Why do flowers bloom when they do?
What does the future of our world hold for us given what we currently know and don’t know?
How has our relationship with technology changed and how does it continue to shape the world?
What is the impact of climate on the nesting cycles of turtles in Nebraska?
How do human disturbances impact the microbiomes and physiology of Cyclura iguanas?
For as long as Erin Lewis ‘13 can remember, questions have played a major role in her life. From her childhood questions related to plant bloom cycles and technology’s impact on the future of our world to her current research questions as a doctoral student at the Utah State University, Erin has spent her life asking and answering questions about the world around her. Erin states, “Asking questions is such an important part of life as a human. Not only is it a big part of what makes us human but it shapes how we interact with the world around us. I have always been incredibly passionate about learning and using the knowledge I gain to better the world.”
Watershed was, indeed, the perfect environment for Erin to dive into her questions and develop the confidence and skills needed to bring them to the next level. “Watershed teachers pushed me to ask hard questions and think critically about world issues. They truly helped me to cultivate my love of learning and ability to ask good questions,” remembers Erin.
Following Watershed Erin attended Earlham College where she earned her B.A. in Biology and pursued leadership positions at Earlham’s Outdoor Education Center. “After graduating from Earlham, my love of learning and my passion for nature and the outdoors led me to scientific research where I combine field-based and laboratory research to explore questions that are important to me. It wasn’t long before I found kindred spirits and a research match in my doctoral advisor’s lab (the French Lab) at Utah State University,” states Erin.
While her graduate school work has included numerous research and teaching opportunities, Erin’s dissertation is focused on understanding the relationship between tourist behavior (tourists feeding iguanas) and the physiology, immunology, and gut microbiota of iguanas. She’s interested in exploring why these relationships are important, what they might mean for the future of the species, and how humans should be interacting with the natural world.
Outside of academia, Erin continues to pursue her passion for the outdoors with regular backpacking, camping, and hiking adventures. Erin states, “my respect and love for the outdoors was nurtured at Watershed and continues today. In nature, I feel more like myself and more connected to the world around me. I think it will always be a huge part of my life.”
When asked what advice she has for today’s Watershed students, Erin paused for a moment and said, “Watershed is a place that encourages you to ask your own questions and I would urge students to pursue things that they find interesting or that they are curious about. Getting into a habit of pursuing your own questions is such a valuable skill and a benefit in any field.”
What’s next for Erin? While she’s not certain of the details yet, she’s pretty sure she’ll end up finding a way to bring scientific understanding to the general public. She believes that science knowledge provides an important opportunity to shape attitudes and policy which, in turn, helps shape the future of our planet and of our world. We, at Watershed, are glad Erin is out there pursuing her questions and helping make the world a better place!
