I have always been fascinated with biodiversity. When I was 5, I received my first field guide to birds, and promptly learned to read using that book. Ever since, I have had an obsession with not just birds, but all of the life that surround us on this marvelous planet. The intrinsic beauty of biodiversity and our natural landscapes is unrivaled, and is absolutely worth protecting. It is this passion for our natural planet that directs me in my quest to make the world a better place.

I’ve been heavily involved with the natural world from a very young age; as a kid, I spent a lot of time skiing, swimming in lakes, hiking, gardening and playing in the forest. I was always very interested in plants and animals, especially their traditional and medicinal uses. As I got older, I became very involved in science through my high school, spearheading tutoring groups and clubs corresponding to my love of biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics. I started my degree at U of G in 2016 in the Biochemistry program, but quickly realized that I didn’t want to be locked in a lab for my entire life. Through the Biodiversity program and our student association, I can integrate my love of nature with my love of science in a field I truly enjoy and am passionate about.

Biodiversity to me is something I can marvel at. Whether it be the smallest plants or the largest animals seeing all varieties of life is extremely satisfying to me. I’ve spent much of my life surrounded by such things and some of my most cherished memories are finding salamanders in the forest or hearing frogs at night. Even keeping an eye out for fish or turtles in shallow waters. I would always get excited to see new living things, but as time went on these same marvels were slowly disappearing. Seeing this lost made me realize that all wildlife is very important so I decided to pursue an education in the field of biodiversity.

I spent my childhood outside. From my summers in northern Ontario to playing outside in the forest behind my house with my siblings, I loved time spent outdoors in nature. This love translated to my adult life where I am able to study and further my knowledge on the many forms of life that make up nature. Being a lover of biodiversity, I am very interested in what makes biodiversity important to different people. In the future, I would love to explore how we can use the value people put on life and nature to help conserve the biodiversity of our planet. This is a passion of mine and I hope to help make a difference.

I found my love for biology at a very young age while spending summers at the cottage. We have a field of wildflowers, which my mom would pick and press, while my brother and I went hunting for raspberries. It was this environment that I was able to see for the first time how life works its magic. Dragonflies were buzzing overhead, which kept the mosquitoes away, while birds were singing their seasonal songs More recently, I have found deep interest in Astrobiology, in hopes of one day bringing these beautiful elements that are unique to our earth to other less lively locations, just waiting for life to begin.

My name is Giordana Scodellaro and I am in the Arts and Sciences program at the University of Guelph studying Biology and Psychology. I have always had a fascination for biodiversity as well as environmentalism. Recently I have become interested in the psychology of environmentalism which concerns how others perceive their impacts on the environment and how they interact with it. Along with the prominent emphasis on climate change and the effects of consumerism to the health of the planet, I have also become extremely interested in clean alternatives to avoid plastic (and other) waste. For example, using beeswax cloths to cover food in the fridge is a great alternative to plastic wrap and is 100% reusable!