on pursuing a career in the sciences and traveling abroad as much as possible.
	Viji Shook George Washington University, International Affairs, M.A., and University of Southern California, Economics and International Relations, B.A. Summer 2010 – Summer 2011: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Viji is taking a brief detour from the hectic road of life to explore careers in the natural sciences. She is currently volunteering at the Dino Lab in addition to the Marine Biodiversity Center, and has volunteered in the Insect Zoo as well. Her many interests include an advanced yoga practice, baking, gardening, hiking, biking, playing mahjong and traveling abroad. She recently came back from an exhilarating trip to Borneo and Brunei which included exploring the Mulu Bat Caves (see photo). Best experiences at the MBC — identifying unlabeled specimens and munching on yummy cinnamon toast.
	Shanil Guanasekara University of Southern California, Los Angeles Major: Biomedical Engineering Spring 2011: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Shanil is a senior studying Biomedical Engineering. He enjoys reading, cinema, independent music and soccer. He hopes to pursue a career in research, both in the USA and back home in Sri Lanka.
2010
	Janette Havens University of California, Berkeley (B.Sc.) Major: Conservation and Resource Studies Spring 2010 – Summer 2010: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Janette graduated from Cal with a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies. As an undergraduate she worked at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology in the Ornithology and Herpetology Departments. She was also heavily involved in the biodiversity informatics project known as VertNET. She is currently working at Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach as an Environmental Science Intern. Janette hopes to learn more about marine organisms while volunteering with the MBC and contribute to the curation of the extensive marine invertebrates collection. Her interests include hiking, horseback riding, bird watching and watching sports. GO BEARS!
2009
	Allison Chu University of Southern California, Los Angeles Major: Piano Performance and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Summer 2009 – Fall 2009: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Allison is a junior, double-majoring in Piano Performance and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. She enjoys ice-skating, hiking, and swimming, as well as arts and crafts, concerts and Pixar movies. She's a foodie in many senses, from baking, cooking to eating, and has a mild obsession with the TV series, How I Met Your Mother. Her incentive for volunteering at NHM is mainly due to her biology teacher, Professor Wetzer, whose enthusiasm and passion for her work sparked Allison's interest in the field of marine biology. She's not exactly definite on what her future profession will be, but hopes that it'll be enjoyable and with lots of fun people.
	Chase Femrite University of Southern California, Los Angeles Major: Biology and minor in Physics and Philosophy Summer 2009 – Fall 2009: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Chase is majoring in Biology and minoring in Physics and Philosophy. His goal is to pursue a career in some aspect of biological research — his interests ranging everywhere from neuroscience to marine organisms. He is excited for the opportunity to further his knowledge and experience in marine biodiversity. In Spring 2010 he is planning on undertaking a research semester at the USC Wrigley Institute on Catalina Island.
2008
	Natalie Bray Lycée Français High School, Los Angeles, CA Summer 2008: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Natalie will be a high school senior this Fall. She has worked at the Natural History Museum for the past four summers with the Adventures in Nature Summer Camp and is also volunteering for the MBPC. Natalie hopes to study marine biology in college and to work in museums around the world. She is broadly interested in coral reefs and creatures living in the abyss.
2007
	Paige Johnson Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA Spring 2007 – Fall 2007: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Paige is a senior philosophy major, but seeing as philosophers are in low demand, she is interested in pursuing a career in a Natural History Museum. She has broad interests, and enjoys arts and crafts, exploring the outdoors, animals (both alive and preserved in jars), horror films, formal logic and traveling. She also enjoys novels and films that are set in natural history museums and make them seem unrealistically dangerous and exciting. Paige has studied in England and dreams of moving there someday and working at the London Natural History Museum.
2006
	Erin Ostrander University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Major: Biology Fall 2006: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Erin is a senior in biology who enjoys running, hiking, sailing, and tae kwon do. Erin is interested in marine biology, which is what led her to the Natural History Museum. Erin volunteers for the MBPC to learn more about crustaceans and work on a research project for her marine biology class. She has learned about the organisms from the islands of Palau (Micronesia) through her work on recently collected invertebrates. Erin assists with collection work, associating specimen labels with the organisms, and incorporating them into the research collections.
