“I must go seek some dewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.”
-Shakespeare, Midsummer Nights Dream

I became a scientist because I believed in fairies. I may not believe in them the same way I did as a child, when I wore fairy wings and skipped around my parents feet while darting into every tree hollow to check for winged friends; but I do still believe in magic.

My version of magic as I know it in adulthood is rooted in awe, wonder, and curiosity. All of these being traits that have lead me to become the scientist and naturalist I am today, studying and teaching about the natural world.

My most formative years were spent in nature, chasing fairy tales, playing dress up, and digging in the dirt, discovering the magic of the earth. Through books about fairies, I learned flower names.

When I found out that fairies drank from dewdrops, it brought me to wonder what a dewdrop was, how it was formed, and why it disappears (of course so I could develop something to produce dewdrops and ultimately win the fairies favor!)

The lens of play and magic was the perfect frame for curiosity, and I always felt encouraged to ask ‘why’.

Although eventually my experiments led to questioning my belief in fairies, they also led to a much more profound realization… That life is often stranger than fiction, and there is never an end to the magic and awe of our environment!

So, happy fairy hunting to you all, and I hope you learn something along the way.