	Michael Pecson California State University, Long Beach, CA Summer 2006 – Fall 2006: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Michael, aka Pecson, is a self-taught biologist. He has logged countless hours watching the Discovery Channel with an emphasis on Animal Planet. As far as he can remember, he has always done well in his science classes and is a self-proclaimed cornucopia of knowledge and obscure facts. Michael hopes to one day become a full-time employee at the NHM.
	Elisabeth Wetzer Bundesrealgymnasium Wien 14, Vienna, Austria Major: Mathematics Summer 2003: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2003: NSF Isopods volunteer Summer 2004: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2004: NSF Isopods volunteer Summer 2005: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2005: NSF Isopods volunteer Summer 2006: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Summer 2006: NSF Isopods volunteer Elisabeth has a particularly strong interest in studying the natural sciences. Her interests there have led her to volunteer at the Museum to gain direct experience in science, discovering how biologists work by working with them. While working in the MBPC, Elisabeth has had the chance to learn that doing science, like many other endeavors, is 20% technical and 80% personal; people have far more to do with the working environment than the specifics of the work itself. Besides coffee races and lunches, Elisabeth spent most of her time sorting specimens from the Oregon State University Andrew Carey collection. She hopes to return soon.
2005
	Lara Leitner Milken Community High School, Los Angeles, CA Summer 2005: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Lara is a Senior. She enjoys gymnastics and dance and is fascinated by animal behavior. Lara volunteers for the MBPC to get hands on experience with preserved invertebrates. She hopes to become a zoologist in the near future.
	Chase LaFrance Chadwick School, Palos Verdes, CA Summer 2005: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Chase is currently classifying and preserving polychaetes. He is interested in computers, chemistry, and genetics. Chase thinks that it is only a matter of time before places like “Jurassic Park” become a reality and extinct creatures’ DNA can be used to bring them back. Chase has no definite ideas what his major will be beyond high school, but it is apparent that it will somehow be science related.
	Erika Ciriano Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles, CA Summer 2005: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Erika is a Junior. She started volunteering in the MBPC because she heard it was a great experience, and she needed the service hours for school. It's a great help for science class!
2004
	Sara Moore Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA Summer 2004 – Fall 2004: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Sara is currently in her third year at Santa Monica College. She is a biology major with a strong interest in ecology and environmental science. She started volunteering in the MBPC because she wanted to experience biology firsthand and familiarize herself with some of the practical aspects of doing biology.
	Emi Yoshimura Stanford University, Stanford, CA (B.S. and M.S.) Major: Biology Spring 2004 – Fall 2004: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Emi has been working at the Museum for a little over a year in the Education Department. First she worked as a Gallery Interpreter, and presently her position is Outreach Instructor. In her spare time she volunteers for the MBPC as a way to familiarize herself with the Museum's vast and diverse research collections. Emi is sorting the Great Barrier Reef Expedition 2003 material.
2003
	Paola Karen Morales San Francisco Zan Morano, Guatemala City, Guatemala Fall 2003: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Karen is a visiting student from Guatemala. She is spending her winter school break volunteering at the Museum to familiarize herself with the technical aspects of biology and to improve her English language skills. When not assisting with the curation of the Allan Hancock Foundation Sponge Collection, Karen was busy attending English classes. She plans to continue her education in the field of Bio-Medicine.
2002
	James Grama Granada Hills High School, Northridge, CA Summer 2002: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer James is interested in learning as much about the world as he possibly can. He is expanding his horizon this summer by helping with day to day activities in the Marine Biodiversity Center, while taking this opportunity to explore the backrooms of the museum and learn how the research endeavor is accomplished in the natural sciences and specifically in natural history museums. His goals include becoming a professional in a field related to history or science and to stay a life long learner. He will be a junior this Fall. His enthusiasm is contagious. His energy is boundless.
	Lindsay Keating Westridge School for Girls, Pasadena, CA Summer 2002: Marine Biodiversity Center volunteer Lindsay has been visiting the Museum with her father for years. Her strong interests in science and hands-on learning extend well beyond the classroom to our laboratory. She is donating her time and energy to help with a variety of curation tasks — some great fun — others just need doing. She is interested in exploring the many different subdisciplines of science as she begins evaluating possible career choices. As a freshman this Fall, she is looking forward to excelling academically, while preparing to go on to college and graduate school. Lindsay’s thoughtful and reflective nature are a prescription for success whatever her choices.